Did 2025 feel like a year that just wouldn’t let up? You’re not imagining it. Across Europe and North America, 50% of adults said it was a tough year for themselves and their families, according to Ipsos’ 2026 Predictions Survey. Rising costs, work pressure, and constant change made daily life feel heavier than usual.
And yet, something unexpected happened.
Despite looking back on a difficult year, people are stepping into 2026 feeling better about their lives. The Ipsos Happiness Report 2026 shows that 74% of people across 29 countries say they are happy, with happiness increasing in 25 of those countries compared to last year.
So how do we explain this contradiction? And what does it reveal about how happiness is evolving in Europe and North America today?
This is the first part of a two-part series exploring that question. Here, we look at the surprising rise in happiness. In Part 2, we’ll explore what may be driving it and how people’s definition of happiness is quietly changing.
Europe: Where Happiness Is High, But No Longer Taken for Granted
At first glance, Europe looks like a success story. 74% of adults say they feel happy, placing the region among the most content globally, higher than MENA at 59%, slightly above APAC at 71%.
But look closer, and a more nuanced picture begins to emerge, one shaped not just by economic conditions, but by what people value in their everyday lives.
Even across countries, the pictures vary. In the Ipsos Happiness Index 2026, the Netherlands stands out with about 86% of adults reporting they are happy, while France and Italy sit lower in the European happiness spectrum, at 75% and 69% respectively.
What’s striking is not just the variation in happiness levels, but what people say drives them. Across Europe, 36% point to family and children as a key source of happiness, closely followed by 32% who say feeling appreciated or loved matters most. At the same time, 52% say their financial situation contributes to unhappiness, showing that while money remains the biggest source of stress, it is relationships and emotional wellbeing that most strongly underpin happiness.
👉 Happiness in Europe is no longer just about stability, it’s about feeling supported, valued, and connected.
North America: When Stability Doesn’t Guarantee Well-Being
In North America, the picture looks steady at first glance. 73% of adults in both the United States and Canada say they are happy, placing the region broadly in line with the global average.
But look closer, and a more complex story begins to emerge, one that highlights the tension between stability and everyday pressures.
What people say drives their happiness reveals an important shift. In North America, 36% point to family and children as a key source of happiness, while 35% say feeling appreciated or loved matters most. Emotional and relational factors clearly sit at the heart of how people experience wellbeing.
At the same time, financial pressure stands out as the dominant source of stress. 58% say their financial situation contributes to unhappiness, alongside 32% who cite mental health and 26% physical health, suggesting that while people may feel broadly content, many still face underlying strains.
👉 In North America, happiness isn’t just about economic success, it’s shaped just as much by feeling supported, valued, and mentally well.
The Pattern Beneath the Numbers: What Humans Actually Need to Feel Happy
Strip away geography, income levels, and life stages, and something consistent emerges. Across all 29 countries surveyed, people agree on what matters:
- 37% say feeling appreciated drives happiness
- 36% say family relationships matter most
- 57% say financial situation is the main cause of unhappiness
Age adds another layer to this story. 82% of adults aged 20–29 report being happy, but this shifts across life stages: 74% among 30–39s, 76% among 40–49s, 73% among 50–59s, 72% among 60–69s, and 76% among those aged 70+ , showing that happiness evolves rather than simply rising or falling with age.
The takeaway? Happiness is becoming less about what you achieve and more about how you feel in your relationships and daily life.
But if happiness is changing, the next question is why, and what it’s changing into.
➡️ In Part 2, we explore this shift further, and why happiness in 2026 is increasingly built on everyday moments rather than major milestones.
Source: Ipsos Happiness Report 2026. Base: 20,512 online adults aged 18–75 across 29 countries, interviewed January–February 2026
