"Married People Are Happier Than Singles," According to U.S. Gallup Survey

Married Individuals' Happiness Index Increases by Up to 24%p
"However, the Quality of Marriage May Vary Depending on the Situation"

A public opinion survey in the United States revealed that married people have a higher happiness index than those who are not married. However, experts advised that one does not need to get married to become happier.

On the 28th of last month (local time), CNN reported on related statistics recently published by the polling organization Gallup, which conducted surveys over the past 15 years.

Gallup conducted an annual survey from 2009 to 2023, asking about 2.5 million American adults how they currently evaluate their lives. The researchers asked respondents to rate their current happiness index on a scale from 0 to 10, and then to predict their happiness index five years into the future.

As a result, the happiness index of married people was consistently higher than that of unmarried people. Depending on the survey year, it was between 12 percentage points and up to 24 percentage points higher. Even after adjusting for factors such as age, race, ethnicity, gender, and education, the happiness index gap based on marital status remained.

Jonathan Roswell, Gallup's chief economist, explained, “No matter how the data is analyzed, it is clear that marital status plays a significant role in how people evaluate their lives.”

However, he added that the relationship between marriage and happiness is not absolute. Roswell noted, “The quality of marriage can vary depending on individual circumstances, social changes, and cultural perspectives on marriage.”

Monica O'Neill, a psychologist from Boston, also emphasized, “I believe that people in unhappy marriages are less happy than those who are single,” and added, “Whether marriage or dating, a happy relationship can be maintained through mutual commitment and communication.”