Measuring meaning in life
Global
Meaningfulness
Index
A global baseline for measuring meaningfulness in life.
Insights
Shifting our perspective
on societal well-being
For many years, the well-being of societies has been measured by a narrow set of objective factors such as GDP, life expectancy, and education. However, these factors fail to provide a picture of the inner lives of human beings. When examining the GMI, we see that countries such as India, Nigeria, and the Philippines have relatively high scores, indicating a higher level of well-being among their citizens than other objective indicators might suggest.
This can help us create policies and programs that truly address the needs of our societies. It is time to move beyond GDP and purely objective factors from the world of economy.
Insights
Exploring
meaningfulness
in life
The Global Meaningfulness Index is conceptualized and based on the notion of Human Potential Development. It suggests that measuring well-being in a society should not only be based on objective factors, such as economic growth and access to social services. Instead, it is essential to recognize that the inner lives, the subjective experiences, of individuals within communities are just as vital as the gross domestic product. As such, to realize the unique potential of each individual, we have to create a foundation for everyone to experience meaning in the work they do and the lives they live.
Insights
Countries ranked on
Global Meaningfulness Index
Paradoxically, the Western world has experienced high levels of material wealth, while also seeing low levels of psychological well-being, with stress, anxiety, and depression on the rise. More recently, the importance of measuring subjective well-being has caught attention from policymakers and is now being done at different levels of government across the world.
Despite this, no current index adequately caters to the leading indicators of meaning in life. To address this issue, we need to turn our thinking on its head and consider subjective indicators that capture personal feelings of purpose, belonging, personal growth, and leadership. This approach has led to the creation of the Global Meaningfulness Index (GMI), which measures well-being based on individual perceptions.Conversely, countries including Denmark, New Zealand, and Sweden, which consistently make the top of the list of other indexes, do not even feature in the GMI top 10. This highlights the importance of addressing psychological well-being in addition to economic growth. In fact, our data shows an inverse correlation between the countries sense of meaning in life and the Human Development Index (HDI) score of that same country.
In other words, as a country’s HDI score increases, its GMI score is likely to decrease. This challenges our common assumptions about societal well-being. While posing significant questions to the common understanding of societal progress, the GMI takes us into unchartered territory. This we will need to investigate further. By embracing a more human-centered approach to measuring societal well-being, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of individual inner lives.
Insights
A young generation
that craves more meaning
Young people are in search of more meaning in life. Significant differences exist in the sense of meaning felt in life across generations and age groups. On average, young people below 25 score eight percent lower on their general sense of meaning in life compared to those aged 55 to 64. Reflecting global trends in workplace settings, individuals under the age of 25 have the lowest sense of meaning in life in general.
This is driven by low scores across all four drivers of meaning, with the lowest being the sense of leadership and purpose. In fact, while being low at a young age, purpose increases steadily throughout life and peaks around the age of 55 to 64.
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Measuring
Meaning
in life
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Helle Thorning Schmidt
As a former Prime Minister, I know that a nation’s success isn’t just about economic numbers—it’s about the quality of life experienced by its people. The Global Meaningfulness Report challenges us to think beyond GDP and focus on what truly matters: the well-being, purpose, and dignity of every individual. This is the kind of progress that builds stronger, more resilient societies, and it’s time we embrace it.
Ambassadors
António Guterres
As a leader within the United Nations, I believe that true global progress cannot be measured solely by economic indicators. The Global Meaningfulness Report offers a crucial perspective, highlighting the importance of human well-being, purpose, and dignity in our assessment of development. By embracing this report, we can guide nations towards a future where the true measure of success is the meaningful lives of their people, ensuring that no one is left behind in our pursuit of a more just and sustainable world.
Nita Ambani
As President of the Olympic Committee, I have seen how the power of sport goes beyond competition, uniting people through shared purpose and aspiration. The Global Meaningfulness Report echoes this spirit by emphasizing that true progress is measured not just by economic metrics but by the well-being, purpose, and connection experienced by individuals. Just as the Olympics celebrate human potential, this report champions a vision where every life is valued and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
Viktor Axelsen
As an Olympic gold medalist, I’ve learned that true victory goes beyond the medals—it’s about the journey, the purpose, and the meaning we find in our pursuit. The Global Meaningfulness Report is a powerful reminder that the real measure of success isn’t just in economic gains, but in the fulfillment and well-being of every person. Let’s champion a world where what truly counts is the quality of life we all experience.
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
As a social scientist, I understand that the essence of a thriving society cannot be captured by GDP alone. The Global Meaningfulness Report brings to light the deeper dimensions of human experience—purpose, well-being, and social connection—that truly define our progress. By embracing this holistic approach, we can better understand what drives fulfillment in life and create policies that foster a more just and meaningful world for all
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About us
Voluntās Foundation
Since 2015, Voluntās has carried out 100.000+ surveys with professionals across cultures to help capture the essence of what constitutes meaning in a workplace setting. This has led to the identification of the four primary drivers of meaning in organizations: purpose, leadership, belonging, and personal growth. Based on experience from the work with organizations and academic collaborations, a basic assumption for the GMI has been that the four drivers identified would also play an important role in how meaning is created in societies.
Pioneering sustainable progres
As the long-term owner and moral compass of Voluntās Advisory, the foundation fosters the evolution of humanistic capitalism, incorporating diverse outside perspectives to ensure that Voluntās remains true to its purpose and philosophy for generations. Through philanthropic efforts, we support organizations, forward-thinking companies, and individuals in realizing their potential, focusing on transformative initiatives that align with our values.
Voluntās Foundation
Established in 2023, the Voluntās Foundation aims to broaden our engagement and support initiatives that foster just, sustainable, and meaningful human advancement. The Foundation backs locally-led initiatives and spearheads innovative research on meaningfulness through its Center for Applied Meaningfulness. Key projects include the Global Meaningfulness Index and the Youth Meaningfulness Index, both designed to measure and enhance the impact of meaningful actions worldwide.
Core activities and research goals
Foundation’s mission and research initiatives
Established in 2023, the Voluntās Foundation enhances our commitment to fostering just, sustainable, and meaningful human development. By supporting initiatives and conducting cutting-edge research through the Center for Applied Meaningfulness, the foundation actively shapes influential projects like the Global Meaningfulness Index and the Youth Meaningfulness Index. These indices measure the impact of meaningful actions, aiming to inform and improve human advancement globally.
Philanthropic contributions to society
Philosophical guidance and philanthropic impact
The foundation not only aims to guide Voluntās Advisory as a long-term moral compass but also boosts human potential through philanthropic support to organizations, forward-thinking companies, and individuals. It emphasizes the integration of academic research, educational initiatives, and community projects to explore and operationalize meaningfulness in both public policies and organizational practices, bridging corporate and non-profit sectors for greater societal impact.
Social relationships and partnerships
Cultural connections and global partnerships
The Voluntās Foundation extends its commitment through diverse initiatives that build social relationships and foster partnerships across cultures. By collaborating with local artists, museums, and community organizations, and by supporting intersectional inclusion, the foundation nurtures a multicultural environment. These initiatives not only enhance understanding and cooperation among different cultures but also strengthen global networks, ensuring that the principles of meaningfulness resonate widely and lead to substantial social change. These efforts exemplify the foundation’s mission to create a more interconnected and meaningful world.
Methodology
How do you
measure meaning
in life?
We refined the four drivers of meaning, and the statements to evaluate each driver. The original six statements per driver were reduced to two for this study based on the piloting and research. To better evaluate holistic meaningfulness across all parts of life for the GMI, our Center for Applied Meaningfulness workshopped possible ways to translate our MWQ statements, and tested various possible statements used in the piloting questionnaire.
RIWI & Info Sapiens
We are grateful to RIWI and InfoSapiens, our data collection partners, for their valuable support and collaboration on this research. For all countries except Ukraine, data was collected by our partner RIWI: a data company specializing in real-time sentiment research across the globe. Online data collection in Ukraine was conducted by InfoSapiens, a Ukrainian research agency specializing in conducting public opinion surveys and behavioral measurement.
Pre-test
To ensure the accuracy of our methodology and test our preliminary hypotheses on the four drivers, we conducted a pilot questionnaire prior to full implementation. The questionnaire, which included the GMI statements, was distributed to a sample size of 357 individuals, with ~60 participants each from the US, the UK, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and India. Data collection for the pilot questionnaire was conducted from January-February 2023, and the findings were used to refine the questionnaire for full implementation.
Methodology
How did we do it?
The GMI score is an aggregate score composed of four drivers of meaning in life: purpose, leadership, belonging, and personal growth. Each driver score is determined by two statements that respondents rate on a scale from zero to ten, resulting in a total of eight statements. Additionally, each respondent was asked to rate the perceived importance of each driver in generating meaning in their life on a scale from one to five.
The importance-scores were used to weigh the drivers when calculating each individual’s GMI score. This methodology allowed us to give more weight to the life aspects that are more important to each person, creating a more personalized picture of each respondent’s sense of meaning. By doing so, we can compare across individual and cultural differences without imposing our own conceptions of meaning.
FAQ
Understanding the Global Meaningfulness Index
Whether you are a researcher, a policy-maker, or simply interested in the concept of meaningfulness, this section offers valuable insights and guidance on how to engage with the GMI effectively.
What is the Global Meaningfulness Index?
The Global Meaningfulness Index (GMI) is a comprehensive tool designed to measure the level of meaningfulness experienced by individuals in various aspects of their lives, focusing on factors such as work, community, and personal growth.
How is the GMI calculated?
The GMI uses a combination of surveys, research data, and statistical methods to assess and quantify the elements that contribute to meaningfulness across different cultures and demographics.
Who can benefit from the GMI?
The GMI provides valuable insights for policymakers, organizational leaders, researchers, and individuals interested in understanding and enhancing the sense of meaning in their environments.
Where can I access the GMI reports?
Detailed reports and findings from the GMI are available for download on our website. Please register or subscribe to our newsletter to gain access.
How can organizations use the GMI?
Organizations can use the GMI to evaluate the impact of their work environment on employee satisfaction and to develop strategies that enhance workplace meaningfulness.
Is there a cost to access the GMI data?
Basic access to GMI summaries is free, but comprehensive reports and in-depth analysis may require a subscription or a one-time purchase, depending on the depth of information needed.
Contact us
Get in touch with us!
For inquiries, partnerships, or feedback, reach out to hello@globalmeaningfulness.report