The percentage of 'thriving' Americans has hit a record high, poll finds

published 7 July 2021

A little over a year ago, when the coronavirus pandemic first took hold in the United States, only 46.4 percent of American adults considered themselves to be "thriving," tying a record low since Gallup began publishing its Life Evaluation Index in 2008. Now, in the latest poll, the percentage has reached a record high, shooting up to 59.2 percent.

Respondents who rate their "current life" at a 7 or higher on a 0 to 10 and their "anticipated life in five years" an 8 or higher are considered "thriving" by Gallup's standards. Both categories had fallen throughout the last year, but have since ticked back up, indicating that the U.S.'s generally declining COVID-19 infection rate, mass vaccination effort, and gradual economic reopening have played a role in the increased satisfaction and optimism.

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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.