The percentage of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 who evaluate their lives well enough to be considered \u201cthriving\u201d in Gallup\u2019s Life Evaluation Index is 44% thus far in 2026, which is on pace through the first three quarters of the year to be 20 percentage points lower than the high of 64% measured in 2010. Most of the erosion has occurred since 2019. Following a modest decline over the course of the 2010s to 57% in 2019, a major drop to 39% occurred amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. After hitting that low point, the thriving rate for this group partially rebounded to 51% in 2023 before falling again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adults aged 30 to 44 show a similar decline. The percentage who are thriving among this group is 45% through the first three quarters of 2026, compared with a high of 62% in 2016 and 2017. Those aged 45 to 64 have not dropped as much as younger groups, but their 46% thriving rate to date in 2026 matches their low from 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, Americans aged 65 and older show higher life evaluations than in the past, climbing fairly steadily from 38% in 2008 to 53% thus far in 2026, matching their record high from 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> Timely numbers on just how miserable young people are in America today https:\/\/t.co\/UuzfQKIV6Z\nhttps:\/\/t.co\/Ow2XAZri5B https:\/\/t.co\/BYJ07iSoKt<\/p>— Nick Field (@nick_field90) October 5, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n