Recent findings from the Global Flourishing Study (GFS), published in the journal Nature Mental Health, revealed insights into happiness and well-being across cultures and countries. The GFS is a five-year annual survey collecting data from over 200,000 participants across 22 countries from 2022 to 2027, aiming to uncover culturally specific and universal patterns of flourishing.
The study examines six dimensions of a flourishing life: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and financial security.
One of the key findings is that some countries are doing better than others in terms of overall well-being. Indonesia ranks highest in flourishing, followed by Mexico, the Philippines, Israel, and Nigeria. Despite their economic strength, wealthier countries like Sweden and the United States do not come out on top in terms of flourishing. While these countries score higher on financial security and life evaluation, they often experience lower levels of meaning in life and overall flourishing.
"This raises important questions regarding how we can carry out economic development without compromising meaning, purpose, relationships, and character," said Tyler VanderWeele, a professor at Harvard University and one of the researchers behind the GFS.
The study also reveals that younger people worldwide, particularly those aged 18 to 49, are struggling more than older adults. Many are reporting lower levels of flourishing compared to previous generations. One thing that surprised the researchers was that the U-shaped curve, where people are most satisfied with life when young and older but have a dip in middle age, no longer applies. "We see that in many countries it is more common for young people to be less satisfied and happy, and that well-being rises with age. That young people are doing poorly is concerning," stated VanderWeele.
In terms of gender differences, the study found that many countries did not see a difference in flourishing across sexes, with an even distribution between genders, except in certain countries. In Brazil, for instance, men feel they have a more flourishing life and report doing better than women, while in Japan, women report higher scores than men.
Participation in religious activities emerged as a factor associated with higher levels of well-being. Generally, people who belong to religious communities or participate in religious activities rank higher on several indicators of well-being, and this finding is consistent across almost all countries. The effects of attending religious services are strongest in the most secular, usually Western, countries.
Marital status also plays a role in well-being. In practically all countries, married respondents report greater well-being than single counterparts. However, in India and Tanzania, single respondents reported higher flourishing than married respondents. Married people usually reported more support, better relationships, and more meaning in life.
The study shows that while wealthier countries score higher in financial stability, they rank lower in areas like meaning, purpose, and relationships. There is a negative correlation between meaning in life and GDP per capita. This suggests that economic progress might improve some aspects of life but weaken others. "Money alone is not what makes people happy or flourish, as evidenced by the dissatisfaction and loneliness experienced in wealthy countries," noted VanderWeele.
The researchers observed that factors such as health, close social relationships, and financial and material stability are strongly connected with life satisfaction. The study includes tangible variables such as age, sex, education, marital status, employment, religious affiliation, attendance at services, immigration status, and race/ethnicity. It also explores childhood predictors of financial well-being, variation in beliefs in gods and life after death, social trust, and more.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.