Gloomy Youth Impact Global Happiness Rankings
Rising Unhappiness Among Younger People
Amidst a global wellbeing index, the United States and some large western European countries have witnessed a decline due to the rising unhappiness among younger individuals. In contrast, Nordic nations continue to dominate the top spots.
World Happiness Report Overview
The World Happiness Report, established in 2012 to support the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, relies on data from Gallup and is analyzed by a team led by the University of Oxford. People from 143 countries rate their life on a scale of zero to 10, with the results averaged over three years to create a ranking.
Top and Bottom Rankings
Finland remains at the top with a score of 7.7, closely followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. On the other end, Afghanistan and Lebanon hold the lowest positions. While prosperity plays a role in rankings, factors like life expectancy, social connections, personal freedom, and corruption also influence individuals’ evaluations.
Youth Impact on Rankings
The United States has fallen out of the top 20 for the first time, primarily due to a decrease in the wellbeing of Americans under 30. Despite ranking 10th in happiness for those over 60, American youth’s evaluations place them in 62nd place.
Factors Affecting Youth Happiness
Youth, especially in North America, are facing challenges that impact their happiness, including increased social issues polarization, negative social media experiences, and economic disparities hindering homeownership. This phenomenon is also observed in Canada, Japan, France, Germany, and Britain.
Global Wellbeing Trends
Former communist countries in central and eastern Europe are witnessing significant improvements in wellbeing, driven by the younger population reporting better quality of life compared to older individuals. Countries like Slovenia, Czechia, and Lithuania are making their way into the top 20 due to the positive impact of their youth.
