The Global Map of Gratitude: Who Feels It Most?

Ever wondered who the most grateful people in the world are, and why? Researchers recently conducted a massive global study to find out. They surveyed over 200,000 people across 22 diverse countries, from Argentina to the United States, asking a simple but profound question to measure gratitude: how much they agree with the statement, 'If I had to list everything that I felt grateful for, it would be a very long list.'

“The single most powerful predictor of gratitude across the world is the frequency of religious practice.”

The results painted a fascinating and complex picture of thankfulness around the world. The most striking finding was that where you live matters. Gratitude levels varied dramatically by country, with Indonesia reporting the highest average scores and Japan the lowest. This suggests that culture plays a huge role in shaping this emotion.

But the study also looked deeper, exploring how gratitude connects to our personal lives. Across most countries, some clear patterns emerged. Generally, people who are older, women, married, and have more years of education tend to report higher levels of gratitude. People who are retired or self-employed also scored higher, while those who were unemployed and looking for work scored the lowest. However, the single most powerful predictor of gratitude was religious practice.

The more frequently a person attended religious services—from more than once a week to a few times a year—the more grateful they tended to feel. This connection was strong and consistent across most of the countries studied. While the study doesn't say religion *causes* gratitude, it highlights a deep relationship between spiritual community and a thankful outlook. By mapping these patterns, the research gives us an unprecedented look at how our personal circumstances, culture, and spiritual lives intertwine to shape this fundamental human emotion.