Across 145 Countries, Happiness Bottoms Out Around Age 47–48 and Then Rises
The Fact
Economist David Blanchflower analyzed data from 145 countries and found a U-shaped pattern in well-being: on average, happiness reaches its lowest point around age 47 in developed countries and 48 in developing countries, then rises.
What This Means
The midlife slump is common — and, on average, it is followed by an upswing.
Why It Matters
If you are in the bottom of the U, the data say you are not stuck there.
Sources
Blanchflower, David G. “Is Happiness U-Shaped Everywhere? Age and Subjective Well-Being in 145 Countries.” Journal of Population Economics 34 (2021): 575–624. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-020-00797-z