Gallup’s new survey finds that poor life ratings reach a record high in the United States. 

“The percentage of Americans who evaluate their lives poorly enough to be considered “suffering” on Gallup’s Life Evaluation Index was 5.6% in July, the highest since the index’s inception in 2008. This exceeds the previous high of 4.8% measured in April and is statistically higher than all prior estimates in the COVID-19 era.”

Those who listed their situation as thriving declined from a record high of 59.2 percent down to 51.2 percent. The lowest recorded thriving rate of 46.4 percent was reached twice in November 2008 (Great Recession) and in late April 2020 (Initial shutdown because of COVID-19). 

The suffering is being felt across all political groups, leading to additional daily stress and worry.