World Happiness Report 2025 Released
The World Happiness Report just dropped, and it’s clear—our work at the Gambrell Foundation has never been more relevant. Here are some of the findings:
Happiness Comes Down to Relationships – The report makes it clear: the happiest places on Earth aren’t just wealthy—they’re connected. Strong family ties, friendships, and community bonds make the biggest difference. That’s exactly what the Great Life Project is about—helping people build real, lasting relationships that make life meaningful.
Giving Feels Good (and Does Good) – Whether donating, volunteering, or helping a stranger, acts of kindness don’t just help others—they boost the giver’s happiness too. The report shows that the “benevolence bump” from COVID is still going strong. This backs up our belief at Gambrell: when people feel needed and have a purpose beyond themselves, life gets a whole lot better.
Young People Are Struggling with Loneliness – A shocking 19% of young adults worldwide say they have no one to rely on. That’s a crisis. Our work on the “great” life is all about tackling this head-on—helping young people build social capital, find their tribe and a passion, and create lives full of belonging and purpose.
Meals Matter More Than We Think – Here’s something simple but powerful: people who share meals with others are way happier. But more and more people are eating alone. That might seem small, but it speaks to a bigger issue—connection is built in everyday moments. Whether it’s dinner with family, coffee with a friend, or grabbing lunch with a colleague, those shared experiences matter.
Trust Makes Life Better – People actually underestimate how kind others are, but in high-trust societies—like the Nordic countries—happiness is higher and inequality is lower. That’s huge. When we trust each other, everything works better. Our work grantmaking lens of helping everyone live a “great” life is all about building communities where people feel seen, valued, and supported.
Bottom line? The World Happiness Report proves what we already know: real happiness isn’t about money or status. It’s about connection, trust, awe, and finding meaning in everyday life. That’s the work we’re doing. Let’s do this together.