The Global Flourishing Study

The Global Flourishing Study, a five-year project surveying over 200,000 people across 22 countries, seeks to understand the underlying factors that enable people to flourish—not just to survive, or even to be happy, but to thrive in a deep, meaningful, and multidimensional way. Led by over 40 researchers across disciplines and backed by Gallup, the study measures well-being across six dimensions: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and financial stability.

One of the study's most striking findings is that wealth does not necessarily lead to greater well-being. Countries like the United States and Sweden—though highly affluent—ranked lower in overall flourishing, largely due to diminished levels of meaning and social connection. In contrast, Israel ranked second overall, despite the significant challenges it faces, highlighting the strength of its communal bonds and shared purpose. The study also found that countries with higher birth rates often reported a stronger sense of meaning, suggesting that deep human connection—not material success—is a key driver of true fulfillment.