Americans are much more likely to mention religion as a source of meaning in life than other publics | Pew Research Center

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November 16, 2021

What Makes Life Meaningful? Views From 17 Advanced Economies

Americans are much more likely to mention religion as a source of meaning in life than other publics

Americans are much more likely to mention religion as a source of meaning in life than other publics

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Americans are much more likely to mention religion as a source of meaning in life than other publics

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What Makes Life Meaningful? Views From 17 Advanced Economies
Family is the top source of meaning in life in most of the publics surveyed
Family, careers and material well-being are among the most cited factors for what makes life meaningful
While family, careers, material well-being, friends and health are all top sources of meaning, they vary in importance across publics surveyed
Americans are much more likely to mention religion as a source of meaning in life than other publics
South Koreans, Japanese especially likely to provide only one source of meaning in life
Those under 30 often more likely to find meaning in friends, jobs, education and hobbies than older people
Those on the ideological left more likely to find meaning in nature, hobbies, education and friends; less likely to find meaning in religion