Happiness
🌏 Globally a record number of people are satisfied with the freedom to shape their lives
82% of adults across 138 countries are satisfied with their freedom to choose what they do with their lives, up from 71% two decades ago. The largest gains are in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Eastern and Central Europe, where the share of satisfied adults has risen from 49% in 2009 to 82% in 2025.
😊 Young Americans are getting happier
The percentage of university students with symptoms of depression has decreased from 44 percent in 2022 to 38 percent in 2024. Studies show that this trend applies to American youth in general, with decreasing rates of depression and suicide.
🤑 Money brings happiness far up the income scale
New research shows that the relationship between money and happiness continues far up the economic ladder. Billionaires report higher life satisfaction than people with annual incomes of $500,000.