Was 2024 a good year? Americans tell us how they did in family, health, finance and the wider world
As 2024 draws to a close, a detailed YouGov survey sheds light on how Americans across different demographics have experienced the year. From personal finances to family relationships, health, and broader societal issues, diverse factors have shaped the public’s outlook.
Overall outlook: more good than bad
Overall, Americans had a decent year. Two fifths (41%) of the country said they had a positive overall experience of 2024, and about the same proportion (38%) were neutral. Only half as many (19%) gave 2024 a negative rating.
Family relationships and health were seen positively by the majority of Americans, showing that these are relative bright spots. When it comes to their personal financial situation and overall experience of the year, more respondents gave positive ratings than negative.
And when asking them to consider the wider social and political context, Americans are much less sanguine. Only one in five Americans give a positive rating to the general situation of the US and even fewer were so positive about the world.
Younger Americans are happier with the state of the world, older Americans with their families
There are also significance differences between demographic groups. Older adults (55+) reported the highest satisfaction with their family relationships, possibly reflecting more established bonds or a focus on family in later life, and the lowest satisfaction with the wider world.
Younger respondents were much more likely to have a positive experience of the country (32%) and the world (22%) than those over 55+. Only 12% of older Americans have a positive view of the situation of the US and a mere 6% are happy with the state of the world. Health and well-being also scored higher among the younger crowd (18-34).
Does money buy happiness?
The survey suggests that money may buy some degree of happiness. Those whose income is $80k+ are more likely to have a positive experience in all categories. For example, 51% of this wealthier segment had a positive overall experience of the year compared to 35% of those who made less.
Are we headed in the right direction? Americans remain optimistic
Compared to 2023, people’s overall experience of their year was fairly stable. About the same proportion, 30%, said that the year had improved compared to the previous year as said that it had worsened. Two in five (39%) thought things remained about the same.
Again, there are big differences between categories. Americans were much more likely to see improvement in their family, relationships and well-being. By contrast, the majority believed that the situation of the country and of the world worsened between 2023 and 2024.
Despite the mixed feelings about 2024, Americans hold a hopeful outlook for 2025.
When asked whether they think that things will improve or worsen in 2025, nearly half (49%) forecasted that their overall experience would be better and only a fifth (19%) that it would be worse. About two-fifths (41%) think the general situation in the US will improve and 33% that the situation of the world will improve, though they are outnumbered by the 37% that believe it will get worse.
YouGov Surveys: Serviced provide quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on December 5-6, 2024, with a nationally representative sample of 1214 adults (aged 18+ years) in the US, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, race, gender, education, and region to be representative of all adults in the US (18 years or older), and reflect the latest population estimates from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.