7 States With the Happiest People

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Do you think the state where you live is a “happy” place to live? Does it foster an environment where you and your family can thrive physically, emotionally, financially, and practically?
The Gallup-Healthways well-being index scores indicate that some states score much higher than others in several metrics which indicate “happiness” among residents. Gallup-Healthways began tracking well-being back in 2008. And to determine each state’s well being index (which is scored on a scale of 0 to 100), the research database conducted more than 176,000 interviews with various residents across the country. The index score is centered around these five essential elements of well-being:
- Purpose: liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals
- Social: having supportive relationships and love in your life
- Financial: managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security
- Community: liking where you live, feeling safe, and having pride in your community
- Physical: having good health and enough energy to get things done daily
For each state, the well-being reports also analyzes topics, such as health, healthy behaviors, work environment, and access to necessities such as food, shelter, and medical care. Each state, as well as some of the communities within each state, are provided with scores based on these areas.
So which states score the highest, and can be considered the “happiest” states? Read on to find out.
7. Nebraska

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- Nebraska has ranked in the top 10 for happiness five times since 2008.
- The state’s residents ranked particularly high in physical health and emotional health in 2013.
- Residents in Nebraska also have historically high life evaluation scores, which “combines the evaluation of one’s present life situation with one’s anticipated life situation five years from now,” according to the Gallup-Healthways index.
Score | Rank among other states | |
Overall well-being | 63.1 | 7 |
Life evaluation | 56.3 | 1 |
Emotional health | 81.6 | 5 |
Work environment | 51.0 | 12 |
Physical health | 79.3 | 3 |
Healthy behaviors | 64.9 | 21 |
Basic access | 85.2 | 8 |
Source: Gallup-Healthways Index (2013-14) |
6. Colorado

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- Colorado has ranked in the top 10 for happiness seven times since 2008.
- Colorado scored in the top across the board in 2013.
Score | Rank among other states | |
Overall well-being | 63.2 | 6 |
Life evaluation | 52.5 | 7 |
Emotional health | 80.5 | 14 |
Work environment | 50.8 | 13 |
Physical health | 78.5 | 4 |
Healthy behaviors | 67.2 | 7 |
Basic access | 84.2 | 11 |
Source: Gallup-Healthways Index (2013-14) |
5. Montana

Montana via Facebook
- Montana has ranked in the top 10 for happiness six times since 2008.
- Residents in Montana ranked high for their healthy behaviors, life evaluation, emotional health, and work environment in 2013.
Score | Rank among other states | |
Overall well-being | 63.7 | 5 |
Life evaluation | 54.8 | 2 |
Emotional health | 81.5 | 6 |
Work environment | 41.9 | 6 |
Physical health | 77.6 | 16 |
Healthy behaviors | 67.7 | 3 |
Basic access | 82.6 | 23 |
Source: Gallup-Healthways Index (2013-14) |
4. Wyoming

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Wyoming has ranked in the top 10 for happiness three times since 2008.
Score | Rank among other states | |
Overall well-being | 63.9 | 4 |
Life evaluation | 44.5 | 46 |
Emotional health | 80.5 | 13 |
Work environment | 46.6 | 36 |
Physical health | 74.9 | 40 |
Healthy behaviors | 64.5 | 24 |
Basic access | 82.3 | 26 |
Source: Gallup-Healthways Index (2013-14) |
3. South Dakota

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- South Dakota has ranked in the top 10 for happiness three times since 2008.
- In 2013, the state scored high in access (to necessities like medical care, food and shelter), work environment, and emotional health.
Score | Rank among other states | |
Overall well-being | 64.3 | 3 |
Life evaluation | 52.1 | 8 |
Emotional health | 82.4 | 3 |
Work environment | 57.7 | 2 |
Physical health | 77.7 | 13 |
Healthy behaviors | 64.5 | 25 |
Basic access | 85.8 | 5 |
Source: Gallup-Healthways Index (2013-14) |
2. Hawaii

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- Hawaii has ranked in the top 10 for happiness seven times since 2008.
- In 2013, residents ranked high for their healthy behaviors and emotional health.
Score | Rank among other states | |
Overall well-being | 64.5 | 2 |
Life evaluation | 51.7 | 9 |
Emotional health | 81.7 | 4 |
Work environment | 46.0 | 42 |
Physical health | 77.6 | 15 |
Healthy behaviors | 68.1 | 2 |
Basic access | 85.5 | 7 |
Source: Gallup-Healthways Index (2013-14) |
1. Alaska

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- Alaska has ranked in the top 10 for happiness four times since 2008.
- This past year (2014) was the first year Alaska earned the top spot.
- In 2013, residents scored high for their life evaluations and emotional health.
Score | Rank among other states | |
Overall well-being | 64.7 | 1 |
Life evaluation | 53.6 | 3 |
Emotional health | 82.9 | 1 |
Work environment | 45.3 | 45 |
Physical health | 77.2 | 21 |
Healthy behaviors | 65.5 | 17 |
Basic access | 81.3 | 34 |
Source: Gallup-Healthways Index (2013-14) |
All statistics courtesy of: Gallup Healthways