Well-being

Societal and personal well-being in the UK looking beyond what we produce, to areas such as health, relationships, education and skills, what we do, where we live, our finances and the environment. This data comes from a variety of sources and much of the analysis is new.

Highlights

Personal and economic well-being in the UK: April 2019

What's in the bulletin?

  • In Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2018, average happiness, life satisfaction and worthwhile ratings for the UK remained flat while average anxiety and most economic indicators continued to improve, though as income inequality increased up to the financial year ending 2018, the trends in income, spending and anxiety of different parts of society may be different.
  • Between the financial years ending 2017 and 2018, the richest fifth of individuals saw a 4.7% increase in their real equivalised household disposable income compared with a 1.6% contraction for the poorest fifth of individuals.
  • Prices on transport, hotels and restaurants, and recreation and culture, which the richest 20% of households spend the most on, have increased by more than average inflation in 2018.
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Personal and economic well-being in the UK: February 2019

What's in the bulletin?

  • This is the first time Office for National Statistics (ONS) has brought together its data on both personal and economic well-being to give a fuller picture on the well-being of UK households.
  • In the latest quarter, economic indicators such as income and spending continue to increase, however, longer term, there is a slowdown of household conditions, also seen in a levelling off of people’s personal well-being and people’s perception of the future has been worsening.
  • In Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2018, there was an increase in real household disposable income per head, up 0.7% compared with a year ago, alongside similar rises in earnings, employment and household spending and improved anxiety ratings.
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Measures of National Well-being Dashboard

It monitors and reports how the UK is doing by producing accepted and trusted measures for the different areas of life that matter most to the UK public.

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Datasets related to Well-being

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Publications related to Well-being

Statistical bulletins

  • Personal well-being in the UK: July 2017 to June 2018

    Estimates of life satisfaction, feeling that the things done in life are worthwhile, happiness and anxiety at the UK and country level.

  • Economic well-being, UK: April to June 2018

    Presents a rounded and comprehensive basis for assessing changes in economic well-being through indicators that adjust or supplement more traditional measures such as gross domestic product (GDP).

  • UK Environmental Accounts: 2018

    Measuring the contribution of the environment to the economy, the impact of economic activity on the environment, and society's response to environmental issues. Satellite accounts to the main UK National Accounts.

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Articles

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Methodology related to Well-being

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Looking for local statistics?

A handy guide to let you know where to find local statistics.