In case you missed the celebration of International Day of Happiness last week, there’s news to report about the prevalence of happiness among younger and older adults in the United States and around the world. A new poll conducted by Gallup was just released examining happiness around the world. Called the World Happiness Report, this new poll uses data to consider the place of happiness and well-being in over 140 countries. In each country, 1000 individuals were polled. Finland is rated the #1 happiest country in the world, perhaps due to its healthy life expectancy and robust network of social support. The results are somewhat striking for what they reflect about current life in the United States and specifically about differences in outlook between younger and older Americans.

First, a little data. Surprisingly, the United States dropped out of the list of the top 20 happiest countries, and instead fell to number 23, below the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Typically, according to the psychological theory of happiness, there is a “U” shaped curve that reflects happiness in our younger years, followed by a dip during middle age, with an upturn in happiness again when we enter our later years. However, the evidence from this new World Happiness Report distinctly departs from this theory, as younger adults appear to be struggling in the US. In fact, among younger adults, the US happiness ranking is #62. Why is that? The data seem to show that younger US residents feel they have less freedom to make choices, are less satisfied with their living conditions, have lower confidence in their government, and feel lonely, with less support from family and friends.

In contrast, older Americans are faring quite well. In fact, according to the World Happiness Poll, older Americans were ranked 10th worldwide. This is attributable to positive social connections and engagement along with better financial situations. Compared to younger American adults, older adults experience less loneliness. They are also in possession of 30% of US wealth despite only being 11% of the population. Furthermore, data reflect that almost 80% of US adults 65 and over own their own homes, so their living situations are more stable and less responsive to the inflationary pressures that younger renters experience. There may be other reasons for happier outlooks among older adults as well. As we’ve previously noted, having a sense of purpose and experiencing the resilience of having lived through tough times can help boost happiness, along with recognizing that time is limited and there’s much to be grateful for.

But not all of us experience peak happiness as we get older, or not without effort. And experts do find that there are ways to improve or expand your sense of happiness as you continue on in your later years. In a recent interview with sociologist and aging expert Karl Pillemer, CNBC contributor Shane Parrish quoted the following from Dr. Pillemer: “Happiness is not a passive condition dependent on external events, nor is it the result of our personalities — just being born a happy person,” he said. “Instead, happiness requires a conscious shift in outlook, in which one chooses — daily — optimism over pessimism, hope over despair.” And, in fact, according to recent research from the University of Bristol in the UK, happiness can be learned, though it requires attention and practice sustained by several regular habits. According to this research, which examined the personal habits of university students specifically taking a course entitled “The Science of Happiness,” not only did students report a 10-15% improvement in their outlooks from the course itself, but fully half of them maintained their improved happiness outlook in the years following the class by continuing such habits as performing acts of kindness, savoring experiences, practicing feelings of gratitude and enhancing social connections by, for example, initiating conversations with strangers. For more on this study, focus on what’s good in your life and read here.

Happiness expert Stephanie Harrison has launched a new project called The New Happy, which posits that happiness is often the result of struggle rather than living an easy life. She suggests that the values that have undergirded our existing notions of happiness- individualism, capitalism, etc- have caused negative behaviors that don’t actually lead to a happy life. Instead, she suggests that true happiness comes from our connections with others- something that most older adults have figured out once they reach their later years. So perhaps younger adults can learn the lessons of their elders, who focus on relationships and connections as the source of life’s happiness. To learn more about this “new” concept of happiness, read an interview with Stephanie Harrison here and take a look at the new book that will be detailing the new happiness here.