New Survey Finds Vegans Happier

“Don’t worry, be happy” might be more than a lyric. A large U.S. survey (11,537 people) from Tracking Happiness found that people who eat vegan reported higher happiness scores than those who eat meat. Correlation isn’t causation—but the pattern is interesting.

What the survey found

• Vegans +7% happier (on average) than meat-eaters on a 1–10 scale.
• Openness matters: people who already feel happier were more likely to say they’d consider going fully vegan.
• Perception gap is smaller than you think: only 14% of meat-eaters reported a negative bias toward vegans.
• Why people choose it: 32% of vegans/vegetarians cited the environment as a key driver.

Average self-reported happiness (1–10)

• Vegetarians: 7.31
• Vegans: 7.27
• Pescatarians: 6.99
• Meat-eaters: 6.80
• Overall average: 6.90

Tracking Happiness—founded in 2017—publishes tools and articles that help people reflect on habits that influence mood and well-being. As Vegan Society spokesperson Francine Jordan put it, vegan options are more accessible than ever; from grocery aisles to restaurant menus, choosing plant-based has never been easier.

Try a little happy

Small swaps can feel good—on your plate and your mood. When you’re ready for a sweet plant-based treat, we’ve got you.

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