Gallup – World Happiness Report, 2024

In this report to the Gallup-World Happiness Report, the authors explore the changing dynamics of happiness at different stages of life. Contrary to Shakespeare's portrayal of later stages of life as bleak, happiness research reveals a more nuanced and evolving picture. While conventional wisdom suggested that the young are the happiest, recent data shows a decline in youth happiness in North America and Western Europe, while Central and Eastern Europe experience a rise in happiness across all age groups. However, there has been a decrease in happiness in South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa at every age. The report also discusses the generational changes affecting happiness levels and the increasing inequality of happiness globally, with a specific focus on the impact of well-being on dementia in old age. The authors aim to provide insights into the complex nature of happiness at different life stages and its implications for future well-being.