They concluded that people in the UK were happiest during the interwar years in the 1920s and after the end of the Second World War. For all countries the red shaded lines include World War I (1914-18) and World War II (1939-45). People in the UK were revealed to be at their least happy in 1978 during the 'Winter of Discontent', more so than during the first and second world wars. While the US saw its unhappiest time during the second world war, closely followed by the Vietnam war. 'After the end of rationing in the 1950s national happiness was very high as were expectations for the future.

Source: Daily Mail October 14, 2019 15:03 UTC