Wellbeing in Wales did not improve between 2023 and 2024

Life in Wales did not improve between 2023 and 2024 for the average person, according to new research from Carnegie UK based on two surveys each of more than 500 people.

Now in its second year, Carnegie’s Life in the UK Index measures the collective wellbeing of the people of the UK by examining answers to questions across social, environmental, economic, and democratic themes. The index – produced with Ipsos – shows no statistically significant improvement across any of its headline measures for people in Wales between 2023 and 2024. 

The new report warns that inequalities in society and a lack of trust in government are undermining quality of life in Wales. The paper commends the Welsh Government for its commitment to improving wellbeing but warns that long-term, cross-government action will be required to improve people’s lives and address entrenched inequality.

Sarah Davidson, chief executive of Carnegie UK, said: “Our new research shows that many of the people of Wales are not having their basic needs met.

“Though these findings are in line with the rest of the UK, that shouldn’t comfort Welsh policymakers. Almost a decade after the Senedd passed world-leading wellbeing legislation there’s clearly much more work still required to deliver real improvements to people’s lives.

“Nobody should pretend that there are any quick fixes to many of the problems which Wales, like the rest of the UK, faces. But Wales has an opportunity to demonstrate that some of the biggest problems can be tackled with a co-ordinated long-term approach.” 

Carnegie UK is a public policy foundation focussed on improving people’s wellbeing. The foundation argues that improving people’s lives should be the overarching aim of government.

For a second year running, the research identifies groups in Welsh society with particularly low levels of wellbeing. These include people on lower incomes, disabled people, people aged 16 to 34, and people living in urban areas.

Furthermore, the survey work found that a fifth of people in Wales (21%) feel unsafe in their neighbourhood after dark, three in ten (32%) can’t afford an unexpected expense of £850 and 13 per cent of people can’t afford to heat their home.

Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales said: “Good quality and affordable food, access to green and open spaces and opportunities to influence decisions are issues that matter to the people of Wales. But this isn’t the reality for everyone.   

 “I welcome the Report’s findings that stress the need for effective, integrated, and joined-up policymaking focused on better outcomes for people. This requires public bodies to meaningfully involve the people of Wales in decisions.   

“Through our work with communities and organisations in developing Cymru Can, my five-year strategy, we see these findings as a reaffirmation of the missions we’ve collectively produced for Wales – to address the climate and nature emergencies, to foster cultural wellbeing, to create an economy fit for people and planet, and to keep people well. There are strong examples across Wales of efforts to address inequalities. We must use insights from this report, alongside the Welsh Government’s annual Well-being of Wales Report, to accelerate bold and urgent action.” 

In a similar pattern to 2023, the 2024 polling also found widespread distrust in political systems and institutions. The survey work – conducted in May 2024 – found that almost three quarters (74%) of people in Wales feel that they cannot influence decisions that affect the UK, while two thirds (66%) disagree that they can influence decisions affecting Wales. 

About half (56%) of all people in Wales in 2024 have low levels of trust in the UK Government, two fifths (39%) have low levels of trust in the Welsh Government, and about a third (31%) have low levels of trust in local authorities. 

Sarah Davidson said: “25 years after the establishment of the Assembly, our research finds little trust in government and politics in Wales.

“Elected members and political institutions need to address the public’s low levels of democratic wellbeing. This is the missing mission of government policy in Cardiff and Westminster.

“A crucial way to rebuild trust is to give people more of a say over the decisions that affect their lives. Building upon the existing Welsh wellbeing legislation and ten years on from the launch of “The Wales We Want” national conversation, that might mean more use of initiatives such as citizens’ juries and panels to inform local and national decision-making.“

Joe Rossiter, co-director at the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA), said: “This research shows Wales’ stagnating progress towards improving collective wellbeing. Inequality continues to have a strong impact on people’s wellbeing across the board. Concerningly, ahead of widespread Senedd reform, people in Wales are increasingly disconnected from our democracy and its ability to deliver change in their lives. The IWA welcomes the report and will continue our work to tackle Wales’ systemic challenges.”