Has grumpiness gone down globally? Here’s what the data shows | The Intelligence podcast

Key Concepts

• Gallup World Poll: An annual survey conducted in 140 countries to gather data on demographics and emotional well-being.
• Global Emotion Trends: Analysis of changes in reported emotions (positive and negative) across the world over time.
• Demographic Differences: Variations in emotional experiences based on age and socioeconomic status.
• Geographic Differences: Disparities in emotional well-being between different countries, particularly rich versus poorer nations.
• Negative Emotions: Anger, sadness, worry, and stress.
• Positive Emotions: Feeling respected, laughing, smiling, and enjoying oneself.

Global Mood: A Shift Towards Cheerfulness?

The world, which has experienced a general increase in negative emotions like anger, sadness, and stress over the past two decades, may now be showing signs of becoming "a little bit cheerier." A new survey of global emotions, analyzed by data journalist Angley Johnston and co-host Jason Palmer on the Intelligence Podcast, suggests a recent improvement in global mood. However, this recovery is not uniform across the world.

Measuring Global Emotions: The Gallup World Poll

The data for this analysis comes from the Gallup World Poll, an annual survey that interviews people in 140 countries. The poll collects demographic information and asks about individuals' emotional states. Specifically, respondents are asked about emotions experienced "yesterday."

Key Findings from the 2024 Survey:

• Negative Emotions:
  • Just under 40% of respondents reported feeling worried the previous day.
  • Over a third reported feeling stressed.
  • These figures represent the lowest levels of worry and stress recorded since 2019.
  • A quarter of respondents felt sad, and just over a fifth felt angry. While still significant, these numbers are down from previous years.
• Positive Emotions:
  • A significantly larger proportion of people reported experiencing positive emotions.
  • Nine out of ten people felt respected yesterday.
  • Around 70% of people reported laughing, smiling, or enjoying themselves.

Nuances in Emotional Measurement and Global Averages

While the questions capture day-to-day moods, they are described as "broad brush" and focus on immediate experiences rather than overall life satisfaction. Global averages, while informative, can mask significant differences across various demographics and regions.

Demographic and Geographic Disparities

1. Age:

• Young adults consistently report feeling angrier than older individuals.
• People in middle age experience the highest levels of stress.

2. Countries:

• Rich Countries: Countries like Denmark exhibit high levels of positive emotions and low levels of negative emotions. Around 90% of people in Denmark reported feeling enjoyment yesterday. Middle-income countries also show high levels of happiness.
• Gloomy End of the Scale: Countries experiencing conflict or hardship, such as Chad, Sierra Leone, and Iraq, report lower levels of positive emotions and higher levels of negative emotions.

Long-Term Trends: Divergent Paths

When examining trends over the past 20 years, a stark contrast emerges between rich and poorer countries:

• Rich Countries:
  • Emotional states have remained relatively stable or slightly improved.
  • The proportion of people reporting anger has steadily declined since 2006.
  • Stress levels are somewhat higher, but other negative emotions are stable.
  • Enjoyment has dipped slightly, but feelings of respect have increased.
• Poorer Countries:
  • A different picture emerges, with people reporting increased anger, sadness, and worry compared to the past.
  • Fewer people report feeling respected.
  • Stress Surge: Stress has significantly increased in poorer regions. In 2006, only 26% of people reported feeling stressed, a figure that rose to 41% in 2024.

Conclusion: A Mixed Picture of Global Well-being

While the global average suggests a slight improvement in mood, with a decrease in reported negative emotions and an increase in positive ones, this trend is not universal. Wealthier nations are generally experiencing more stable or improving emotional well-being, while poorer countries are facing a surge in negative emotions, particularly stress. Despite recent improvements, stress remains a pervasive issue globally, affecting people across all regions.