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   The sun sets behind mountains on New Year's Eve in Honolulu. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) 
   
   Which state's residents are most fulfilled? 
   
   Hawaii's, of course. The island — often compared to paradise — scores highest on a new ranking of states by residents' well-being. But, if that was obvious, the state that ranked second may not be: it's ice-cold Alaska. 
   
   That's according to the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a ranking that seeks to capture how residents of each state feel about their sense of purpose and community, social and financial status and physical health. The ranking is based on more than 175,000 telephone interviews of adults conducted throughout 2015. 
   
   Nationally, America's well-being was statistically the same between 2014 and 2015. 
   
   That's not to say attitudes aren't improving. Financial well-being rose and American perceptions and ratings of their lives reached an all-time high. At the same time, food and health-care insecurity and smoking rates fell. 
   
   But there is some backsliding, too. Obesity continued to climb and more part-time employees were seeking full-time work. 
   
   In the end, the West won out, claiming all but two of the top 10 spots. The South dominated the bottom of the list, claiming all but three of the bottom 10. 
   
   Hawaii returned to its top ranking — a title it has held five times since 2008. Alaska fell one spot to second place, followed by Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. 
   
   Delaware scored highest by sense of purpose; South Carolinians were most socially fulfilled; Alaskans felt most financially secure; Montanans were happiest with their sense of community; and Hawaii scored highest by physical well-being. 
   
   West Virginia ranked dead last, just behind Kentucky. (Both states have brought up the rear since 2008.) Oklahoma was next. Ohio and Indiana tied for 47th place, just behind Missouri. 
   
   Alabama was most improved, rising 18 spots from the year before. 
   
   The most-improved states. (Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index) 
   
   Vermont fell hardest, dropping 16 spots. ||||| Well-being in the U.S. has been bolstered by many positive trends including a decline in the national uninsured rate, a decline in the overall smoking rate, and an increase in reported exercise. Food and healthcare insecurity has also dropped to a seven-year low. However, not all national well-being trends have moved in a positive direction. Obesity has continued its relentless upward climb, reaching a new high mark in 2015. 
   
   With the release of a new report from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®, you can gain new insight into the state of well-being across the nation. 
   
   The report, “State of American Well-Being: 2015 State Rankings”, provides an overview of well-being trends within the United States. As in prior years, well-being in the U.S. exhibits regional patterns. The northern plains and mountain west are higher well-being areas, along with some western states and pockets of the northeast and Atlantic. The lowest well-being states are in the south and move north through the industrial Midwest. 
   
   Hawaii reclaimed the top spot among states in the U.S. for well-being as 2014’s highest well-being state, Alaska, slipped to second. Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Utah, Arizona and California rounded out the rest of the top 10. Kentucky and West Virginia continued to have the lowest well-being in the nation, ranking 49th and 50th, respectively, for seven straight years. 
   
   To discover where other states — including yours — fall within the rankings, download a copy of the report today. You can also subscribe to content from the Well-Being Index; by subscribing, we’ll let you know when we release new reports and insights from the Well-Being Index. 
   
   The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index uses a holistic definition of well-being and collects self-reported data from individuals across the globe to create a unique view of societies’ progress on the elements that matter most to well-being: purpose, social, financial, community and physical. It is the most proven, mature and comprehensive measure of well-being in populations.
target: – Gallup is out with its annual poll trying to rank that most intangible of factors—a sense of "well-being"—in the US states. To do so, it questioned more than 177,000 people on topics ranging from having a sense of purpose to community to physical and financial health. Your winner? Yes, Hawaii. Generally speaking, the West is the most fulfilled region, claiming eight of the top 10 spots, while the South has seven of the bottom 10, notes the Washington Post. Here are the top and bottom five performers in the State of American Well-Being: Top five (in order): Hawaii, Alaska, Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming. Bottom five: Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Dig in to more results here.