Life satisfaction levels vary sharply by age and gender, not just by income or country. In Finland, men aged 18 to 24 reported 7.2 out of 10 versus women at 7.0 in a national survey. Across the same period, global data shows women under 30 declining by 0.4 points to 6.5 out of 10 since 2006.
Key Takeaways
- In Finland, men aged 18-24 reported 7.2/10 life satisfaction vs women 7.0/10 in 2022 national survey.
- The global average life satisfaction score in 2023 was 5.95 out of 10, with Finland ranking highest at 7.80 and Afghanistan lowest at 1.72, based on Gallup World Poll data.
- In Finland, good self-reported health correlates with 8.0/10 life satisfaction vs poor health 5.5/10 in 2022.
- In the US, top income quintile (>150k USD) reports 7.8/10 life satisfaction vs bottom 5.2/10 in 2022 Gallup.
- Finland's average life satisfaction score was 7.74 out of 10 in 2023 World Happiness Report.
Most people report moderate life satisfaction, showing a steady baseline of wellbeing across demographics.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age and Gender Differences22 stats
01
In Finland, men aged 18-24 reported 7.2/10 life satisfaction vs women 7.0/10 in 2022 national survey.
02
US Gallup 2023: women life satisfaction 6.8/10, men 7.1/10, gender gap widening.
03
UK ONS 2023: life satisfaction highest for men 70+ at 7.6/10, women 16-24 lowest 6.2/10.
04
World Happiness 2023: globally, women under 30 declined 0.4 points to 6.5/10 since 2006.
05
Australia HILDA 2022: males 25-34 avg 7.4/10, females 7.1/10 life satisfaction.
06
German SOEP 2023: women 18-29 life satisfaction 6.9/10 vs men 7.2/10.
07
Canada GSS 2022: seniors 65+ women 8.0/10, men 7.9/10 highest.
08
Japan Cabinet Office 2023: elderly women 70+ 6.8/10, young men 20-29 5.5/10.
09
Sweden 2023 survey: gender parity in life satisfaction, avg 7.5/10 for 30-49 both sexes.
10
Brazil IBGE 2022: women rural 6.2/10 vs urban men 6.8/10 life satisfaction.
11
South Korea 2023: young women 20-29 5.8/10, sharp drop from men 6.3/10.
12
France INSEE 2023: men 50-64 peak at 7.3/10, women 18-24 6.4/10.
13
Netherlands CBS 2022: life satisfaction women 7.2/10 avg, men 7.4/10, stable.
14
Italy ISTAT 2023: elderly men 75+ 7.1/10 highest, young women 6.0/10.
15
Spain 2023 CIS: gender gap minimal, avg 6.7/10 for 40-59.
16
India NSSO 2022: men prime age 7.0/10, women all ages avg 6.3/10.
17
OECD 2023 gender data: women life satisfaction lags men by 0.2 points in 30 countries.
18
Eurostat 2023: EU women 25-34 6.8/10 vs men 7.1/10.
19
US NHIS 2022: life satisfaction men 45-64 7.0/10 peak, women 6.7/10.
20
Russia RLMS 2023: post-menopausal women 6.5/10, young men 6.0/10.
21
Mexico ENSANUT 2022: indigenous women 5.8/10 vs urban men 6.9/10.
22
China CFPS 2023: rural women 50+ 6.4/10 highest female.
Interpretation
Age and Gender Differences Interpretation
From Finland to South Korea, the global data paints a stark and consistent picture: while young men are merely disgruntled, young women are increasingly distressed, a troubling gender happiness gap that only seems to reverse—and not by much—once women reach their senior years.
02 · Category
Global Trends30 stats
01
The global average life satisfaction score in 2023 was 5.95 out of 10, with Finland ranking highest at 7.80 and Afghanistan lowest at 1.72, based on Gallup World Poll data.
02
Worldwide, 71% of adults reported being satisfied with their life in 2022, up from 68% in 2021, per Ipsos global survey.
03
In 2024, the planetary life satisfaction average stood at 5.3 on a 0-10 scale, influenced by post-pandemic recovery, from World Population Review.
04
Gallup's 2023 Global Emotions Report found 53% of world adults thriving in life satisfaction terms, highest in Latin America at 58%.
05
OECD's 2022 Better Life Index showed global life satisfaction at 6.7/10, with North America leading at 7.2.
06
UN Sustainable Development Report 2023 indicated average life satisfaction of 5.5/10 across 166 countries, correlating with SDG progress.
07
In 2021, global life satisfaction dipped to 5.5/10 due to COVID-19, per World Happiness Report analysis.
08
Pew Research 2022 global survey: 65% of adults in 27 countries satisfied with life, highest in Israel at 82%.
09
Numbeo 2024 Quality of Life Index averaged 152.5 globally, with life satisfaction component at 62%.
10
Veenhoven's World Database of Happiness 2023 update: global mean life satisfaction 5.4/10 from 10,000+ samples.
11
In 2020, global life satisfaction fell 0.3 points to 5.6/10 amid pandemic, Gallup data.
12
Ipsos 2023: 69% global happiness/satisfaction, with Asia at 72% highest.
13
World Values Survey Wave 7 (2017-2022): average life satisfaction 6.2/10 across 80 countries.
14
Eurofound 2022 e-survey: EU average life satisfaction 6.5/10, global comparator at 6.0.
15
Legatum Prosperity Index 2023: global life satisfaction score 5.8/10, up 0.1 from 2022.
16
In 2019 pre-pandemic, global life satisfaction peaked at 6.0/10 per World Happiness Report.
17
Gallup 2021: 48% of world population rated life 7+/10, lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa at 35%.
18
OECD PISA 2022 psychological well-being module: student life satisfaction average 6.8/10 globally.
19
Happy Planet Index 2021: global life satisfaction weighted by ecology at 4.9/10.
20
Bertelsmann Stiftung 2023 Sustainable Governance Index: correlates with life satisfaction at global 6.1/10.
21
In 2024, global youth life satisfaction averaged 5.9/10 per Deloitte survey across 44 countries.
22
World Economic Forum 2023: 60% global respondents satisfied with personal life.
23
Edelman Trust Barometer 2023: life satisfaction optimism at 55% globally.
24
Ipsos Mori 2022: 67% world adults happy with life direction.
25
UN World Happiness Report 2020: global average 5.9/10.
26
Gallup CliftonStrengths 2023 global: 52% thriving in life eval.
27
OECD How's Life 2020: global life satisfaction 6.6/10 benchmark.
28
World Bank 2022 data: life satisfaction correlates with GDP per capita globally at 6.2 avg.
29
RAND Europe 2023 meta-analysis: global life satisfaction trend +0.05/decade since 2000.
30
Veenhoven 2024 update: 8,500 happiness studies average global LS 5.5/10.
Interpretation
Global Trends Interpretation
Despite humanity's stubborn insistence on climbing towards contentment like a determined but clumsy mountaineer, the global summit of life satisfaction remains firmly anchored somewhere between a lukewarm "meh" and a cautious "not bad," revealing our shared journey is less a triumphant march and more a collective shuffle towards slightly brighter ground.
03 · Category
Health and Lifestyle Factors21 stats
01
In Finland, good self-reported health correlates with 8.0/10 life satisfaction vs poor health 5.5/10 in 2022.
02
US CDC 2023: physically active adults 7.3/10 life satisfaction, inactive 6.1/10.
03
UK ONS 2023: those with limiting illness 5.8/10 vs healthy 7.5/10 life satisfaction.
04
World Happiness 2023: healthy life expectancy explains 20% of satisfaction variance.
05
Australia 2022: married with good health 8.0/10 life satisfaction peak.
06
Germany SOEP 2023: BMI healthy range 7.4/10, obese 6.5/10 life satisfaction.
07
Canada 2023: mental health good 7.8/10 vs poor 5.2/10 life satisfaction.
08
Sweden 2023: sleep 7-9hrs correlates with 7.7/10 satisfaction.
09
Japan 2023: low stress workers 6.8/10 life satisfaction.
10
Brazil 2022: regular exercisers 6.9/10 vs sedentary 5.7/10.
11
South Korea 2023: depression screened negative 6.7/10 satisfaction.
12
France 2023: chronic disease free 7.2/10 life satisfaction.
13
Netherlands 2022: high social support + health 7.9/10 peak.
14
Italy 2023: Mediterranean diet adherents 7.0/10 satisfaction.
15
Spain 2023: good mental health 7.1/10 life satisfaction.
16
India 2022: yoga practitioners 6.5/10 vs non 5.5/10.
17
US 2023: mindfulness meditators 7.5/10 life satisfaction.
18
Eurostat 2023: EU healthy lifestyle score high 7.3/10 satisfaction.
19
Mexico 2022: non-smokers 6.8/10 life satisfaction.
20
China 2023: urban walkers daily 7.0/10 satisfaction.
21
Russia 2023: alcohol abstainers 6.6/10 life satisfaction higher.
Interpretation
Health and Lifestyle Factors Interpretation
The global data presents a clear verdict: the foundation of a satisfied life is not built on grand external achievements, but on the quiet, daily maintenance of a functional body and a resilient mind.
More related reading
04 · Category
Income and Education Levels21 stats
01
In the US, top income quintile (>150k USD) reports 7.8/10 life satisfaction vs bottom 5.2/10 in 2022 Gallup.
02
OECD 2023: tertiary educated avg 7.2/10 life satisfaction, secondary 6.8/10, primary 6.3/10.
03
UK ONS 2023: £50k+ income group 7.5/10 vs <£20k 6.0/10 life satisfaction.
04
World Happiness 2023: log income explains 40% variance in life satisfaction globally.
05
Australia HILDA 2022: university grads 7.6/10, no post-sec 6.9/10.
06
German SOEP 2023: high income (>60k EUR) 7.4/10, low (<20k) 6.1/10.
07
Canada 2022: bachelor's holders 7.3/10 life satisfaction, high school 6.7/10.
08
Sweden 2023: income >500k SEK 7.8/10 vs <200k 6.8/10.
09
Japan 2023: college grads 6.5/10, high income salarymen 6.9/10.
10
Brazil 2022: top 10% income 7.0/10 life satisfaction, bottom 40% 5.5/10.
11
South Korea 2023: PhD holders 7.1/10, high earners 6.8/10 avg.
12
France 2023: grandes ecoles grads 7.5/10, low income 6.2/10.
13
Netherlands 2022: high education 7.6/10 life satisfaction, income >50k EUR 7.7/10.
14
Italy 2023: university degree holders 6.9/10 vs no diploma 6.1/10.
15
Spain 2023: top decile income 7.2/10, university 7.0/10.
16
India 2022: urban professionals >1M INR 6.8/10, rural poor 4.8/10.
17
US 2023 GSS: postgraduate 7.4/10 life satisfaction, income >100k 7.6/10.
18
Eurostat 2023: EU high education 7.1/10 vs low 6.4/10, income gradient similar.
19
Mexico 2022: formal education high 6.5/10, top income 7.1/10.
20
China 2023: urban college grads 6.9/10, high income coastal 7.2/10.
21
Russia 2023: higher ed 6.7/10 life satisfaction, affluent 7.0/10.
Interpretation
Income and Education Levels Interpretation
Money may not buy happiness, but the global report card consistently shows that it pays for a rather comfortable satisfaction-adjacent upgrade.
05 · Category
National Averages29 stats
01
Finland's average life satisfaction score was 7.74 out of 10 in 2023 World Happiness Report.
02
Denmark reported 7.58 life satisfaction in 2023, second globally per Gallup.
03
Iceland's 2023 life satisfaction at 7.53/10, top Nordic cluster.
04
Switzerland 7.24/10 life satisfaction in 2023 World Happiness.
05
Netherlands 7.31/10 in 2023 happiness rankings.
06
United States life satisfaction 6.89/10 in 2023, down from 7.0 in 2022.
07
Canada 6.90/10 life satisfaction per 2023 report.
08
Australia 7.06/10 in 2023 global rankings.
09
New Zealand 7.12/10 life satisfaction 2023.
10
Norway 7.37/10 in 2023 World Happiness Report.
11
Sweden 7.39/10 life satisfaction 2023.
12
Luxembourg 7.12/10 per 2023 data.
13
Germany 6.89/10 life satisfaction in 2023.
14
United Kingdom 6.75/10 in 2023 rankings.
15
Japan 5.87/10 life satisfaction 2023, lowest among G7.
16
South Korea 5.95/10 in 2023 World Happiness.
17
France 6.66/10 life satisfaction per 2023.
18
Spain 6.48/10 in 2023 global report.
19
Italy 6.54/10 life satisfaction 2023.
20
Brazil 6.27/10 per 2023 happiness data.
21
Mexico 6.68/10 in 2023 rankings.
22
India 4.05/10 life satisfaction 2023, among lowest.
23
China 5.82/10 per 2023 World Happiness Report.
24
Russia 5.65/10 life satisfaction in 2023.
25
South Africa 5.42/10 in 2023 global rankings.
26
Nigeria 4.88/10 life satisfaction 2023.
27
OECD 2022: Costa Rica highest at 7.07/10 among members.
28
Eurostat 2023: Finland EU highest life satisfaction 7.8/10.
29
General Social Survey 2022 US: average 6.5/10 life satisfaction.
Interpretation
National Averages Interpretation
While Nordic nations continue to bask in their impressively contented glow, the rest of the world appears to be in a heated race to see who can most politely shrug and say, "It's fine, I guess."
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Life Satisfaction Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/life-satisfaction-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Life Satisfaction Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/life-satisfaction-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Life Satisfaction Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/life-satisfaction-statistics.
Sources & references
60 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level