A 2009 study found Americans, on average, have four close relationships, two of which are friends. Yale professor Nicholas Christakis notes that those stats haven’t changed much in the past few decades, and you get similar numbers when you look around the globe. And while the majority of studies show quality is more important than quantity when it comes to friends, numbers still matter. Which folks are 60 percent more likely to consider themselves “very happy”? Those who have five or more friends they can talk about their troubles with.
