• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

2

Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard

3

Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’

1

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

2

Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard

3

Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
Healthwell being

Americans are proof that money can’t buy happiness, new report shows

By
Alexa Mikhail
Alexa Mikhail
Senior Reporter, Fortune Well
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Alexa Mikhail
Alexa Mikhail
Senior Reporter, Fortune Well
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 7, 2025, 3:15 PM ET
Overall life satisfaction in the U.S. is declining, according to the State of the Nation progress report.
Overall life satisfaction in the U.S. is declining, according to the State of the Nation progress report.PIKSEL—Getty
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The U.S. is full of contradictions worth exploring, according to a comprehensive new report on the state of national well-being. 

Recommended Video

“We are a nation of extremes—extreme successes and extreme failures,” according to the State of the Nation Project’s annual progress report released this month. “Our national trends are improving in more areas than we are declining. However, relative to other countries, the opposite is true—we are declining in more areas than we are improving.”

The report, championed by a group of scholars who fall on both lines of the political spectrum, lead in seven of the country’s think tanks, and have taken seats advising or working for the last five U.S. presidential administrations, examined 37 measures across 15 topic areas to quantify America’s well-being. Measures, researched by the scholars and informed by a sample of 1,000 U.S. adults, include Americans’ trust in government, trust in criminal justice systems, income inequality, violence, life satisfaction, social capital, mental health, family and child health, education, and work participation. 

The U.S. has the fastest-growing economy, outperforming 98% of other high-income countries in economic output and 88% of other high-income countries in productivity, the report found. However, overall life satisfaction in the U.S. is declining. For voter participation and the belief in democracy (a national declining trend), the country is underperforming most other countries assessed. In particular, trust in the federal government, police, and colleges and universities is declining in the U.S. 

“Almost two-thirds of high-income countries have more support for democracy than the United States,” according to the report. What’s more, the U.S. is among the worst middle- and high-income countries on depression and anxiety prevalence, faring worse than about 90% of other countries—and is the country reporting the world’s highest rate for fatal drug overdoses. For measures of child mortality, youth depression, and the percentage of children growing up in single-parent households, the U.S. is faring in the middle or worse compared to other high-income countries.

The findings are in line with last year’s World Happiness Report, in which the U.S. dropped out of the top 20, due in large part to young people’s declining mental well-being. “We’re so wealthy, but so unhappy,” Bradley Birzer, a historian at Hillsdale College in Michigan, tells the New York Times.

Read more from Fortune

  • Medical researchers baffled by Trump administration’s stop work order for clinical trial system: ‘A giant step backwards’
  • Bosses are making a major mistake that’s fueling stress at work, the CEO of Calm warns
  • Michelle Obama on a common parenting mistake that keeps kids from learning
  • 2 ways to drastically reduce your microplastics exposure
  • Why you should be walking after every meal, according to science
  •  

    Ariel Kalil, an economist at the University of Chicago, told the Times there’s a false assumption that boosting the economy boosts well-being for all. 

    The scholars explore the factors at play, including rising rates of social isolation and political polarization. 

    The results were based on national averages, and the scholars also note that inequities across the country contribute to these findings, given that life satisfaction differs greatly depending on socioeconomic status, gender, race, and more. 

    “While we have a very high average income, we continue to have among the most unequal incomes in the world,” the scholars conclude in their executive summary. 

    For more on well-being:

    • Finland is the happiest country in the world again. Here’s their secret to improving well-being
    • Workplace well-being is at an all-time low. Here are 5 ways employers can actually help
    • Researchers have followed over 700 people since 1938 to find the keys to happiness. Here’s what they discovered
    The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
    About the Author
    By Alexa MikhailSenior Reporter, Fortune Well
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Alexa Mikhail is a former senior health and wellness reporter for Fortune Well, covering longevity, aging, caregiving, workplace wellness, and mental health.

    See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
    Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

    Latest in Health

    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025

    Most Popular

    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Finance
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
    By Fortune Editors
    October 20, 2025
    Fortune Secondary Logo
    Rankings
    • 100 Best Companies
    • Fortune 500
    • Global 500
    • Fortune 500 Europe
    • Most Powerful Women
    • World's Most Admired Companies
    • See All Rankings
    • Lists Calendar
    Sections
    • Finance
    • Fortune Crypto
    • Features
    • Leadership
    • Health
    • Commentary
    • Success
    • Retail
    • Mpw
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • CEO Initiative
    • Asia
    • Politics
    • Conferences
    • Europe
    • Newsletters
    • Personal Finance
    • Environment
    • Magazine
    • Education
    Customer Support
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Single Issues For Purchase
    • International Print
    Commercial Services
    • Advertising
    • Fortune Brand Studio
    • Fortune Analytics
    • Fortune Conferences
    • Business Development
    • Group Subscriptions
    About Us
    • About Us
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map
    • About Us
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map
    • Facebook icon
    • Twitter icon
    • LinkedIn icon
    • Instagram icon
    • Pinterest icon

    Latest in Health

    A decade after the ‘Godfather of AI’ said radiologists were obsolete, their salaries are up to $571K and demand is growing fast
    AIthe future of work
    A decade after the ‘Godfather of AI’ said radiologists were obsolete, their salaries are up to $571K and demand is growing fast
    By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 19, 2026
    20 hours ago
    How United’s ‘premiumization’ strategy got passengers to swallow higher airfares without a fight
    HealthAirline industry
    How United’s ‘premiumization’ strategy got passengers to swallow higher airfares without a fight
    By Phil WahbaJuly 19, 2026
    1 day ago
    Diarrhea-causing lettuce may have spread as wide as 27 states, Taylor Farms recall suggests
    HealthFood and drink
    Diarrhea-causing lettuce may have spread as wide as 27 states, Taylor Farms recall suggests
    By Savannah Peters and The Associated PressJuly 18, 2026
    1 day ago
    Walmart removes four Taylor Farms salads as recalls spread
    RetailFood and drink
    Walmart removes four Taylor Farms salads as recalls spread
    By Jaewon Kang, Jessica Nix, Fabiola Zerpa and BloombergJuly 18, 2026
    2 days ago
    Backstabbing is the new office norm: Gen Z and millennials are blame-shifting, snitching, and setting others up to fail—but so are managers
    Successreturn to office
    Backstabbing is the new office norm: Gen Z and millennials are blame-shifting, snitching, and setting others up to fail—but so are managers
    By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 18, 2026
    2 days ago
    The Best Vitamins for Kids (2026): Support Their Immunity, Growth, and More
    HealthDietary Supplements
    The Best Vitamins for Kids (2026): Support Their Immunity, Growth, and More
    By Emily PharesJuly 17, 2026
    3 days ago

    Most Popular

    'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
    AI
    'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
    By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
    1 day ago
    Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
    AI
    Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
    By Aaron Walayat and The ConversationJuly 19, 2026
    1 day ago
    Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
    Success
    Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
    By Preston ForeJuly 19, 2026
    1 day ago
    Indeed chief economist: Aging Baby Boomers are America's real labor problem, not AI
    Commentary
    Indeed chief economist: Aging Baby Boomers are America's real labor problem, not AI
    By Svenja GudellJuly 18, 2026
    2 days ago
    A decade after the ‘Godfather of AI’ said radiologists were obsolete, their salaries are up to $571K and demand is growing fast
    AI
    A decade after the ‘Godfather of AI’ said radiologists were obsolete, their salaries are up to $571K and demand is growing fast
    By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 19, 2026
    20 hours ago
    Iran just crossed Trump's red line for resuming all-out war as fighting continues to escalate with no end in sight
    Middle East
    Iran just crossed Trump's red line for resuming all-out war as fighting continues to escalate with no end in sight
    By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
    1 day ago

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.