A new Harvard study looked at well-being and happiness across 22 countries, surveying more than 200,000 people. Some of the findings were surprising.
Leading the prosperity scale were Indonesia, Israel, the Philippines, Mexico, and Poland.
What Does Prosperity Mean?
The study measured prosperity using several variables: health, happiness, sense of purpose, mindset (character), social relationships, financial security, and spiritual well-being.
At the bottom of the list were Japan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, India, and Spain. Among the low-ranking countries were the otherwise prosperous Germany and Sweden. The United States came in 12th, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The findings reaffirm the old adage that money doesn’t buy happiness.
“Prosperity is a multidimensional process, and different countries thrive in different ways,” the authors wrote.
In a report in the journal Nature Mental Health, the team led by Professor Tyler VanderWeele wrote, “The aim of the study is to expand our understanding of the factors that determine prosperity worldwide.” They also found that feelings of happiness and well-being don’t always match a country’s economic development.
One surprise was Indonesia’s top ranking. Indonesia isn’t the wealthiest country, but it scored 8.3 thanks to strong social relationships and prosocial traits that foster a sense of community.
Japan landed at the bottom with a score of 5.89. Despite being a wealthy country with long life expectancy, Japanese respondents reported low happiness.
The results also showed a link between age and prosperity: older people reported higher well-being than younger people. “On average, when combining data from the 22 countries, the level of prosperity remains relatively stable from ages 18 to 49, and then increases with age,” the report stated.
The authors say the results raise questions for society’s future. The team added, “If society ultimately wants to thrive, it must consider issues of age, development, and spiritual dynamics.”
