We’ve all experienced jealousy in one form or another. Maybe it’s when a new partner shares just a little bit too much about their romantic history. Or maybe it’s the feeling when you catch somebody eyeing your lifelong soul mate in the grocery store.
No matter who, how, or why, jealousy is an undeniable part of the human experience.
We surveyed more than 2,000 Americans to find out how jealousy impacts their relationships.
The Green-Eyed States of America
We conducted a national survey to see which parts of the nation are home to the most jealous individuals and what really makes their blood boil. Read on to see what we found.
Jealousy is a widespread emotion, impacting people in states across the nation. But which states feel it the most? We dug into how Americans answered a series of questions about relationships, careers, finances, and more to find out.
1. Delaware
Delaware leads the pack with a jealousy score of 45.2 out of 60. Despite its size, Delaware’s residents report higher levels of jealousy than residents of other states. Much of Delaware’s jealousy starts in the workplace, with 57% of respondents saying they feel jealous when their coworkers get promoted, and 51% reported being jealous of their coworkers’ salaries.
2. Oklahoma
Oklahoma follows closely with a score of 43.9. Oklahomans are the most jealous when their partner likes models’ pictures on social media, and can we blame them?
3. Rhode Island
In third place, Rhode Island, the smallest state, packs a significant punch with a jealousy score of 40.2. Its close-knit communities might contribute to heightened awareness of each other’s successes and even personal information — 62% reported feeling jealous of their peers’ salaries.
4. Tennessee
Tennessee takes the fourth spot with a score of 39.3. Thirty-seven percent of Tennessee residents have asked their partner to stop hanging out with a friend because of jealousy.
5. Indiana
Indiana rounds out the top five with a jealousy score of 36.9. While most said they are happy for their partners’ success, 34% of Hoosiers admit a touch of envy in this department.
Other states green with envy include Idaho, Hawaii, and Utah, each respectively representing the subsequent states in our ranking.
On the other hand, some states are much more likely to trust their partners and celebrate their coworkers’ success. Ohio is the least jealous state, followed by Nevada, South Carolina, Connecticut, and Maryland, claiming the top five least jealous states.
Jealousy, In Its Many Forms
For better or worse, jealousy is an inevitable part of relationships. In fact, a whopping 87% of Americans surveyed said they experience jealousy in relationships, at least on occasion.
Social media has changed the way we interact with each other, both online and off. This is even more true when it comes to romantic relationships. A substantial 55% of respondents admit to feeling jealous when their partner likes photos of attractive peers, compared to 30% who feel the same about likes on photos of attractive famous people.
What about your heterosexual boyfriend having friends who are girls? When it comes to friends of the gender their partner is attracted to, 3 in 5 Americans surveyed said they experience jealousy. This phenomenon is especially true among women, with 65% saying it sparks envy.
But friends of any gender can cause problems: 40% of respondents said they experience jealousy when their partner spends time with friends instead of them. In fact, 1 in 4 Americans have asked their partner to stop hanging out with someone because they were jealous.
Jealousy doesn’t stop at interpersonal relationships. Most Americans (54%) surveyed envy their peers’ salaries, and around 40% said they feel jealous of their peers’ jobs. Another 45% feel jealous when their coworkers get promotions. Similarly, 57% are jealous of their peer’s wealth or possessions.
We asked people, “What are you most jealous of if you had to pick one thing?” Here’s what we heard:
- People who can retire
- People who own homes
- Anyone richer than me
- The girl engaged to Chris Evans
- My best friend
- Cats
“Jealousy can undermine relationships and friendships by making a person feel inadequate or insecure,” said Amber Brooks, Editor-in-Chief for DatingNews.com. “Whether it’s wealth, love, or Chris Evans’ relationship status, we all have dreams for ourselves, and it can be hard to see someone seemingly living your dream.”
Closing Thoughts
Jealousy isn’t necessarily a bad thing, oftentimes it stems from a deep level of care and understanding. When managed well, it can lead to honest conversations and stronger bonds.
Understanding these regional differences can help us approach our relationships with more empathy and awareness. Whether you’re curious about how your state ranks or looking for tips to manage jealousy in your own life, there’s always more to learn.
For more insights and advice on relationships, check out our blog. Stay up to speed on the latest innovations and trends in the dating world, including dating app updates, expert advice, and statistical insights.
Methodology
To find out which states were the most and least jealous, we surveyed more than 2,000 Americans from every state, asking questions pertaining to jealousy with regard to peers or partners in scenarios, such as when in a relationship or at work. We then evenly weighted each question to give every state analyzed a score out of 60 (1 being not jealous and 60 being completely jealous) based on their results.
It’s worth noting that due to their lower populations, we did not receive enough responses from Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming to include in our findings.
