Rising Unhappiness Among Younger People
The recent Global Wellbeing Index Report highlights a concerning trend where younger people in the United States and certain large western European countries are experiencing a decline in happiness levels. In contrast, Nordic nations continue to dominate the top positions in the global wellbeing index.
Annual World Happiness Report
The annual World Happiness Report, initiated in 2012 to align with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, utilizes data from the US market research company Gallup. This data is analyzed by a global team currently led by the University of Oxford.
Evaluation Process
Individuals from 143 countries and territories participate in evaluating their life satisfaction on a scale from zero to 10, with 10 indicating the best possible life. The rankings are derived by averaging results from the past three years.
Key Findings
- Ireland has experienced a decline in happiness ranking, with an average score of 6.8, dropping from 13th place in 2022 to 17th place currently.
- Finland maintains its top position with an average score of 7.7, closely followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
- Afghanistan and Lebanon occupy the bottom two spots with scores of 1.7 and 2.7, respectively.
While the rankings generally correlate with countries’ prosperity levels, additional factors such as life expectancy, social connections, personal freedom, and corruption also play a role in individuals’ assessments.
Impact on the United States
The United States has dropped out of the top 20 for the first time, now ranking 23rd compared to 15th place last year. This decline is attributed to a significant decrease in the wellbeing of Americans under the age of 30.
Notably, while the United States ranks 10th in the happiness of individuals aged 60 and above, those under 30 place the country in 62nd position.
Factors Affecting Young People’s Happiness
Various factors contribute to the decrease in happiness among young people, including heightened social issues polarization, negative impacts of social media, and economic disparities hindering young individuals from owning homes.
This trend is most pronounced in the United States, with similar patterns observed in Canada and Japan, and to a lesser extent in France, Germany, and Britain, all of which have slipped in this year’s rankings.
Regional Contrasts
Interestingly, former communist countries in central and eastern Europe have shown significant improvements in wellbeing, particularly among young individuals. Countries like Slovenia, Czechia, and Lithuania are now entering the top 20 rankings, driven by the positive wellbeing reported by their youth.
