Poor and happy: The societies that defy life satisfaction trends - Some of the world's most satisfied societies are poor, small, and remote.
Poor and happy: The societies that defy life satisfaction trends - Some of the world's most satisfied societies are poor, small, and remote.
People living in wealthier societies tend to have higher life satisfaction. Indigenous peoples in small-scale societies buck the trend.
KEY TAKEAWAYS In a recent study, researchers surveyed 3,000 people living in poor, small-scale societies about their life satisfaction. The results found that these people's life satisfaction is on par with people who live in the wealthiest countries. One potential reason why simple joys such as social interaction and experiencing nature play an outsized role in driving life satisfaction in small-scale communities is that many of these societies aren't heavily monetized.