If you could choose the year you were born, would you pick the world of 1975 or the world of 2025? The results paint a fascinating picture of what we value today, what we miss from the past, and how different generations see the world around them.
From optimism in some countries to deep nostalgia in others, this global study highlights how people feel about happiness, progress, and the quality of life over the last 50 years.
1975 vs. 2025: Which Era Do People Prefer?
🌍 A Clear Divide: Which Era Do People Prefer?
Across 30 countries, 44% people say they would rather have been born in 1975, while only about one-quarter (24%) prefer 2025. Nostalgia clearly runs deep, with more than half (55%) believing people were happier back then compared to only 16% think happiness has increased today.
It seems the past holds a certain charm in our collective imagination — even if reality might tell a different story.
👶🧓 Generations Don’t Agree
Your age really does shape your view of the world.
Gen Z is the only generation leaning toward the present, with 38% preferring 2025 over 1975. Baby Boomers (54%) and Gen X (55%) overwhelmingly choose the past. Millennials seem caught in between, 39% favoring 1975 and 28% choosing 2025.
Clearly, older generations feel a stronger connection to the “good old days,” while younger people are drawn to the opportunities and possibilities of today.
🌱 Quality of Life: What Has Improved—and What Hasn’t
The past isn’t perfect, but neither is the present, and people are clearly split about which aspects have improved.
- 61% believe the environment was better in 1975.
- 52% say healthcare has improved in 2025.
- 40% feel education is better today.
- 38% say living standards have improved over time.
In short, we appreciate medical advances and technological convenience, yet environmental concerns weigh heavily on our minds. It seems like a mix of progress and nostalgia shaping our judgments.
🌎 Country-by-Country: A World of Contrasts
Some countries feel more nostalgic than others.
New Zealand (52%) and Australia (51%) show the strongest preference for 1975. South Korea stands alone as the only country where more people prefer 2025 (44%) over 1975 (19%). This reflects its rapid modernization and rising living standards.
When it comes to living standards, where you were born really matters. In South Korea, 80% say life is better today, with Singapore close behind at 70%. At the other end of the spectrum is Indonesia, saying standards of living were better in 1975 (43%).
People’s preference for 1975 seems rooted in a sense of security and well-being: living without fear of war or conflict, feeling safe on the streets, the overall happiness of society, and the quality of the environment. In short, while we appreciate modern advances, many look back on the past with longing for a simpler, safer, and happier world.
🕒 Life Expectancy: How Long Do We Really Live?
The study also reveals how people often misjudge life expectancy. While life expectancy now exceeds 75 years in most surveyed countries, many underestimate just how long people are actually living today.
In Thailand, people estimate today’s life expectancy at 46.8 years, but the real figure is 76.8 years. South Koreans are the most accurate in their guesses.
It’s a reminder that our sense of the present and even the past can be surprisingly skewed, and reality is often more impressive than we think.
The data sources used in this article can be found here.
⭐ Looking Back, Moving Forward
Whether we long for the past or embrace the present, it’s clear that our views are shaped by our experiences, culture, and how fast the world changes. Every perspective helps in painting the full story.
🗣️ Your Turn to Share Your Say
How do you feel, was life better in the past, or do you believe the best is still ahead? Studies like this come to life because real people share their honest opinions on the world around them.
If you’d like to have your say on topics like this and help shape the conversations that matter, join Ipsos iSay today. Your voice could be part of the next global insight.
