The 2024 World Happiness Report has revealed disappointing news for the United States, as it has fallen out of the top 20 happiest countries globally for the first time in 12 years. This year, the U.S. is ranked 23rd, a significant drop from its previous position of 15th. Gallup and its research partners have identified that the decreasing levels of happiness among Americans under the age of 30 are a major factor contributing to this decline.
RELATED STORIES: New Study Suggests Stomach Sleeping May Increase Health Risks
In a CBS News report, Gallup’s managing director, Ilana Ron Levey, highlighted a worrying trend of decreased happiness across all age groups in the U.S., with young adults experiencing a particularly steep decline. The reduction in happiness is closely linked to deteriorating social connections and increasing feelings of loneliness among younger Americans. “The quality of interpersonal relationships may impact the wellbeing of younger and older individuals in distinct ways,” she added.
Finland has maintained its position as the happiest country in the world for seven years in a row, according to recent data. Israel and Australia also made it to the top ten list, along with a mix of European nations. The residents of these countries show high levels of life satisfaction. When the data is analyzed by age group, Lithuania is found to be the happiest country for individuals under 30, while Denmark tops the list for those aged 60 and above.
RELATED STORIES: Study Reveals That Nearly Half of Parents Still Fund Adult Children
According to the World Happiness Report, Afghanistan is still ranked as the least happy country in the world, highlighting the significant obstacles it confronts. The rankings are determined by survey responses from more than 140 nations, which assess six principal elements that contribute to a country’s happiness: healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, levels of corruption, social support, generosity, and freedom.
The report’s findings indicate a troubling decline in happiness among 15- to 24-year-olds in North America, Western Europe, the Middle East/North Africa, and South Asia since 2019. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and an editor of the report stressed the urgent need for policy action to address the significant drops in wellbeing among children and adolescents in these regions.
A poll created by the outlet found that a combined total of 76% of Americans still describe themselves as either “very happy” or “fairly happy,” with familial relationships and financial comfort being significant contributors to their overall happiness. Released to coincide with the International Day of Happiness on March 20, the World Happiness Report is a crucial tool for understanding global happiness trends and guiding evidence-based policymaking to improve wellbeing worldwide.