Subjective well-being (SWB) in 55 nations, reported in probability surveys and a large college student sample, was correlated
with social, economic, and cultural characteristics of the nations. The SWB surveys, representing nations that include three
fourths of the earth’s population, showed strong convergence. Separate measures of the predictor variables also converged
and formed scales with high reliability, with the exception of the comparison variables. High income, individualism, human
rights, and societal equality correlated strongly with each other, and with SWB across surveys. Income correlated with SWB
even after basic need fulfillment was controlled. Only individualism persistently correlated with SWB when other predictors
were controlled. Cultural homogeneity, income growth, and income comparison showed either low or inconsistent relations with
SWB.