Every year, a consortium of groups including the UN and the Gallup polling organization combine to produce the World Happiness Report, which ranks143 countries based on a mix of statistical and attitudinal factors: GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom and corruption.
For 7 years in a row, Finland has topped the list. Canada usually ranks in the top 15, the USA usually makes the top 20. This year, however, the USA fell to 23. And the reason for that drop is why we’re writing this article: there was a dramatic difference between those under 30 and those over 60.
Among those over 60, the USA actually ranked 10th. Among those under 30, the USA ranked 62nd.
The article quotes John Helliwell, an economist and co-author of the report: “I have never seen such an extreme change. This has all happened in the last 10 years, and it’s mainly in the English-language countries. There isn’t this drop in the world as a whole.”
Why is it happening? COVID is getting a big share of the blame, along with social media, which can tend to magnify negative feelings. A supporter of the COVID theory is Dr. Lorenzo Norris, associate professor of psychiatry at George Washington University: “The literature is clear in practice — the effect that this had on socialization, pro-social behavior, if you will, and the ability for people to feel connected and have a community. Many of the things that would have normally taken place for people, particularly high school young adults, did not take place. And that is still occurring.”
But it may not be only a very recent phenomenon. A Harvard study in 2022, reported on here, indicated that well-being among young adults in the USA has actually been declining for the past 20 years: “Young people — those between the ages of 18 and 25 — reported the lowest levels of happiness compared with other age groups, as well as the poorest mental and physical health, sense of purpose, character, virtue, close social relationships and financial stability. Similar findings have emerged in Britain and Canada.” In this particular report, social media got a lion’s share of the blame.”
But there’s another lens we apply here, of course — the SuperAging lens. It turns out that in many countries around the world, the older people are happier than what that country’s total happiness score is.
As reported here, these are the top 10 countries where older people are the happiest:
1. Denmark
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. Sweden
5. Iceland
6. New Zealand
7. Netherlands
8. Canada
9. Australia
10. USA
Except for Canada and the USA, the 60+ happiness ranking is not far off the overall ranking. Denmark, which is first in the 60+ ranking, is second overall; Finland, second in the 60+ ranking, is first overall. However Canada, which is 8th in the 60+ ranking, is 15th overall, so its ranking is really pulled down by the younger age cohorts. And as we’ve already noted, the USA spread is drastic — 10th among the 60+, 63rd among the under-30, for an overall combined on 23rd.
Our explanation for these numbers has nothing to do with COVID or social media: we think it’s because of SuperAging. If you’re determined to “get older without getting old,” it means you’ve discovered how important a positive attitude can be. You consciously focus on finding a new purpose, new fields of engagement and accomplishment. This doesn’t make you a Pollyanna — you’re very aware of the challenges, particularly in terms of health care and independent living. But you don’t have time to brood on the negatives: you’re too busy! The high scores of the 60+ age cohort all around the world show that the SuperAging revolution is a reality!