Populations around the world are feeling more positively than at any time since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Gallup Global Emotions 2024 report released Monday.
Despite the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Gallup found most people worldwide (71%) are feeling well rested, experiencing a lot of enjoyment (73%) and smiling or laughing a lot (73%).
The 18th annual report is based on interviews with almost 146,000 adults aged 15 and older in 142 countries and areas in 2023. Gallup asked survey participants about their positive and negative experiences the day prior.
For its positive experience index questions, they asked if they felt well rested, treated with respect all day and whether they smiled or laughed a lot or learned or did something interesting. The 2024 report found the percentage of those surveyed who learned or did something interesting one day earlier hit a record-high 54%, with India, Iceland, Greece and China notching the largest gains.
People under the age of 30 were the most positive age group, according to the report. Among countries, Paraguay and Panama residents reported the most positive experiences, followed by Guatemala, Mexico and Indonesia. The United States didn’t rank in the top 10.
Afghanistan ranked lowest in the world for positive experiences. Northern Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon and Yemen rounded out the top 5 countries with the lowest positive experiences. Ukraine, where war has raged for more than two years, ranked 12th.
For its negative experience index questions, Gallup asked respondents if they experienced physical pain, worry, sadness, stress or anger.
For the first time since 2014, Gallup found all negative emotions decreased. Forty percent of adults they said experienced a lot of worry a day earlier. Lower percentages said they experienced stress (37%), physical pain (30%), sadness (26%) and anger (22%).
People under the age of 30 were the least negative of all age groups, Gallup found. Among countries, Guinea residents reported the most negative experiences, followed by Chad, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq. For the first time, Israel was also in the top ten, ranking 8th.
In Israel, 67% of those surveyed said they worried the day prior. They also felt stress (62%), sadness (51%) and anger (36%).
Estonia residents reported the fewest negative experiences, followed by Kosovo, Russia, Malaysia and Mongolia. The United States did not rank in the top 10.
The 2024 Global Emotions report is the first time Gallup also measured loneliness. About 23% of adults worldwide reported feeling lonely for most of the previous day. People who reported feeling lonely were more likely to experience the other five negative emotions Gallup measured.