- 26 Mar 2024 07:47
#15309015
For the first time in the World Happiness Report’s dozen-year history, the U.S. did not rank in the top 20 of the world’s happiest countries.
U.S. Falls Out of Top 20 Happiest Countries for the First Time Ever, Time (magazine), Solcyré Burga, March 19, 2024
https://time.com/6958494/united-states- ... PiME1QCAtc
"Out of the more than 140 nations surveyed, the U.S. landed in 23rd place, compared to 15th place in 2023. While the U.S. is still in the top 10 happiest countries for those 60 years old and above, its overall ranking fell due to a significant decline in the reported well-being of Americans under 30. "
While there are many possible causes for this, I'd like to focus on the economic.
Housing prices are very high making it difficult for many Americans to afford a house. A large part of this is due to severe housing shortages in many areas.
While "happiness" is very subjective, I think it can be a good indicator of standards of living, which are a little more complicated than just absolute income levels.
Studies also show that the unhappiness has grown in the younger generation more than it has in the older generation.
Young people becoming less happy than older generations, research shows, Robert Booth, The Guardian, 19 March, 2024
Young people are becoming less happy than older generations as they suffer “the equivalent of a midlife crisis”, global research has revealed as US surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy warned that “young people are really struggling”.
After 12 years in which people aged 15 to 24 were measured as being happier than older generations in the US, the trend appears to have flipped in 2017. The gap has also narrowed in western Europe and the same change could happen in the coming year or two, it is thought.
Murthy described the report findings as a “red flag that young people are really struggling in the US and now increasingly around the world”.
related thread: The youngest generation is unhappier than previous generations (posted in North America section, 13 Feb 2024)
It's interesting to note how all those countries in the top 10 are very white and have lower levels of diversity.
Mostly smaller countries in Europe with low unemployment and high living standards.
Lithuania even came out ahead of the U.S. in 2024, which should be a wake up call.
U.S. Falls Out of Top 20 Happiest Countries for the First Time Ever, Time (magazine), Solcyré Burga, March 19, 2024
https://time.com/6958494/united-states- ... PiME1QCAtc
"Out of the more than 140 nations surveyed, the U.S. landed in 23rd place, compared to 15th place in 2023. While the U.S. is still in the top 10 happiest countries for those 60 years old and above, its overall ranking fell due to a significant decline in the reported well-being of Americans under 30. "
While there are many possible causes for this, I'd like to focus on the economic.
Housing prices are very high making it difficult for many Americans to afford a house. A large part of this is due to severe housing shortages in many areas.
While "happiness" is very subjective, I think it can be a good indicator of standards of living, which are a little more complicated than just absolute income levels.
Studies also show that the unhappiness has grown in the younger generation more than it has in the older generation.
Young people becoming less happy than older generations, research shows, Robert Booth, The Guardian, 19 March, 2024
Young people are becoming less happy than older generations as they suffer “the equivalent of a midlife crisis”, global research has revealed as US surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy warned that “young people are really struggling”.
After 12 years in which people aged 15 to 24 were measured as being happier than older generations in the US, the trend appears to have flipped in 2017. The gap has also narrowed in western Europe and the same change could happen in the coming year or two, it is thought.
Murthy described the report findings as a “red flag that young people are really struggling in the US and now increasingly around the world”.
related thread: The youngest generation is unhappier than previous generations (posted in North America section, 13 Feb 2024)
It's interesting to note how all those countries in the top 10 are very white and have lower levels of diversity.
Mostly smaller countries in Europe with low unemployment and high living standards.
Lithuania even came out ahead of the U.S. in 2024, which should be a wake up call.
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