According to the latest Wall Street Journal-NORC poll, a small group of Americans, approximately 12%, describe themselves as not just happy, but “very happy.” These happiest individuals share some common traits: they value community and close personal relationships, tend to believe in God, and are generally older, often in their retirement years.
The 12% of very happy Americans is the smallest share ever recorded in the General Social Survey conducted by NORC, dating back to 1972. Most respondents expressed pessimism about the economy and prospects for the next generation.
The very happy individuals prioritize strong relationships, with 67% stating that marriage is very important to them, regardless of their own marital status, compared to 43% of respondents overall. Additionally, two-thirds of them consider themselves very or moderately religious, compared to less than half of adults overall.
Community involvement is also more significant for the very happy than for those reporting lower levels of happiness. Surprisingly, despite their overall happiness, they don’t attach high importance to money.
Age is a distinguishing factor, with those aged 60 and above accounting for 30% of the respondents but 44% of the happiest group. This aligns with research indicating that people tend to grow happier later in life, prioritizing well-being as they become more aware of mortality.
Women in the survey, more so than men, identified themselves as very happy, possibly influenced by their longer life expectancy.
The very happy aren’t without challenges, with some facing personal problems like helping a child battle cancer or dealing with divorce. Despite following politics and expressing concern about civic life, the very happy group consists of both Trump and Biden supporters, with no disproportionate association to any political party.
In interviews, many very happy individuals attribute their happiness to a combination of personality traits and the choices they make in their daily lives. Physical fitness and regular exercise are common interests among them.
