Estimates of personal well-being from the Annual Population Survey (APS): for UK

and by constituent countries in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending
March 2021
Release date: 15 October 2021

To access data tables, select the table headings or tabs. You can go back to the main table of
contents by using the "Return to Contents" link at the top of each page.

Life Satisfaction
United Kingdom
Countries
Worthwhile
United Kingdom
Countries
Happiness
United Kingdom
Countries
Anxiety
United Kingdom
Countries

Statistical Contact
Laurence Day
Centre for Equalities and Inclusion - Quantitative Team
Office for National Statistics

qualityoflife@ons.gov.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1633 456300
Annual Population Survey
The personal well-being estimates are from the Annual Population Survey (APS), which provides a representati
sample of those living in private residential households in the UK. People living in communal establishments (su
care homes) or other non-household situations are not represented in this survey and this may be important in
interpreting the findings in relation to those people reporting lower personal well-being.

APS data reweighting

Weighting answers to survey questions ensures that estimates are representative of the target population. Each
in the survey data has a “weight”, the number of people that person represents in the population, which is used
produce estimates for the population. More accurate weighting is based on the latest available population estim
that time period. When new population estimates become available, data can be reweighted to ensure better
representation and so precision of estimates. For greater accuracy, it is common practice to revise previously p
estimates when new weights become available.
Based on new population estimates, new well-being weights have been available for the APS data since March
We have used this reweighted data to produce annual personal well-being estimates for the most recent period
the previous weights are still in use from year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2020.

Rounding
Due to rounding when computing estimates of thresholds, the values may not sum to 100.
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Life Satisfaction in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
Return to Contents
Mean Low Medium High Very High
Average 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 7.42 6.51 17.44 49.83 26.22
April 2012 - March 2013 7.46 5.71 17.10 51.15 26.03
April 2013 - March 2014 7.51 5.54 15.92 51.62 26.92
April 2014 - March 2015 7.61 4.74 14.81 51.70 28.75
April 2015 - March 2016 7.65 4.56 14.23 52.05 29.16
April 2016 - March 2017 7.68 4.53 13.76 51.74 29.97
April 2017 - March 2018 7.69 4.45 13.46 52.05 30.04
April 2018 - March 2019 7.71 4.37 13.26 51.64 30.74
April 2019 - March 2020 7.66 4.69 13.83 51.59 29.89
April 2020 - March 2021 7.39 6.12 17.54 52.59 23.75
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays? Where 0 is 'not at
all satisfied' and 10 is 'completely satisfied'.

2. Comparisons between areas must be done with caution as these estimates are
provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present
the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences
between areas as true differences may not exist.

3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates
the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable
Worthwhile in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
Return to Contents
Mean Low Medium High Very High
Average 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 7.67 4.77 15.04 48.73 31.47
April 2012 - March 2013 7.70 4.34 14.81 49.46 31.39
April 2013 - March 2014 7.74 4.20 13.93 49.18 32.69
April 2014 - March 2015 7.82 3.78 12.84 49.02 34.35
April 2015 - March 2016 7.84 3.62 12.80 49.21 34.37
April 2016 - March 2017 7.86 3.67 12.30 48.90 35.13
April 2017 - March 2018 7.88 3.64 12.06 48.48 35.83
April 2018 - March 2019 7.89 3.66 12.01 48.27 36.07
April 2019 - March 2020 7.86 3.83 12.04 48.44 35.69
April 2020 - March 2021 7.71 4.47 13.90 50.15 31.48
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are
worthwhile? Where 0 is 'not at all worthwhile' and 10 is 'completely worthwhile'.

2. Comparisons between areas must be done with caution as these estimates are
provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present
the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences
between areas as true differences may not exist.

3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates
the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable
Happiness in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
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Mean Low Medium High Very High
Average 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 7.29 10.74 18.03 39.34 31.90
April 2012 - March 2013 7.30 10.26 17.97 40.70 31.06
April 2013 - March 2014 7.39 9.62 16.99 40.69 32.70
April 2014 - March 2015 7.46 8.87 16.59 40.44 34.10
April 2015 - March 2016 7.48 8.81 16.46 40.49 34.24
April 2016 - March 2017 7.51 8.59 16.31 40.26 34.85
April 2017 - March 2018 7.52 8.27 16.34 40.54 34.85
April 2018 - March 2019 7.56 7.90 15.68 41.00 35.43
April 2019 - March 2020 7.48 8.77 16.48 40.59 34.16
April 2020 - March 2021 7.31 9.27 18.61 42.59 29.53
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday? Where 0 is 'not at all happy'
and 10 is 'completely happy'.

2. Comparisons between areas must be done with caution as these estimates are
provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present
the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences
between areas as true differences may not exist.

3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates
the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable
Anxiety in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
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Mean Very low low Medium High
Average 0-1 2-3 4-5 6 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 3.13 36.70 23.56 18.05 21.69
April 2012 - March 2013 3.03 38.10 23.48 17.58 20.85
April 2013 - March 2014 2.92 39.57 23.75 16.74 19.93
April 2014 - March 2015 2.86 40.92 23.23 16.49 19.36
April 2015 - March 2016 2.87 40.79 23.14 16.61 19.46
April 2016 - March 2017 2.90 40.16 23.34 16.65 19.86
April 2017 - March 2018 2.89 40.48 23.14 16.38 19.99
April 2018 - March 2019 2.87 40.88 23.17 16.19 19.76
April 2019 - March 2020 3.05 38.38 22.87 16.74 22.02
April 2020 - March 2021 3.31 33.07 24.16 18.56 24.21
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday? Where 0 is 'not at all anxious'
and 10 is 'completely anxious'.

2. Comparisons between areas must be done so with caution as these estimates are
provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present
the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences
between areas as true differences may not exist.

3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates
the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable
Life Satisfaction for countries in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
Return to Contents
Northern
England Wales Scotland England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
Ireland
Mean Mean Mean Mean Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High
Average Average Average Average 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 7.41 7.40 7.51 7.53 6.53 17.59 50.01 25.87 7.10 17.91 48.08 26.90 5.99 16.15 49.78 28.07 6.36 15.85 47.74 30.05
April 2012 - March 2013 7.44 7.44 7.53 7.70 5.74 17.29 51.35 25.62 6.50 17.17 49.61 26.72 5.42 15.67 51.42 27.49 4.15 15.82 47.11 32.91
April 2013 - March 2014 7.50 7.52 7.58 7.73 5.58 16.06 51.88 26.48 5.98 16.17 49.98 27.88 5.21 14.66 52.24 27.90 4.69 15.14 44.41 35.76
April 2014 - March 2015 7.60 7.56 7.66 7.89 4.74 14.93 51.92 28.41 5.49 15.82 49.98 28.71 4.74 13.69 52.77 28.81 3.35 12.99 44.41 39.25
April 2015 - March 2016 7.64 7.63 7.68 7.85 4.55 14.29 52.38 28.77 5.18 14.38 50.74 29.70 4.34 13.96 52.12 29.58 4.44 12.78 44.05 38.73
April 2016 - March 2017 7.67 7.65 7.68 7.88 4.51 13.85 51.88 29.77 5.05 14.39 50.53 30.04 4.59 13.50 52.30 29.62 4.34 10.60 47.97 37.09
April 2017 - March 2018 7.68 7.69 7.71 7.92 4.42 13.60 52.28 29.70 5.19 13.73 49.45 31.63 4.57 12.87 52.07 30.49 3.61 10.37 49.66 36.36
April 2018 - March 2019 7.71 7.68 7.69 7.89 4.29 13.41 51.74 30.56 5.21 13.34 50.41 31.04 4.73 12.62 52.40 30.25 4.22 10.34 48.30 37.14
April 2019 - March 2020 7.66 7.66 7.68 7.86 4.68 13.92 51.71 29.69 5.29 13.99 50.02 30.70 4.57 13.42 52.59 29.42 4.22 11.99 47.53 36.25
April 2020 - March 2021 7.38 7.38 7.38 7.54 6.06 17.60 52.76 23.57 7.01 18.13 49.62 25.25 6.23 17.47 53.00 23.29 6.10 14.72 51.27 27.91
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays? Where 0 is 'not at all satisfied' and 10 is 'completely satisfied'.
2. Comparisons between areas must be done so with caution as these estimates are provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences between areas
as true differences may not exist.
3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable
Worthwhile for countries in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
Return to Contents
Northern
England Wales Scotland England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
Ireland
Mean Mean Mean Mean Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High
Average Average Average Average 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 7.66 7.71 7.68 7.76 4.76 15.14 48.88 31.22 4.94 15.04 47.17 32.85 4.94 14.11 49.49 31.46 4.43 14.64 44.10 36.84
April 2012 - March 2013 7.69 7.70 7.70 7.86 4.30 14.97 49.54 31.19 4.89 14.31 48.93 31.86 4.64 13.99 50.19 31.18 3.66 13.48 45.54 37.31
April 2013 - March 2014 7.74 7.76 7.74 7.98 4.20 14.10 49.30 32.40 4.49 13.84 48.18 33.50 4.30 13.08 50.41 32.21 3.34 11.45 43.52 41.68
April 2014 - March 2015 7.82 7.78 7.84 8.10 3.78 12.93 49.13 34.16 4.46 13.35 48.52 33.68 3.75 11.70 51.30 33.24 2.90 12.69 39.60 44.81
April 2015 - March 2016 7.83 7.83 7.82 8.00 3.55 12.91 49.31 34.23 3.99 12.55 49.36 34.10 3.94 12.37 50.41 33.28 4.14 11.34 42.07 42.45
April 2016 - March 2017 7.86 7.83 7.81 8.08 3.64 12.35 48.84 35.17 4.32 12.49 48.48 34.71 3.82 12.61 50.56 33.01 3.08 9.58 46.12 41.22
April 2017 - March 2018 7.88 7.88 7.88 8.08 3.58 12.18 48.66 35.58 4.26 11.72 47.39 36.64 3.97 11.66 49.01 35.36 3.29 10.01 43.08 43.62
April 2018 - March 2019 7.88 7.88 7.86 8.07 3.61 12.11 48.30 35.98 4.08 12.05 47.73 36.14 4.04 11.67 49.22 35.07 3.22 9.85 45.39 41.54
April 2019 - March 2020 7.86 7.86 7.86 8.05 3.81 12.14 48.52 35.53 4.26 12.08 47.24 36.42 4.01 11.66 49.15 35.19 3.24 10.02 45.89 40.84
April 2020 - March 2021 7.71 7.69 7.68 7.90 4.38 13.97 50.31 31.34 5.79 13.76 47.72 32.72 4.93 14.08 49.97 31.02 3.48 11.30 50.14 35.08
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile? Where 0 is 'not at all worthwhile' and 10 is 'completely worthwhile'.
2. Comparisons between areas must be done so with caution as these estimates are provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences between areas
as true differences may not exist.
3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable
Happiness for countries in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
Return to Contents
Northern
England Wales Scotland England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
Ireland
Mean Mean Mean Mean Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High Low Medium High Very High
Average Average Average Average 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10 0-4 5-6 7-8 9 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 7.29 7.31 7.31 7.39 10.72 18.17 39.41 31.71 11.26 17.35 38.01 33.38 10.92 17.50 38.89 32.69 9.83 16.37 41.10 32.69
April 2012 - March 2013 7.29 7.31 7.33 7.60 10.29 18.23 40.66 30.83 10.83 17.55 39.77 31.85 10.26 17.13 41.33 31.27 8.47 13.53 41.89 36.11
April 2013 - March 2014 7.38 7.40 7.38 7.63 9.63 17.15 40.72 32.50 10.11 16.81 39.38 33.71 9.76 16.52 41.29 32.44 7.95 13.91 39.99 38.15
April 2014 - March 2015 7.46 7.45 7.46 7.73 8.90 16.64 40.60 33.86 9.33 16.49 39.77 34.41 9.03 16.74 40.04 34.18 6.75 14.77 37.89 40.59
April 2015 - March 2016 7.47 7.44 7.43 7.70 8.75 16.52 40.65 34.08 9.56 16.01 40.26 34.17 9.01 17.03 40.71 33.24 8.66 13.45 35.34 42.56
April 2016 - March 2017 7.51 7.48 7.45 7.67 8.54 16.32 40.36 34.79 9.01 16.43 39.60 34.96 9.11 16.69 40.03 34.17 7.44 14.58 39.17 38.81
April 2017 - March 2018 7.52 7.48 7.50 7.80 8.21 16.53 40.62 34.64 9.39 16.32 39.10 35.19 8.84 15.64 40.74 34.79 6.32 12.90 39.76 41.02
April 2018 - March 2019 7.56 7.53 7.52 7.69 7.81 15.73 41.10 35.36 8.80 16.03 39.47 35.70 8.53 15.50 40.78 35.19 7.07 14.06 41.15 37.72
April 2019 - March 2020 7.48 7.44 7.43 7.68 8.72 16.56 40.60 34.12 9.74 16.20 39.61 34.44 9.13 16.33 41.63 32.91 7.55 14.92 38.74 38.79
April 2020 - March 2021 7.31 7.30 7.27 7.49 9.21 18.84 42.44 29.50 9.92 17.84 42.25 30.00 9.93 17.63 43.93 28.51 7.84 15.83 43.75 32.59
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday? Where 0 is 'not at all happy' and 10 is 'completely happy'.
2. Comparisons between areas must be done so with caution as these estimates are provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences between areas
as true differences may not exist.
3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable
Anxiety for countries in the UK, year ending March 2012 to year ending March 2021
Return to Contents
Northern
England Wales Scotland England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
Ireland
Mean Mean Mean Mean Very Low Low Medium High Very Low Low Medium High Very Low Low Medium High Very Low Low Medium High
Average Average Average Average 0-1 2-3 4-5 6 - 10 0-1 2-3 4-5 6 - 10 0-1 2-3 4-5 6 - 10 0-1 2-3 4-5 6 - 10
April 2011 - March 2012 3.14 3.11 3.06 3.15 36.50 23.53 18.23 21.74 38.50 21.37 17.80 22.33 38.41 23.19 17.13 21.28 34.11 29.68 15.87 20.34
April 2012 - March 2013 3.04 3.02 2.93 3.00 37.82 23.55 17.65 20.97 38.88 22.32 18.02 20.78 40.22 22.43 17.28 20.07 38.49 26.70 15.32 19.49
April 2013 - March 2014 2.93 2.97 2.89 2.84 39.38 23.84 16.82 19.96 39.94 22.30 16.73 21.03 40.91 22.61 16.60 19.88 40.61 27.17 14.85 17.37
April 2014 - March 2015 2.86 2.93 2.83 2.81 40.85 23.27 16.56 19.33 40.73 21.82 17.01 20.44 41.42 23.45 15.56 19.56 41.95 24.04 16.20 17.81
April 2015 - March 2016 2.87 2.92 2.85 2.78 40.59 23.26 16.78 19.37 41.74 21.17 16.26 20.83 41.32 22.85 15.90 19.93 43.62 23.86 14.29 18.23
April 2016 - March 2017 2.91 2.96 2.89 2.64 39.86 23.48 16.79 19.87 40.62 21.66 16.50 21.21 40.85 23.11 16.26 19.78 46.31 22.67 13.74 17.29
April 2017 - March 2018 2.90 2.94 2.89 2.53 40.19 23.19 16.61 20.01 41.45 21.29 15.67 21.60 40.72 23.47 15.79 20.02 46.95 23.82 12.54 16.68
April 2018 - March 2019 2.87 2.93 2.83 2.83 40.80 23.16 16.33 19.72 41.06 21.90 16.08 20.95 41.55 23.24 15.60 19.61 41.10 25.78 13.85 19.27
April 2019 - March 2020 3.05 3.09 3.12 3.00 38.42 22.86 16.77 21.94 38.44 22.39 16.54 22.63 37.19 23.22 16.97 22.62 40.51 22.68 15.33 21.48
April 2020 - March 2021 3.31 3.42 3.31 3.10 32.98 24.03 18.85 24.15 33.34 22.59 17.65 26.42 32.88 25.31 17.23 24.57 35.94 27.46 15.52 21.08
Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics

1. Question: Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday? Where 0 is 'not at all anxious' and 10 is 'completely anxious'.
2. Comparisons between areas must be done so with caution as these estimates are provided from a sample survey. As such, confidence intervals are produced to present the sampling variability which should be taken into account when assessing differences between areas
as true differences may not exist.
3. The colour coding reflects an estimate's co-efficient of variation (CV), which indicates the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality.

Key
cv <= 5% Estimate is precise
cv > 5% and <= 10% Estimate is reasonably
considered precise
cv > 10% and <= 20% acceptable.
cv > 20% or unavailable Estimate is not reliable