How Indonesia, Mexico, and Nigeria Ranked Ahead of the U.S. in Human Flourishing

It’s no secret that the United States is not the happiest country on earth. For years, countries in Northern Europe—Denmark, Finland, and Sweden—have dominated global happiness rankings. But a new lens on well-being, one that looks beyond happiness to assess overall human flourishing, places the U.S. behind even countries like Indonesia, Mexico, and Nigeria. 

Led by Byron Johnson at Baylor and Tyler VanderWeele at Harvard, and partnered with Gallup, the Global Flourishing Study (GFS) is a bold effort to address one of humanity’s oldest questions: what makes a good life? With more than 200,000 participants across twenty-two countries and territories representing roughly 64 percent of the world’s population, the study aims to capture a more complete picture of human well-being. Its longitudinal design will also allow researchers to track how lives change over time in the next few years, reinterviewing the same participants in each country.  

At the heart of this study is “flourishing,” a multidimensional concept that refers to “the relative attainment of a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good, including the contexts in which that person lives.” This framework goes beyond conventional metrics like happiness, health, and financial security. It also includes close relationships, purpose, and virtue as equally central indicators of human flourishing. 

According to its inaugural report, the U.S. ranked 15th out of 22 countries on the Flourishing Index (which averages scores across five domains, excluding financial security). Even when financial security is factored in, the U.S. only climbs to twelfth place, still behind nations like Indonesia, Mexico, and Nigeria. To be fair, we did outperform most other developed countries. But the overall pattern is still striking: except for Israel, none of the top ten countries in flourishing are economically advanced. 

This raises an uncomfortable but important question: how is the U.S., a global superpower, lagging behind nations we often associate with poverty or instability?  

Before addressing that question, I should point out some methodological caveats. Measuring well-being in an international context is notoriously difficult. The twenty-two countries surveyed vary widely in size, governance, and development. Comparing the United States to places like Hong Kong (not a country) or Israel (roughly the size of the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area) presents obvious challenges. A more accurate comparison should account for macro-level variables like population size, age structure, crime rates, and socioeconomic conditions. 

Second, the Flourishing Index relies entirely on subjective self-reports. As we know, perceptions of happiness or purpose can be fleeting and highly contextual. In fact, the GFS report itself includes studies showing that even inmates on death row can report high levels of flourishing. In Mississippi state penitentiary, for instance, some death row inmates found peace, hope, and renewed sense of purpose through participation in faith-based programs.  

Finally, the very term “flourishing” may pose a problem in an international context. For many, flourishing implies more than simply surviving; it is thriving. In the U.S., we tend to associate flourishing with security, freedom, and abundance. When individuals or nations are still grappling with poverty or meeting basic needs, it’s hard to picture them as “flourishing” in the fullest sense.  

Despite the methodological limitations, I believe the value of the Flourishing Index is not in identifying which country best models human flourishing, but in reminding us of something deeply human that higher-income countries like ours are in danger of losing. The top countries on the Flourishing Index, though less economically advanced, consistently score higher in social connection, meaning, and purpose than most of the developed countries on this list. For example, Indonesia, which topped the index with an average score of 8.1 out of 10, reports especially high levels of purpose and relationship satisfaction. A similar pattern holds for Mexico, Nigeria, and other developing countries that scored higher on the index. 

Relationships, meaning, and purpose are not trivial assets. Decades of psychological research confirm that relationships are fundamental to human happiness and well-being. Among the many relationships we have, marital relationships tend to have the greatest influence on our emotional health. In addition, studies have repeatedly shown that married adults are, on average, happier, healthier, and more economically secure than their unmarried peers.  

The Global Flourishing Study confirms the importance of marriage globally. Using pooled data from the twenty-two countries surveyed, the GFS found that married individuals report significantly higher levels of flourishing, driven primarily by stronger relationships and a greater sense of meaning.    

As a result, the countries ranked higher on the Flourishing Index tend to have higher marriage rates. In Indonesia, about 65 to 70 percent of adults are married, and similar shares are in Egypt and the Philippines. In contrast, about half of U.S. adults are married, and the share is even lower in countries like Sweden. 

Marriage matters because it is also linked to another key ingredient of flourishing at the country level: children. A country without children is, ultimately, a country without a future. Japan is known for having one of the lowest fertility rates in the world (1.4 children per woman), and it’s no coincidence that the country also ranks last in the Global Flourishing Index. 

Indeed, countries’ rankings in flourishing closely track their fertility rates. Most of the top ten countries have at least replacement-level fertility (2.1 children per woman): Nigeria averages 4.5, the Philippines 2.8, and Israel, a standout among developed countries, 2.9. At the same time, the U.S. fertility rate has reached a record low in recent years, averaging 1.6 children per a woman’s lifetime, a trend that may be undermining our overall capacity to flourish. 

We can and we should lead in human flourishing. To do so, we must invest in the fundamental ingredients of flourishing: marriage and children. 

Marriage is the most important predictor of fertility, and a declining marriage rate is the culprit for falling birthrates across many parts of the world today. To truly flourish, developed countries like ours must take seriously the work of strengthening marriage and families.   

A flourishing society also depends on thriving young adults. Unfortunately, this is where the United States and much of the world are falling short. One of the most consistent findings in the GFS report is that younger adults are struggling, regardless of their country’s average flourishing score. This is particularly true in the U.S., where the average score for those under age thirty is just 6.4, compared to 7.7 for those ages sixty to sixty-nine. The disparity in mental health is even starker: 5.7 for younger adults versus 8.1 for older ones. 

This generational divide should concern us deeply: one crucial measure missing from the study, but essential to understanding what sustains flourishing across generations, is intergenerational mobility. Flourishing is not just a snapshot of a present condition; it’s about a better life and upward mobility. When young people are struggling and their lives are worse than their parents’ were at the same age, we are in trouble. 

The United States has prided itself on being the land of opportunity, where anyone, regardless of background, can rise through hard work and determination. And we all have a shot at the American Dream. But unfortunately, recent research shows that economic upward mobility has declined since 1980 and we are falling behind other developed countries. Young adults are also facing a mental health crisis as suicide, anxiety, depression, and drug overdose deaths have all risen to record levels.  

At the Institute for Family Studies, we’ve been studying and promoting the “Success Sequence,” which offers a path for young adults to flourish both economically and emotionally. The sequence involves three steps: completing at least a high school education, working full-time, and marrying before having children. Regardless of their socioeconomic and racial background, following this sequence dramatically reduces the poverty rate for young adults and increases their chances of financial success. More importantly, the sequence is linked to lower divorce rates and fosters family stability, which is key to mental well-being.  

Flourishing and success go hand in hand. America has long led the world in economic success, entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation. We can and we should lead in human flourishing. To do so, we must invest in the fundamental ingredients of flourishing: marriage and children. We must pay attention to our young adults, helping them move upward and thrive both economically and emotionally. And we must invest in the social institutions that provide stability and foster virtue among individuals and families. 

Editor's Note: This article appeared first at Public Discourse. It has been reprinted here with permission.