Life satisfaction in Western Europe and the gradual vanishing of the U-shape in age

Using Eurobarometer data for 21 Western European countries since 1973, we show that the U-shape in life satisfaction by age, which has been present for a long time, has now vanished. In 13 Northern European countries—Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK—the U-shape has been replaced by life satisfaction rising with age. We confirm these findings with evidence from the European Social Surveys, the Global Flourishing Survey, and Global Minds. Evidence of change in the U-shape is mixed for Austria and France. In six Southern European countries—Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Portugal—the U-shape was replaced by life satisfaction declining with age. In these Southern European countries, the life satisfaction of young individuals has been rising since around 2015. A contributing factor is the rapid decline in youth unemployment since its 2015 peak.