Two-out-of-three Americans (68%) rate their own life as good or excellent. A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,204 Adults conducted May 18, 2006 found that 22% rate their own life as fair while 9% say poor.

Retired Americans are less likely than working Americans to rate their own life as excellent. Among those who are working, 44% of Entrepreneurs say their life is excellent. That view is shared by 34% of Government workers and 29% of those who work for a private sector employer. Only 24% of retirees share that level of optimism.

Nine percent (9%) of retirees rate their life as poor compared to 4% of entrepreneurs.

Thirty-three percent (33%) of men say their life is excellent along with 26% of women. Married Americans are more upbeat in their assessments than those who are not married.

Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans rate their life as good or excellent. That compares to 66% of Democrats and 65% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Seventy-four percent (74%) of black Americans rate their life as good or excellent along with 68% of white Americans and 57% of all other Americans.

Thirty-somethings appear to be the happiest age group. But, while those over 65 are less likely than younger adults to rate their life as excellent, they are more likely than any other age group to say their life is good. All in all, 69% of America’s senior citizens say their life in either good or excellent.