What It Really Means for a Country to Flourish
Flourishing, in the sense used by the Global Flourishing Study, is not just about being rich or even about being happy. It is about the degree to which different parts of life are going well for people, in real communities, over time. A flourishing country, in this sense, is not one where every indicator is perfect. It is one where most people can say, with some honesty, that they are reasonably healthy, that their lives feel worthwhile, that they have people they can count on, and that they are not kept awake at night by fear of the next bill or the next crisis.
The Global Flourishing Study shows that such countries exist at many income levels and on several continents. It also shows that flourishing depends as much on relationships, purpose and the long arc of childhood as it does on economic growth. For any government or society that wants to be “successful” in a deeper way, that is the central message. Using data from more than 200,000 people in 22 countries, the Global Flourishing Study tries to put numbers on that idea and asks which countries, on average, are doing better at it, and why.
What the Global Flourishing Study measures
The study defines flourishing as 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. In practice, the researchers focus on six main domains of individual well-being:
- Happiness and life satisfaction
- Health, both physical and mental
- Meaning and purpose
- Character and virtue, such as acting for the good and delaying gratification
- Close relationships
- Financial and material security
Each person answered 12 questions, two in each domain. These covered how satisfied they are with life, how they rate their physical and mental health, whether they understand their purpose in life, how content they are with their relationships, and how often they worry about meeting basic expenses, food, housing or safety. Responses are scored from 0 to 10 and averaged into a composite flourishing index.
The study is a five year longitudinal panel. The same people are intended to be followed over time, which will allow future analysis of how life changes, policies and shocks affect flourishing, not just a single snapshot. The article you are working from presents results from the first wave.
What it means for a country to be flourishing
A country that is flourishing in this sense is one where, on average, several things are true.
1. People feel their lives are going well in several areas
Higher scores mean that typical residents report decent health, reasonable happiness, a sense that what they do is worthwhile, relationships they are content with, and a level of financial security that keeps constant worry at bay. Flourishing is not one thing, it is a pattern of life that holds together across several domains.
2. The gains are spread, not locked into a narrow elite
The study also reports inequality in flourishing within each country. Countries with lower average flourishing tend to show higher inequality in flourishing, which hints at societies where some groups are doing quite well and others are struggling. A flourishing country is not only one with a high average, it is also one where fewer people are left at the bottom.
3. Early life gives people a solid base
Adult flourishing is strongly linked to earlier life. People who grew up with good relationships with their mother and father, who lived in families that could at least “get by,” who enjoyed good health, and who did not experience abuse or feel like outsiders, report higher flourishing as adults.
The reverse is also clear. Childhood abuse, persistent financial hardship, poor health and chronic exclusion all show sizable negative associations with adult flourishing, even after controlling for other factors. A flourishing country is one that reduces those risks early, instead of trying to fix the damage later.
4. Social roles and institutions are supportive
Across countries, flourishing is on average higher for people who are married, employed or self employed, and more educated. It is also noticeably higher for those who attend religious services regularly. That pattern likely reflects a mix of social support, shared meaning, and community, rather than religion as a narrow doctrine.
This suggests that a flourishing country is one where major social institutions, such as families, schools, workplaces, and faith or community groups, support people rather than trap or exhaust them.
5. Older adults are not left behind
One striking finding is that composite flourishing tends to rise after midlife. People aged 60 and above often report higher flourishing than those in their twenties and thirties, even though their physical health is worse.
That points to the idea that flourishing is also about emotional balance, purpose and relationships, not only physical vigor. A flourishing country is not only about youthful dynamism, it is also about societies where older people retain purpose, relationships and security.
The authors note that all of this is based on self reports, and responses are shaped by culture, language and local norms. Direct comparisons must be made carefully. The rankings tell a story about patterns and relative strengths, rather than a rigid league table of “who is happiest.”
The top 10 flourishing countries
Using the composite flourishing index that includes financial security, the first wave ranks the 22 countries as follows at the top:
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Philippines
- Mexico
- Poland
- Nigeria
- Egypt
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Argentina
Here is a short picture of why each of these ten is considered to be flourishing in this dataset, based on which domains stand out for them relative to the others.
1. Indonesia
Indonesia reports the highest overall flourishing score and shows strengths across a wide range of indicators, such as happiness, life satisfaction, freedom, meaning and purpose, relationship contentment, hope, gratitude, charitable giving, self rated physical health, political voice and trust.
This pattern suggests a society where many people feel their lives are worthwhile and where social and civic engagement are relatively strong, even though the country still faces challenges in education, employment and some aspects of helping behavior.
2. Israel
Israel scores near the top on life evaluation today, balance in life, social support, and low levels of loneliness and physical pain. On average, people feel supported by close networks and feel that their lives are on a good track.
At the same time, the study notes room for growth in forgiveness, volunteering, political voice and belonging. That hints at tension between strong personal networks and broader social cohesion, something many modern societies face.
3. Philippines
The Philippines shows notable strengths in delayed gratification, love, and satisfaction with one’s city. It also performs relatively well on freedom, relationship contentment, political voice and trust.
These strengths show up alongside higher reported levels of depression, anxiety and health limitations. In other words, very strong relational and civic dimensions coexist with mental health burdens that policymakers and communities need to address.
4. Mexico
Mexico performs well on feelings of mastery, happiness, life satisfaction, meaning, social support, hope and gratitude. Many people feel capable and optimistic, with supportive relationships around them.
However, Mexico also ranks toward the bottom on material and financial worry and subjective financial well being. Many people still live with serious economic stress, even as they maintain a sense of meaning and hope; economic insecurity is the main drag on flourishing.
5. Poland
Poland’s relative strengths lie in the mental health space. It shows lower scores on traumatic distress, depression, anxiety, suffering and health limitations than many other countries in the sample.
On the other hand, the country scores comparatively lower on delayed gratification, helping, volunteering and love. That suggests that while individual distress is somewhat lower, prosocial engagement and warm relational behaviors are weaker than they could be.
6. Nigeria
Nigeria stands out for intimate friendships, forgiveness, volunteering and helping strangers. These indicators point to a dense social fabric and a culture of mutual aid.
At the same time, Nigerians report low subjective financial well being, weaker housing conditions and gaps in education. Material hardship remains a strong constraint, but social capital lifts flourishing higher than one might expect from income levels alone.
7. Egypt
Egypt ranks relatively high in feelings of belonging and balance in life. It also shows strengths in mastery, forgiveness and helping behavior. Many people feel anchored in a shared identity and feel capable of managing their lives.
Yet respondents also report elevated traumatic distress, discrimination, physical pain and lower levels of volunteering. Strong identity and personal resources seem to coexist with significant stress and strain in daily life.
8. Kenya
Kenya scores well on purpose, self rated mental health and volunteering, with additional strengths in optimism, relationship contentment, forgiveness and self rated physical health. Many people feel that their lives have direction and that they are part of something larger.
Kenyans also report low subjective financial well being, challenges with employment and poor housing conditions. High flourishing scores here coexist with severe economic and infrastructural deficits, which again shows how far strong relationships and meaning can carry people.
9. Tanzania
Tanzania shows relative strengths in self rated mental health, approval of government, low discrimination and love. There is a sense of trust in institutions and affection in close ties.
Areas for growth include life evaluation today, balance in life, life satisfaction, close friendships and education. Trust and affection are present, but aspirations and opportunities remain constrained for many people.
10. Argentina
Argentina is relatively strong on promoting good, mastery, social support and hope. Many respondents feel they are trying to do the right thing, believe they can handle life, and have people they can count on.
However, Argentines also report some of the highest levels of financial and material worry, as well as anxiety and financial strain. Flourishing is being achieved in spite of economic conditions rather than because of them.
Lessons about flourishing that cut across countries
The rankings are interesting, but the deeper value of the study lies in the patterns that repeat across very different societies.
Childhood conditions leave a long shadow
Good relationships with parents, manageable family finances, good childhood health and the absence of abuse or chronic exclusion all show clear positive associations with adult flourishing.
This reinforces a simple policy message. A flourishing country invests in safe, nurturing childhoods through child protection, income support for families, universal health coverage for children, and inclusive schools that reduce bullying and stigma. These investments pay off across a lifetime.
Social ties and community matter as much as money
Economic security is important. People who grew up in families that “lived comfortably” are more likely to flourish, while those whose families “found it very difficult” report lower flourishing. Poverty makes almost every other aspect of life harder.
Yet the presence of countries like Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania in the top ten, despite substantial material challenges, shows that strong relationships, social support, volunteering, forgiveness and belonging can raise flourishing even when incomes are modest. Marriage, friendships, social networks and community participation all track closely with higher flourishing scores. Policies that strengthen community life, support families and reduce isolation are central to national well being.
Meaning, faith and frameworks of purpose
Across the 22 countries, higher flourishing is closely tied to a sense that life is meaningful and worthwhile. People who attend religious services weekly or more often report substantially higher flourishing, even when other factors are taken into account.
Religious communities are not the only source of meaning, but in many societies they provide identity, support, and moral frameworks. A flourishing country leaves space for plural sources of meaning and purpose, from spirituality and culture to civic engagement, creative work and shared national projects.
Aging can be a strength
Composite flourishing tends to rise after midlife, even though physical health and pain indicators worsen. This pattern suggests that as people age, they often gain balance, inner peace, mastery and better emotional regulation.
A flourishing country is one that taps into the strengths of older adults, values their contributions, and ensures they are not pushed into poverty or isolation. Policies on pensions, health care, and community activity become central to national well being, not just technical details.
What policymakers can take from the study
If flourishing is the goal, the study points to a few practical directions.
First, protect children and support families through reliable income support, early childhood health services, parenting support and strong child protection systems. The conditions of childhood show up directly in adult well being.
Second, build inclusive education systems that do not only transmit knowledge, but also reduce stigma and help young people form friendships and a sense of belonging. Schools are a major setting where flourishing is either supported or damaged.
Third, secure basic economic conditions so that fewer people live with constant fear about food, housing and safety. Financial strain erodes flourishing even where other domains are strong. Stable work, fair wages and social protection are not luxuries in this framework, they are foundations.
Fourth, invest in community and civic life by backing local associations, safe public spaces, volunteering and participatory politics that give people a sense of voice. When people feel that they matter in public life, other domains of flourishing rise.
Fifth, integrate mental health and physical health into public health strategies. Both are central to well being and interact strongly with the other domains measured in the study. Treating mental health as a marginal issue means leaving a large share of flourishing on the table.