Life in the UK 2024 England

Out of a possible score of 100, England’s collective wellbeing in 2024 was just 61. This number is the same as the overall UK wellbeing score, and, within England, remains unchanged since our inaugural publication of this index in 2023.  

2024’s index findings tell us that the collective wellbeing of people in England is stagnant. This stasis in living standards is driven by persistent and entrenched inequality across the four core domains of social, economic, environmental and democratic wellbeing. 

The collective wellbeing scores in this report provide a baseline for local, regional and national government to build on if the UK Government wants to realise its stated ambition of bringing about a decade of national renewal. 

The scores provide stark evidence of the demographics of people who are being left behind in England today. It is on these groups that the twelve existing mayoral and forthcoming new strategic authorities should be focusing their attention if they are to make progress on closing the wellbeing gaps highlighted in the 2024 index.  

Informed by the evidence from the 2024 Life in the UK – England index, we believe there are three areas of opportunity to meaningfully improve outcomes for people in England. Leaders working in local and national government in England should: 

• Take steps to measure what matters;
• Put repairing democracy at the centre of plans for English devolution; and
• Learning from others, adopt and implement a fresh approach to governance.

The ability to monitor and communicate progress toward the achievement of outcomes or missions is critical in bringing about positive change for people living in England, and the UK more broadly.  

The UK Government’s devolution agenda represents an opportunity for the new devolved institutions to do things differently and embed outcomes-based approaches.