The two ages we're most happy at

The marking of International Happiness Day this week led countless people to reevaluate what sparks joy in their lives and the lives of others.

New research also revealed Australians have a while to go in terms of their levels of happiness –with New Zealand (8th) and Canada (9th) the only non-European nations inside the top 10.

And while happiness can be found at any age, it is most likely during two distinct times of your life, according to one report – first peaking at the age of 16.

However, don’t worry if your teenage years are already a distant memory, as there is a second age at which our wellbeing levels peak.

The ages of 16 and 70 are when we are at our happiest, according to research conducted by the Resolution Foundation.

After the age of 16, happiness levels remain relatively constant until they fall between your mid-20s and early 50s, researchers found. After this point, they rise again – peaking in your 70s.

The report also looked at the impact various economic factors have on happiness. Unsurprisingly, home ownership, higher incomes, being in employment and good health all correlated with greater wellbeing.

“Well-being matters to all of us, and yet we’ve only recently started to collect serious data on how happy people are with their lives,” said George Bangham, policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation.

“This important data shows that there is more to life than a country’s GDP, but that the employment and income trends that lie behind our economy can make a big difference to our well-being too.”

This isn’t the first study to look at the relationship between age and happiness.

A 2013 study of German adults also looked into this area, with slightly different results – the London School of Economics researchers found life satisfaction peaks at the age of 23, and then again at 69.

While such studies prove age is no barrier to happiness, a new book featuring older couples shows you can also find romance at any age.

Photographer Ari Seth Cohen’s latest title, ‘Advanced Love’, published on 24 December 2018, celebrates 40 different older couples around the world.

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