Global Stress ReportFebruary 10, 2026
1. The Growth Story
In just two weeks, the Stress Map has grown from a small prototype to a global dataset. We now have 174 daily contributors.
The map has expanded from 8 countries to 37. This rapid growth allows us to move from anecdotal observations to statistically relevant insights.
2. The UK-US Gap
The most striking finding in this period is the consistent gap between the United Kingdom and the United States.
United Kingdom
- Trend: Declining (-5.7 pts)
- Only 40.7% Healthy
- High Inequality (Gini 0.283)
United States
- Trend: Stable (+0.6)
- 55.2% Healthy
- Moderate Inequality (Gini 0.204)
💡 Gini Coefficient Explained
This measures inequality in stress distribution. A higher Gini (like UK's 0.283) means stress is concentrated among a specific group of people, whereas a lower Gini (US 0.204) means stress is more evenly shared across the population.
Observation: Scores in the UK are significantly lower than in sunnier regions like Florida. While we cannot confirm causality without more data, the correlation with latitude and winter darkness is notable.
3. US National Overview
The US national average sits at 51.5 (Median 52), which is technically "Normal" but precarious.
- 45% of users are in the Attention or Overload zones.
- The distribution is almost symmetric (Skewness -0.08), meaning there's no massive tail of highly stressed users dragging the average down—it's a general malaise.
- Inequality is moderate (Gini 0.204), suggesting a relatively shared experience across the country compared to the UK.
4. US State Highlights
While the national average is stable, individual states tell very different stories.
Florida (Leader)
Score: 59.5 · 79.8% Healthy
Low inequality (0.147). Consistently high scores.
California (Recovering)
Score: 47.8 (was 43.2)
Recovering steadily (+4.6 pts), but still has a high Overload rate (10.8%).
Michigan (Volatile)
Score: 48.1 · Volatility 10.69
Scores jump wildly day-to-day. High instability.
Top States (Contributors ≥ 5)
| State | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 59.5 | Normal |
| Illinois | 55.8 | Normal |
| North Carolina | 53.6 | Normal |
| Texas | 51.3 | Normal |
| Colorado | 50.0 | Attention |
| Michigan | 48.1 | Attention |
| California | 45.8 | Attention |
5. The Latitude Hypothesis
Does living further north make you more stressed in winter? The data suggests a connection.
-0.45
Pearson Correlation (Latitude vs Score)
- Florida (27° N): 59.5 (Warm, Sunny)
- UK (55° N): 44.3 (Cold, Dark)
💡 Pearson Correlation Explained
This number ranges from -1 to 1. An -0.45 indicates a moderate negative link: as you go further North (higher latitude), stress scores tend to decrease.
6. The Weekend Effect
It's real. Stress drops significantly on weekends.
- Friday (Worst): 49.5
- Sunday (Best): 53.1
That's a 3.6 point swing purely based on the day of the week.
7. Volatility
US National Volatility: 3.33 (Stable)
State Volatility: ~10.0 (High)
Meaning: The national average looks smooth because individual state chaoses cancel each other out. Locally, people are experiencing wild swings (e.g., Michigan's 10.69 volatility).
Methodology & Confidence
Scores range from 1-99 (Lower = More Stressed).
Confidence Tiers: We only analyze regions with sufficient data density. Trends require 5+ Contributors. Distributions require 10+ Contributors.
Note: This data represents Apple Watch users who opted-in, not a randomized census.
📊 Explore the Data (Detailed Rankings)
Sorted by Average Score (Most Stressed → Least Stressed). Includes P25/Median/P75 distribution.
| Region | Peak DAU | Avg | P25 | Median | P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌍 GB | 15 | 44.3 | 27 | 44 | 62 |
| 🇺🇸 California | 9 | 45.8 | 25 | 44 | 60 |
| 🇺🇸 Michigan | 7 | 48.1 | 32 | 48 | 62 |
| 🇺🇸 Colorado | 5 | 50.0 | 35 | 48 | 63 |
| 🇺🇸 Texas | 22 | 51.3 | 36 | 53 | 65 |
| 🌍 NL | 10 | 51.3 | 32 | 57 | 71 |
| 🌍 US | 107 | 51.5 | 38 | 52 | 65 |
| 🇺🇸 North Carolina | 6 | 53.6 | 45 | 52 | 65 |
| 🌍 PL | 6 | 54.3 | 42 | 54 | 70 |
| 🇺🇸 Illinois | 5 | 55.8 | 44 | 52 | 66 |
| 🇺🇸 Florida | 13 | 59.5 | 51 | 61 | 72 |
When citing this data, please use: "Data from Stress Map (stress-map.org), powered by anonymous contributions from Stress Monitor for Watch users world-wide"
Ready to Contribute?
Download Stress Monitor for Watch on your iPhone and Apple Watch, then opt-in to Stress Map. Your anonymous score will help researchers worldwide understand mental health better.
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