Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
The recently released 2022 World Happiness Report marks its 10th anniversary of the report. In the ten years since the World Happiness Report (WHR) was launched, support has been growing to measure people’s well-being and happiness. The report is made primarily using world health data from Gallup’s World Poll. Each report uses compiled data from the previous three years of surveys which increases the sample size as well as increases the accuracy of the data. The information compiled in the World Happiness Report can help nations design policies that aid in achieving happier societies.
In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly invited member nations to measure the happiness of their citizens to help guide public policy. The first WHR was released in 2012, outlining the state of world happiness, causes of happiness, and policy implications highlighted by case studies. The key ideas of the World Health Report have remained the same throughout its ten years: happiness can be measured through surveys, and it’s possible to identify key determinants of well-being. In 2021, the WHR reached over 9 million people.
“The recent pandemic has likely had a strong impact on popular conceptions of what is most important for a good life, and indeed on how society can foster collective improvements to well-being.” –2022 World Happiness Report
The 2022 World Happiness Report data emphasized disruptions to our everyday lives, including the financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects of climate change. OneNature concurs. In our recent report “Advancing Well-being for All Beings” we shared that “a mental health and loneliness crisis has left many people disconnected from each other. Economic inequality in the United States has increased at rates not seen since the Gilded Age in the early 1900s. Research suggests that Americans, by and large, are deeply unhappy. As a matter of fact, Americans feel more isolated, lonely, and worried about their children’s future than at any other time in the last 50 years. “
“As we battle the ills of disease and war, it is essential to remember the universal desire for happiness and the capacity of individuals to rally to each other’s support in times of great need.” -2022 World Happiness Report
At OneNature, we value the happiness and well-being of all beings. We have partnered with Gallup to find ways to include wildlife in a future World Happiness Poll (as funding permits) because we believe the inclusion of wildlife in national and international decision-making frameworks will aid in the growth of happiness around the world.