The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index -- a daily survey of Americans' health and well-being that launched in January 2008 -- completed its one-millionth survey on Oct. 23, 2010. Gallup has been analyzing and writing about the Well-Being Index since its inception and publishing findings on Gallup.com.
Now, Gallup is out with a special report highlighting key trends and revealing new findings from the one million Well-Being Index surveys: One Million Surveys Reveal Portrait of Americans' Well-Being.
Here is a quick review of some key data points you will find in the report:
- 67%: The all-time highest level of happiness in the U.S., recorded on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 20, 2008
- 35%: The all-time lowest level of happiness in the U.S., recorded on Dec. 11, 2008 -- the same day new jobless claims reached a 26-year high
- 73.9: The Well-Being Index score of Americans who earn $75,000 or more per year, higher than any other group analyzed and the only group with a score higher than 70
- 56.5: The Well-Being Index score of Americans who earn less than $20,000 per year, lower than any other group analyzed and the only group with a score lower than 60
- 26.6%: The percentage of obese American adults in the third quarter of 2010, up from 25.1% in the first quarter of 2008
- 11.5%: The percentage of American adults with diabetes in the third quarter of 2010, up from 10.4% in the first quarter of 2008