Considering the subjective and personalised aspect of the topic, it’s advisable to approach any document titled ‘World Happiness Report’ with a dose of scepticism. Yet, the recent data on Ireland as released by American survey firm, Gallup, alongside their partners, this week, indeed seems plausible.
The report, which categorises nations based on residents’ self-evaluation of their existence, has positioned Ireland at 17th out of 142 nations, a slight dip from 13th in 2022 and 14th in 2023. Floating near the top as expected for one of the wealthier nations globally.
The key insight for Ireland, however, is the escalating discrepancy in happiness levels between the so-called ‘Boomers’ (spawned before 1965) and younger demographic subdivisions such as Millennials and Generation Z, who entered the world between 1981 and 2012.
According to the report, the Irish under 30 age group registers as the least content, despite ranking 21st happiest globally. The most joyful group in Ireland comprises those aged 45 to 59, with a global happiness ranking of 16th. This growing happiness disparity between elder and younger generations is a frequent pattern throughout North America and, to a lesser degree, Western Europe.
The report evaluates happiness using various factors which include per capita income and healthy life expectancy, but also inquires about personal support networks and freedom of choice. Additional queries focus on charitable contributions and perceptions of governmental corruption. The final aspect considers whether respondents experienced positive or negative emotions the day before.
No advanced statistical interpretation is needed to understand why an individual above 45 in Ireland, maturing in a period before the upsurge of social media, encapsulated in secure employment, and progressing towards mortgage clearance, would answer these questions quite differently to those under 45, facing a housing predicament, variable employment, and a lifestyle moulded by smartphone usage and social media algorithms.