Latest news with #WorldHappinessReport
Axios
3 days ago
- Health
- Axios
More Americans are dining alone — and it's hurting happiness
Americans are dining alone at record rates, according to the latest World Happiness Report (WHR). Why it matters: Sharing meals helps encourage conversation and foster community, which is closely linked to happiness. By the numbers: Roughly 1 in 4 Americans (26%) in 2023 said they ate all of their meals alone the previous day — a 53% increase from 2003. Young adults are driving the solo dining trend, multiple studies show — and they're also reporting high levels of loneliness. Zoom in: The more meals people shared, the happier they reported feeling — even when controlling for factors like income and employment, Gallup principal researcher Andrew Dugan tells Axios. The happiness jump was particularly high when comparing people who shared no meals to those who shared one meal a week, Dugan says. Yes, but: There's a difference between enjoying the food and ambience at your table for one and scarfing takeout alone at home. Solo dining can be a positive, social event, if you go into it with the right mindset. Think: Choose a communal table, chat up someone at the bar. "Even if you're introverted and in a hurry, if you act extroverted, you end up improving your mood," Jenny Taitz, clinical psychologist and author of "Stress Resets," tells Axios. The intrigue: Dugan says happiness levels max out after a certain number of shared meals.
Metro
3 days ago
- Business
- Metro
The ‘Canaries' of England named UK's happiest place to live in 2025
When it comes to the happiest places to live, we might often conjure up images of the Nordic countries – as for eight years now, Finland has trumped the global rankings. Comparatively, the UK might seem like a pretty depressing place to exist. Between 2024 and 2025, it slipped down once again on the World Happiness Report, from 20th to 23rd. Not all Brits walk around with a black cloud over their heads though, as new data has revealed the happiest (and equally, the most miserable) places to live. Coming up trumps with the highest score was the South West of England, which stretches across Bristol, Cornwall, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. The study granted the area a mean score of 7.6 out of 10, assessing happiness levels of its residents between October and December 2024, as well as anxiety and life satisfaction across the rest of the UK. While it might not be a solid 8 or 9, it's certainly higher than the likes of the North East, North West, and West Midlands, which were all given the joint lowest (and arguably, most miserable) score of 7.3. Ouch. You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The numbers also crunched happiness levels by age and gender. It turns out that men and women are equally content across the UK, as both were afforded a score of 7.4 by the ONS. And it's good news on the age front too, as happiness levels actually seemed to increase amongst the older populations. Between the ages of 65 and 89 – a solid 24 years, spread across four separate age cohorts – UK citizens were their happiest with a mean score of 7.8. At the other end of the spectrum, teenagers these days have it rough – as between the ages of 16 and 19, happiness levels are only 7.2 – the lowest of any age group. Things get slightly better in your 20s though, as those aged from 20 up to 39 (spread across the categories of 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, and 35-39) all enjoyed a score of 7.4. So, what's doing it for the South West? And how can we all radiate a little bit more, well, joy ? It's little surprise that people in the South West are so carefree. After all, with sprawling beaches across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, spiritual grounds like Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, and endless culture in Bristol, there's plenty to be getting on with. Over on Reddit, residents of the South West have previously debated just what life is like there – and many agreed that it's got something a little bit special. On the furthest tip of Cornwall specifically, @Green7501 said life was a 'very rural style,' adding that people are 'far more interconnected, with relationships built on trust.' 'More shopping is done directly through farmers or smaller general stores…but there is little to nothing to do if you're a city person used to constant stimulations,' they penned, while another commenter added that some parts even looked like 'they're in the Canaries.' Elsewhere, Cornwall and Devon specifically were described as 'lovely,' applauded for their 'beautiful scenery, coastline and good weather.' 'It's a pretty friendly part of the world, too…inland the towns and countryside have a good mix of people and still feel properly lived in for the most part,' @ThinkDiffident added. Bristol was commended for having its own unique 'atmosphere,' as one previous resident said they loved the 'food variety,' as well as the 'street art and music scene' and 'great education and job opportunities.' 'I also LOVE Bristol in summer. I don't know how to perfectly describe why it's special, but it's that traditional flowery green sunny West Country summer with an energetic urban twist,' they added. 'Such a vibe!' While there's a strong sense of community across the South West of England, sadly, the house prices clearly aren't a contributing factor towards happiness levels. Unless you're wealthy enough to afford them, that is. According to Rightmove, the average property went for £360,088 over the last year, which vastly exceeds the figures across the UK (£268,250, data from Zoopla shows). Likewise, areas like Devon and Cornwall are particularly popular with second homeowners – and this has caused tension with locals, many of whom feel priced out of the area. This is in spite of extra measures from Cornwall and East Devon Councils, which both introduced an additional 100% council tax premium in April. More Trending In December 2024, a staggering 14,000 second homes were sitting empty in Cornwall specifically – and this was specifically because locals were struggling to afford the hefty costs. In 2022, holiday homes were even graffitied, with one property in St Agnes tarnished with the words: 'Second home owners give something back: Rent or sell your empty houses to local people at a fair price.' View More » 'No more investment properties,' another exterior wall read. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Six things you should check when viewing a house for the first time MORE: How you could end up paying 100% tax on your dream home in Spain MORE: The UK's most 'underrated' suburb has been named — and it's just 12 minutes from the city
Mint
4 days ago
- General
- Mint
Lessons from the happiest countries in the world
To read more of The Economist's data journalism visit our Graphic detail page. FOR A COUNTRY known for long winters and high taxes, Finland appears remarkably chipper. On March 20th it came top of the World Happiness Report, an annual UN-backed study, notching its eighth consecutive win ahead of 146 other countries. Not far behind it were Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. What makes the Nordics so happy? The World Happiness Report is more a study of life satisfaction than smiles and laughter. It is based on a survey by Gallup, a pollster, where participants are asked to rate their lives out of ten. Finns are not known to gloat (or, for that matter, smile much). But in the latest survey they said their lives were a solid 7.7 on average—well above the global country average of 5.6. At the very bottom of the ranking, people in war-torn Afghanistan rated their lives just 1.4 out of ten. Various other organisations have found the Nordics to be some of the most stable, progressive and safe countries in the world. They dominate the high positions in The Economist's glass-ceiling index, which measures the role and influence of women in the workforce. Deaths of despair, including suicides and unintentional overdoses, are quickly decreasing in the region, albeit from a historically high baseline (life-evaluation scores alone do not capture all of the factors that can lead to deaths of despair). The Nordics are also some of the wealthiest countries in the world per person, which typically has a significant effect on life satisfaction (see chart 2). On this measure countries in Latin America also stand out, reporting happier lives than their incomes would otherwise suggest. These countries have also outperformed the Nordics in other studies of happiness, such as how often people laugh or feel a sense of enjoyment. The researchers offer a possible explanation. They found that eating with people, compared with eating alone, was a surprisingly strong indicator of subjective wellbeing—as statistically significant as income and employment status. That holds true even when accounting for other factors, such as age and education. Latin America is a 'global leader" in meal-sharing, say the authors. People across the region reportedly eat around nine meals per week with friends or family. (In South Asia it is fewer than half of that.) This might mean they are better connected and less lonely than their peers elsewhere. Indeed, across the world the study found that measures of social support are more closely linked to how people rate their lives than GDP per person. This might also explain why happiness in America and some other rich countries is falling (see chart 3). Americans increasingly eat alone, live alone and—when given the choice—work alone. In one survey 18% of young adults in America reported that they did not have anyone that they felt close to (although there are signs that the relentless increase in mental-health problems among young Americans has stalled or even gone into reverse). In many other countries, too, an erosion of meaningful connections is leaving people feeling lonely and glum. But in Finland, alone time is actually cherished. Finns retreat to their mökki (country cottages) for deliberate solitude—often in a sauna.
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Study Buddy (Challenger): World Happiness Report says care and community are key
Content provided by British Council Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below: [1] Caring is sharing – a saying the World Happiness Report has put to the test in its latest research. Focusing on how caring benefits both the recipient and the giver, the organisation discovered that the way people treat one another profoundly affects their overall well-being. [2] The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. [3] Since 2012, the World Happiness Report has released annual findings on global happiness, each exploring unique facets of well-being, such as age or the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, the organisation focused on caring and how it can be a key part of developing societal and individual happiness. [4] Looking at 2022 and 2023 Gallup poll data across 142 countries, World Happiness Report researchers discovered that sharing meals can have an incredible effect on happiness. 'Sharing meals proves to be an exceptionally strong indicator of subjective well-being – on par with income and unemployment,' according to the report. 'Those who share more meals with others report significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and positive affect, and lower levels of negative affect. This is true across ages, genders, countries, cultures and regions.' [5] It is a tough realisation because the researchers said more people in the United States are eating meals alone. In 2023, around 25 per cent of Americans reported spending all their meals alone within the past 24 hours – a statistic that increased by 53 per cent over the past two decades. [6] Familial bonds inside a household can boost happiness, but social connections outside the home are also important. This is particularly true for young adults. In 2023, the researchers said nearly a fifth of young adults worldwide reported having no one to count on for social support in their lives. It marked a 39 per cent increase since 2006. [7] 'Young adults across the globe face increasing mental health challenges,' the report said. 'Once considered one of the happiest phases of life, young adulthood has taken a troubling turn. Young people in North America and western Europe now report the lowest well-being among all age groups. In fact, the World Happiness Report 2024 found the fall in the United States' overall happiness ranking was largely due to a sharp decline in well-being among Americans under 30.' [8] A major reason social connection improves happiness among young adults is its ability to dilute the toxic effects of stress. It also paves the way for growth. 'Historically, young adulthood has been one of the most social periods of life, as young adults tend to form more friendships and spend more time socialising than people in other age groups,' the researchers said. 'In addition to fulfilling social needs, young adult relationships lay the foundation for psychological and social growth in later life stages, providing a network of support that can sustain well-being and resilience in years to come.' Source: Tribune News Service, April 16 Questions 1. In paragraph 1, what is the relationship between caring and happiness, according to the World Happiness Report's latest research? 2. Find a phrase in paragraph 1 that means 'to investigate the validity of something'. 3. Based on paragraph 3, which of the following best describes the researchers' approach to understanding happiness? A. They assume happiness is a fixed concept. B. They recognise that different factors may influence happiness. C. They want to identify a single, universal key to global happiness. D. none of the above 4. Are there any specific groups of people for whom sharing meals does not correlate with increased happiness, according to paragraph 4? Why? (2 marks) 5. What does the 'tough realisation' in paragraph 5 refer to? 6. Paragraph 6 suggests … A. a diverse network of relationships is beneficial for well-being. B. familial connections are the main source of happiness for young adults. C. young adults' significant lack of social support is primarily due to fewer family bonds. D. social support networks naturally improve as individuals age out of young adulthood. 7. Based on paragraph 7, what is the historical perception of young adulthood regarding happiness? 8. List two concerning trends mentioned in paragraph 7. (2 marks) 9. What are the long-term benefits of forming social relationships during young adulthood, according to paragraph 8? In 2023, around 25 per cent of Americans reported eating all their meals alone within the past 24 hours. Photo: Shutterstock Answers 1. Caring and happiness have a positive relationship because how people treat one another profoundly affects their overall well-being. (accept all similar answers) 2. put to the test 3. B 4. No, the report says sharing meals correlates with increased happiness across ages, genders, countries, cultures and regions. 5. Although there is a strong positive correlation between sharing meals and well-being, more Americans are eating many of their meals alone. 6. A 7. Young adulthood was once considered one of the happiest phases of life. 8. Young adults across the globe are facing more mental health challenges, and the United States' happiness ranking dropped mainly because of this sharp decline in well-being for Americans under 30. 9. Young adult relationships lay the foundation for psychological and social growth in later life stages, providing a support network that can sustain well-being and resilience in years to come. (accept all similar answers)
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Arthur Brooks: Happiness, Legacy, and Living Properly
According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Finland is believed to be the happiest country in the world, while the U.S. once again does not appear in the top ten. New York Times Best-selling author and Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor at Harvard University, Arthur Brooks, explores how happiness is measured differently across cultures. He explains the impediments to happiness, which often center around human mortality, detailing why the fear of not existing overrides the fear of dying. Arthur also discusses how religion plays a role in the fear of death and describes why 'working on the soul' will help remove the barriers to happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
