Making more lives more meaningful
A global baseline
for measuring
meaning in life
The Voluntās Foundation is proud to announce the release of the third edition of the Global Meaningfulness Index (GMI), a global study aiming to redefine how we measure societal progress and well-being.
Introducing
The Global Meaningfulness Index
The Global Meaningfulness Index (GMI) was born from the belief of Voluntās’ CEO and Founder,
Philosopher Morten Albæk that a more holistic approach to measuring societal well-being is needed
— one that reflects not just prosperity and wealth but human flourishing.
The vision
A more humanistic capitalism
To contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of human wellbeing across cultures and societies
Redefining Societal Success with the Global Meaningfulness Index
Beyond GDP: Introduction with Niklas
Our Senior Partner & COO, Niklas Kabel Pedersen introduces the Global Meaningfulness Index, emphasizing Voluntās’ mission to create a global baseline for meaningfulness. Moving beyond GDP, the 2025 report aims to capture the voices of over 18,000 people, representing more than half of the world’s population, to define what truly matters in life.
Voluntās advocates for a humanistic capitalism where the value of money and impact depends on how it is earned and achieved. With this we urge partners globally to reconsider how they shape societies for future generations.
economic and inner lives
Measures that reflect enomic and lives
Meaning: A more impactful metric for societial progress than money
A Dialogue on Meaning as a Measure of Societal Well-being
Rethinking Progress: Interview with Rahul
In this conversation, Dr. Rahul S. Assistant Professor, School of Management and Labour Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Science in India, an expert in public policy and decentralisation, discusses the limits of GDP as the primary measure of societal progress. He reflects on the UN’s shift towards metrics that incorporate well-being and social equity.
Rahul provides examples of how subjective elements like hope, dignity, and emotional health offer a fuller picture of well-being and urges a global shift to measures that reflect both economic growth and the inner lives of human beings.
CASE Study
Kenya: Meaningfulness is grounded in faith, family, and the future
Kenya illustrates how meaningfulness can be deeply rooted in shared moral frameworks and collective responsibility, even amid rapid cultural change. Faith, family, and education form the central anchors of meaning. Religion is not simply belief; it shapes purpose, belonging, and guidance across generations. Participants repeatedly described purpose as both a personal journey and a social obligation: to provide, to uplift, to contribute.
One participant explained: “Education does not create meaning for the individual, it creates meaning for the entire household.” Purpose in Kenya is relational. It is measured not only in personal advancement but in the ability to support family and community. Yet Kenya also reveals tension. Traditional authorities, elders, religion, family hierarchies, are being reshaped by globalization and generational change. Younger people increasingly seek self-chosen reference points. Guidance is no longer singular.
Meaning in Kenya is not defined by religiosity alone. It is sustained by a broader moral code linking faith, compassion, and communal responsibility. But like elsewhere, it depends on whether societal structures allow aspiration to translate into opportunity.
CASE Study
Mexico: Purpose and growth remain central drivers
Mexico ranks highest in lived meaningfulness in 2025, but the story is more nuanced than a number. Meaningfulness in Mexico is deeply embedded in family structures. Caregiving roles, intergenerational responsibility, and mutual support are central to belonging and purpose.
One participant shared: “We have already included our children in our purposes.” Purpose is not individualistic. It is tied to providing, protecting, and contributing.
Work plays a dual role. It provides structure and dignity, but also reflects evolving cultural shifts toward independence and self-realization. Younger generations increasingly define meaning in terms of autonomy and productivity. Yet meaningfulness in Mexico rests on fragile foundations. Participants consistently emphasized that security and economic sufficiency are prerequisites. Violence and instability weigh heavily on collective life, shaping how people experience their surroundings.
Mexico’s high score does not imply the absence of challenges. It reveals how strong relational structures and shared responsibility can sustain meaning, even when external conditions are unstable.
CASE Study
Sweden:The search for meaning in an individualized society
Kenya illustrates how meaningfulness can be deeply rooted in shared moral frameworks and collective responsibility, even amid rapid cultural change. Faith, family, and education form the central anchors of meaning. Religion is not simply belief; it shapes purpose, belonging, and guidance across generations. Participants repeatedly described purpose as both a personal journey and a social obligation: to provide, to uplift, to contribute.
One participant explained: “Education does not create meaning for the individual, it creates meaning for the entire household.” Purpose in Kenya is relational. It is measured not only in personal advancement but in the ability to support family and community. Yet Kenya also reveals tension. Traditional authorities, elders, religion, family hierarchies, are being reshaped by globalization and generational change. Younger people increasingly seek self-chosen reference points. Guidance is no longer singular.
Meaning in Kenya is not defined by religiosity alone. It is sustained by a broader moral code linking faith, compassion, and communal responsibility. But like elsewhere, it depends on whether societal structures allow aspiration to translate into opportunity.
CASE Study
Tunisia: Between hope and hardship
Tunisia ranks lowest in meaningfulness in 2025, but the case study reveals a deeper structural story. Purpose is clearly articulated. Many Tunisians describe meaningfulness as contributing to family and community. Meaning is rarely understood as purely individual.
Yet realization is obstructed. Unemployment, underemployment, and perceived inequality create a gap between aspiration and opportunity. One participant captured this tension: “Education was supposed to be the path to dignity.”
Generational divides shape belonging. Older participants tie belonging to nationalism and faith. Many younger Tunisians frame migration as a path to dignity and survival.
Guidance is fragmented. No single source anchors direction across generations. Tunisia’s case shows how meaningfulness depends on structural trust. Where institutions are perceived as unfair or unstable, even strong family ties struggle to compensate.
Meaning here is not absent. It is constrained.
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.
“The Global Meaningfulness Index is the brainchild I had as early as in 2012 – which Voluntās
and Voluntās Foundation are now realizing – of developing an index that provides a more comprehensive understanding of societal health. “
Morten Albæk
Founder of Voluntās and Chairman of Voluntas Foundation
“True societal progress isn’t just measured by GDP; it’s reflected in how we create meaningful opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive.”
Dr. Rahul Shaji
Assistant Professor
Labour Market Research Facility Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Mumbai, India
RIWI & Info Sapiens
Pre-test
Methodology for Global Meaningfulness Index
How did we do it?
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.
About us
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.
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.
Making lives more meaningful
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 virtues and makes lives more meaningful.
Fanny Marchand
Associate Partner & Director,
Voluntās Foundation
Niklas Kabel Pedersen
Senior Partner & COO,
Voluntās
Contact us
Get in touch with us!
Niklas Kabel Pedersen: nkp@voluntas.com
Fanny Marchand: fma@voluntas.com