What does success look like in 2026? A stable job and owning a home still top the list

We live in an era of artificial intelligence, social media, digital nomads, and careers that didn’t even exist ten years ago. So you might think the idea of a “successful life” has also changed dramatically.

But the data tells a different story.

According to Ipsos’ Life Aspirations 2026 global study, conducted across 30 countries, people still associate success with fairly traditional goals: having a stable job, owning a home, and achieving financial independence.

In other words, even though the world is changing at breakneck speed, many of the aspirations that define a successful life remain surprisingly familiar.

When people were asked to choose which signs they consider important to define a successful life, the ranking was clear*: 

• 65% mention having a stable full-time job.
• 58% consider owning a home important.
• 35% value becoming independent and living on their own.
• 31% consider becoming a parent important.
• 25% mention marriage or a civil partnership. 

The message is clear: people are still prioritizing stability. 

And perhaps that's no coincidence. In a climate marked by inflation, economic uncertainty and the struggle to find affordable housing in many parts of the world, achieving financial stability has become one of the biggest symbols of personal success. 

* Global average.

For years, we've heard that younger generations have completely different values to their parents or grandparents. 

However, the study found something striking: generational differences are much smaller than usually believed. For example, under-35s, 35 to 49-year-olds, and those aged between 50 and 74 all placed almost the exact same importance on having a stable job or owning their own home. 

This challenges the idea that new generations have abandoned traditional aspirations. The goals remain the same. What has changed is the perception of how achievable they are.

The study also explored an interesting question: how would we feel if some of these goals were never achieved? 

The responses show that certain milestones still carry a strong emotional weight. 

Globally, people are more likely to say that they would feel sad if they never achieved: 

• Owning their own home (40%).
• Getting a stable job (40%).
• Living in your own home, whether rented or bought (37%). 

Views on parenthood and marriage are more divided, reflecting that these milestones are increasingly a personal choice rather than a universal social expectation.  

If the report identifies a clear dividing line between those who see success as achievable and those who don't, that line is income.  

Higher-income households: 

• Place more importance on various life milestones.
• Are more likely to have achieved them.
• They're more optimistic about achieving their remaining goals.  

In contrast, people on lower incomes show lower levels of confidence across almost all the indicators evaluated.  

This suggests the debate around modern aspirations isn't purely cultural. 

It's also deeply economic.

The most interesting takeaway from Life Aspirations 2026 is that, despite all the changes happening in the world, human aspirations remain remarkably consistent.  

Most people still associate a successful life with security, independence, stability, and the chance to build their own personal project.  The real transformation seems to be happening elsewhere: in people's confidence to reach those goals. 

And perhaps that's one of the most important questions for the years ahead. Not what we want to be. But rather whether we feel we still have a real chance of getting there. 

We all have an idea of what it means to "be successful". For some, it's achieving financial stability; for others, it's building a family, gaining independence, or simply feeling fulfilled with the life they've chosen. 

But one thing seems clear: even though times change, our dreams still have a lot in common. What is changing is how possible we feel it is to achieve them. 

At Ipsos iSay, we want to know your perspective. Join our community and take part in surveys that help researchers and organisations around the world understand how people's aspirations, concerns, and expectations are evolving. 

Your voice can be part of upcoming global studies on the goals and challenges that are defining the future. What does a successful life mean to you? We want to hear from you.

*Source: Ipsos Life Aspirations 2026 Survey. Survey conducted between 20 February and 6 March 2026 in 30 countries, with a sample of 22,693 adults aged between 16 and 74 years (with variations by country).  

Countries included: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.