The Global Flourishing Study (GFS) is a five-year longitudinal data collection and research collaboration between researchers at Baylor University and Harvard University, in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science (COS), and with the support of a consortium of funders. As part of this project, COS is making the data from the study an open access resource so researchers, journalists, policymakers, and educators worldwide can access detailed information about what makes for a flourishing life.

This initiative includes data collection for approximately 200,000 participants from 20+ geographically and culturally diverse countries and territories, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China (Hong Kong), Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. The study will obtain nationally representative data within each country, with collection on the same panel of individuals annually.

GFS measures global human flourishing in six areas:

1. Happiness and life satisfaction
2. Mental and physical health
3. Meaning and purpose
4. Character and virtue
5. Close social relationships
6. Material and financial stability

The GFS is being led by principal investigators Byron R. Johnson, Director of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, and Tyler J. VanderWeele, Director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University.

Data from the first wave is now available for those who have preregistered their analysis plans or are planning a Registered Report with an eligible journal. Each subsequent wave will be available approximately one year later. 

One purpose of the GFS is to provide longitudinal data to enable more rigorous research designs for many research questions than can be investigated with cross-sectional data. For this first wave release, the benefits of longitudinal data are not yet present in the data itself. To meet this purpose, researchers should construct a synthetic longitudinal study either by linking the GFS data to other datasets or by using the retrospective childhood assessments within the wave 1 data. At least one of the questions or hypotheses should then be tested with this synthetic longitudinal design.

Sample data for the first wave is available now to help researchers prepare their analysis plan. 

The following pages contain the information you will need to apply for access to the GFS data including workflows, templates, guides, training materials, agreements, and FAQs. COS strongly recommends reviewing the pages prior to proceeding to the GFS Registry to request access.

The GFS is a collaboration between researchers at Baylor University and Harvard University, in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science.

The GFS is generously funded by the John Templeton Foundation, Templeton Religion Trust, Templeton World Charity Foundation, Well-Being for Planet Earth, Fetzer Institute, Well Being Trust, Paul L. Foster Family Foundation, and the David & Carol Myers Foundation.