2024 Happiness Index and the importance of friendship

The Harris Poll has been measuring Americans’ happiness since 2008, analyzing public sentiment about interpersonal relationships, spirituality, health, work, and other factors to calculate an index score by taking an average of those who strongly agree with certain positive statements and strongly disagree with certain negative statements that are asked along an agree/disagree scale. The Happiness Index is intended to represent greater cheerfulness than merely mild contentment.

In its inaugural year, the Happiness Index’s composite score stood at 35 (out of a possible 100). It remained at 35 in 2009 before dipping to 33 in 2010, 2011, and 2013; increasing to 34 in 2015; and dropping down to 31 in 2016. Eight years later, the 2024 Happiness Index score remains 31.

That said, four in five (79%) Americans somewhat or strongly agree that they are generally happy with their life right now, and more report having positive relationships with their family members (86%) and that their relationships with friends bring them happiness (88%). One in three (34%) somewhat/strongly agree that their work being frustrating, and slightly more—just 37%—report rarely engaging in hobbies and pastimes they enjoy. Fewer than half (46%) say they rarely worry about their health, and more (62%) frequently worry about their financial situations.

Happiness Index scores differed among men and women, age groups, income, parental status, and other demographic segments, listed below:

2024 Happiness Index Scores
All Adults	31
Men	30
Women	31
Gen Z	27
Millennials	28
Gen X	28
Boomers+	37
White	32
People of Color	29
Black Only (not Hispanic)	31
Asian Only (not Hispanic)	26
Hispanic	30
LGBTQIA+	29
Non-LGBTQIA+	32
Employed	30
Unemployed	32
HHI < $50K	27
HHI $50K < x < $99K	28
HHI >$100K	34
Parent	33
Non-parent	31
Democrats	33
Republicans	32
Independents/Other	28
Northeast	32
Midwest	30
South	32
West	32
Urban	32
Suburban	32
Rural	32

The starkest difference among scores was among the survey’s youngest and oldest respondents. Happiness Index scores increase with age. The factors contributing to the generations scoring differently are multifaceted and hard to pin down, but one thing is clear: Boomers are the happiest generation included in the survey, and Gen Z is the least happy. Gen Zers tended less frequently than other generations to agree that they have positive relationships with family members (80%), that they’re generally happy (74%), and that their spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force (70%). They also were the generation to most frequently agree that their work is frustrating at 1 in 2 (49%), compared to 44% of Millennials, 37% of Gen Xers, and 15% of Boomers. Stages of life bring different joys and different troubles, and those early in their careers likely encounter more situations they find frustrating than more seasoned workers.

Perhaps with age comes perspective and an ability to enjoy life for what it is. Earlier this year, the Harris Poll investigated an interesting phenomenon: cross-generational friendships. Since happiness derives from enjoying friends and family, these may present an opportunity for the happiest and least happy generations to come together in friendship.

In that survey, we asked Americans whether they had a friendship with someone outside their generation, and 7 in 10 said they did. We found several benefits many Americans gain from generation-spanning friendships: they say these friendships expand their social circle (60%), while giving them more companionship (55%) and a stronger sense of community (42%). Notable numbers of respondents also say such friendships have expanded their perspective (49%), improved their emotional health (45%), or enabled them to gain new knowledge or skills (43%). Others cite becoming involved with new experiences and activities (42%), improved cognitive health (40%), and better physical health (28%). Perhaps most importantly, 80% say these friendships give them tangible benefits like new skills or an expanded perspective on life.

This research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll via two distinct surveys. The first survey about cross-generational friendships was fielded between April 12, 2024 and April 15, 2024 among 1,109 adults, aged 18+. The second survey consisting of the Happiness Index was fielded between June 27, 2024 and July 5, 2024 among 4,307 adults, aged 18+. Figures were weighted where necessary to align with actual proportions with the United States. For additional information, please contact The Harris Poll.