Happiness of the younger, the older, and those in between : World Happiness Report 2024

Report shared by Lou Mendez

Here are the latest 'happiness ratings' along with a search option.
Lou

Click here for the article and report

Summary

The 2024 World Happiness Report provides global rankings and analysis based on life evaluations from Gallup World Poll data collected between 2021–2023. This year’s report emphasizes age-related trends, offering insights into how happiness varies among different age groups: the young (under 30), the middle-aged (30–59), and the elderly (60+).

The report ranks Finland as the happiest country for the seventh year in a row. Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden follow, continuing the Nordic dominance. However, the U.S. notably drops out of the top 20 for the first time, largely due to a significant decline in happiness among its youth population.

The analysis shows that older adults are generally happier than younger people in most regions, reversing previous assumptions. Youth happiness is declining in North America and Western Europe, likely linked to social media use, anxiety, economic uncertainty, and social isolation.

Quotes
“In the United States, happiness among those under 30 has dropped so sharply that the country no longer ranks in the top 20 for overall happiness.”
“For the first time, the report offers separate happiness rankings by age group… and the results show significant divergence between older and younger generations.”
“In Western Europe and North America, the happiness of young people has declined markedly in recent years, in contrast with rising or stable levels of happiness among the older age groups.”
“The 2024 report highlights the growing need for policies that address youth well-being—especially mental health, social connection, and economic security.”