Carnegie UK’s Life in the UK index measures collective wellbeing across the UK. It is based on what people in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tell us about their lives.
The purpose of the index is to help governments across the UK focus their attention on the things that really matter to people, and to help us understand whether we are collectively living better or worse over time.
Key findings
Collective wellbeing in the UK has not improved over the past year, with the 2025 Index showing no change in the nation’s collective wellbeing score since 2023.
Financial pressures have eased slightly for some households, but millions continue to face hardship. Those living in social housing, larger families and people on low incomes remain most affected by economic inequality.
Trust in the UK Government has risen since the general election, but most people still feel they have little power to influence the decisions that affect their lives.
Project summary
The Life in the UK Index now provides three years of robust evidence about what life is like for people across the country. Out of a possible score of 100, the UK’s collective wellbeing in 2024 was just 62. The 2025 Index shows that the wellbeing of people across the UK has not improved over the past year.
Financial pressures have eased slightly for some households, but many continue to face hardship. While more people report being able to keep their homes warm enough, the study shows that economic hardship has not eased for millions, especially those living in social housing; families with three or more children; and people on low incomes.
Trust in the UK Government has increased since the general election, but most people still feel powerless to influence decisions that shape their lives. Trust in local councils and large technology companies is falling. Disabled people and social renters are among those least likely to feel heard by decision makers.
The UK remains deeply divided. The gap between those with higher incomes and secure housing and those without remains wide, shaping everything from reported quality of health to safety in the local community. Nearly half of respondents say they experienced discrimination in the past year, a figure that has risen since 2023.
Our findings highlight the need for urgent, joined up action to address these inequalities and ensure that everyone in the UK has the chance to live well.
We believe that improving the wellbeing of the people of the UK should be the overall aim of UK public policy and that a better approach to measuring what matters is a crucial first step to achieving this.
Partners
Want to find out more?
Our key contact for this programme is Susan.
Susan is head of research and insights. Susan is responsible for managing Carnegie UK’s research function and research outputs.
Susan has worked in social and market research for over 25 years in research agencies, predominantly working for the UK and Scottish Governments and was head of research at both the Charities Aid Foundation and the UK’s Publishers Association. Susan’s skills span quantitative and qualitative techniques.
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