World’s largest happiness study aims to reveal what truly makes humans happy
For centuries, philosophers and scientists have tried to answer one timeless question: What is the secret to happiness? Now, researchers may finally be close to finding out.
In the most ambitious project of its kind, more than 1,000 scientists from over 70 countries have launched the Global Happiness Megastudy, aiming to identify universal factors that drive human happiness. The study will recruit at least 30,000 participants worldwide — making it the largest happiness experiment ever attempted.
Each participant will take part in short, daily “happiness interventions” lasting no more than 25 minutes. These range from simple yoga routines and exercise sessions to meaningful social activities like calling a loved one or interacting with an AI chatbot.
A scientific quest to define happiness
The project’s principal investigator, Dr. Barnabás Szászi of Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, emphasized that all interventions can be done independently at home. This accessibility ensures that participants from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds can take part.
Professor Elizabeth Dunn, psychologist at the University of British Columbia and co-lead on the study, said:
“Our goal is for this to be the largest, most comprehensive, and most diverse experiment on happiness ever conducted. If we find strategies that are universally effective—or even effective in certain places—it will be a huge leap forward for the science of happiness.”
The study’s design, based on more than 1,000 submitted research ideas narrowed down to 24 interventions, reflects a multidisciplinary approach spanning psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science.
Going beyond “WEIRD” societies
Previous happiness studies have mostly focused on “WEIRD” countries—Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic—leaving out much of the global population. The Global Happiness Megastudy seeks to correct that bias by involving people from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic settings.
Researchers hope this expanded scope will uncover universal truths about happiness while also highlighting regional differences. What sparks joy in New York or Manchester may not have the same effect in Nairobi or New Delhi, making global representation critical to meaningful findings.
Challenging assumptions about money and well-being
Recent research has already begun to challenge traditional beliefs linking happiness with wealth. Earlier studies involving 2,966 participants from indigenous communities across 19 global locations found that many reported high levels of happiness despite limited material wealth.
This suggests that social connection, community ties, and closeness to nature may play a far greater role in well-being than economic prosperity or GDP.
Aiming for global insights and real-world solutions
The team behind the Global Happiness Megastudy hopes that, once complete, the findings will inform policies, mental health initiatives, and everyday practices that enhance quality of life worldwide.
The project’s detailed methodology will soon be published in a leading academic journal, with the full-scale study expected to begin following final funding approvals.
As Professor Dunn summarized,
“At the end of it, we’ll have the largest and most diverse dataset ever collected on the strategies that promote happiness—and how well they actually work.”
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