Are You Happy, American?
Stats on Americans and How They Feel About Their Lives
- An extensive survey conducted in 2007 by the Pew Research Center found that 65% of Americans termed themselves “satisfied” with their lives. That compares with the four economic powerhouses of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, which averaged about 53%.
- Americans’ homes have roughly twice the square footage per occupant as those in the EU, Americans own more appliances, and, on average, they spend about 77% more each year than Europeans.
- By any historical standard, Americans are unbelievably wealthy. U.S. household wealth climbed from $38.8 trillion in 2002 to $58.6 trillion in the third quarter of 2007, an unprecedented 51% surge in just five years. That includes the recent meltdown in home prices.
- Another reason why Americans are happy right now: a million new jobs over the last year, a milestone that is underpinning U.S. economic growth right now.
- According to the Pew folks, there’s a 72% correlation between per capita GDP growth in a country and its citizens’ happiness.
- Teenage drug use, pregnancies, smoking and drinking are all on the decline; welfare reform is working, bringing down child poverty, and the divorce rate is falling. Horray!
- We’re having more babies than at any time since the 1970s. Our 2.1 babies per adult woman puts us at the top of the developed world’s fertility rankings. A child is the biggest bet on a happy future that two people can make.
