Gallup report: Global emotional health crisis signals fragile peace

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The world is in a prolonged emotional slump, and experts say it’s more than a mental health issue; it’s a warning sign for global stability.

A new Gallup report finds that worry and stress remain at historically high levels. Nearly four in 10 adults worldwide saying they felt worried most of the previous day and more than a third reported stress.

The inaugural State of the World’s Emotional Health report links these emotions to peace and health outcomes. Researchers say fragile states show the highest levels of anger, sadness and physical pain.

While negative emotions surged over the past decade, positive experiences such as laughter and enjoyment have held steady. In 2024, 88% of adults worldwide said they were treated with respect the previous day, among the highest levels Gallup has ever recorded.

The report warns that ignoring emotional health could mean overlooking early signals of fragility. Countries with weaker peace scores on the Global Peace Index and Positive Peace Index also reported higher levels of anger and sadness, even after accounting for income.

Women and midlife adults bear the heaviest emotional burdens, reporting more sadness, worry and stress than men and younger groups. Yet resilience persists, with large majorities still report laughter and enjoyment daily, even in conflict-affected regions.

Gallup surveyed 145,000 people across 144 countries for the report, which concludes that peace, health and emotional wellbeing “rise and fall together.”

This story was written with the assistance of AI.