Article: Measuring national well- being: Life in the UK: 2016€¦ · ending 2015. Net national...
Transcript of Article: Measuring national well- being: Life in the UK: 2016€¦ · ending 2015. Net national...
Article:
Measuringnationalwell-being:LifeintheUK:2016AsnapshotoflifeintheUKtodayacrossthe10domainsofnationalwell-being.ItisthefourthannualsummarytobedeliveredbytheMeasuringNationalWell-beingprogramme.
Contact:IanMacrory
Releasedate:23March2016
Tableofcontents1. Mainpoints
2. Introduction
3. Assessingchangeinnationalwell-being
4. SummaryofLifeintheUK,2016
5. Howdoweevaluateourownlives?
6. Howimportantaretherelationshipswehave?
7. Howgoodisourhealth?
8. Howdowespendourtimeandarewesatisfiedwithitsuse?
9. Howdowefeelaboutwherewelive?
10. Howarewecopingfinancially?
11. Howstrongisoureconomy?
12. Howskilledarewe?
13. Howpoliticallyengagedarewe?
14. Areweprotectingournaturalenvironmentforfuturegenerations?
15. Children’swell-being
16. Howsustainableisourfuture?
17. Sources,reportsandsurveysrelatedto'LifeintheUK,2016'
MainpointsOverallnationalwell-beinghasimproved.Ofthe43assessmentsofchange,17haveimproved,8havedeterioratedand11stayedthesame,comparedwith3yearsearlier.
Themajorityofimprovementsrelatetoobjectivemeasuresofnationalwell-beingsuchastheunemploymentrate,whilethemajorityofmeasuresassessedas“deteriorated”aresubjectivemeasures,suchassatisfactionwithhealth,forbothperiodsexamined.
SatisfactionwithhealthintheUKfellfrom66.3%inthefinancialyearending2011to57.8%inthefinancialyearending2014.
Thenumberofcrimesagainstthepersonfellfrom82per1000adultsinthefinancialyearending2012intheUKto57per1000adultsinthefinancialyearending2015.
NetnationaldisposableincomeperheadincreasedintheUKfrom£22,487in2011to£22,786in2014andtheproportionfindingitdifficulttocopefinanciallyfellfrom11.6%to9.1%betweenfinancialyearsending2011and2014.
Between2011and2014,Greenhousegasemissionsfellfrom553.4milliontonnesofcarbondioxideequivalentto514.4milliontonnesofcarbondioxideequivalentintheUK.
1.
IntroductionLifeintheUK2016providesthelatestannualsummaryofchangeintheheadlinemeasuresofnationalwell-being.Organisedinto10domains,suchasHealth,Wherewelive,EducationandskillsandNaturalenvironment,thereporthighlights‘howwearedoing’asindividualsandasanationandhowsustainablethisisforthefuture.Themeasuresincludebothobjectivedata(forexample,healthylifeexpectancy)andsubjectivedata(forexample,satisfactionwithhealth)inordertoprovideamorecompleteviewofthenationthanmeasuressuchasGrossDomesticProduct(GDP)candoalone.
Changeovertimeisassessedintermsofwhethermeasureshaveimproved,deterioratedorshownnooverallchange,coveringthelatestyearforwhichdataareavailableandtheprevious3years.
Acloserlookatthesustainabilityofnationalwell-beingforthefutureistakenusingONSvaluationofstocksofthingslikeeducation,naturalresourcesandcommunitycohesion,knownas“capitals”.Valuingthestockswehavenowprovidesimportantbenchmarkinformationtohelpensuretheycanbesustainedforthefuture.
MeasuresareupdatedinMarchandSeptember.Wherepossible,dataarepresentedfortheUK.Wherethisisnotthecase,thebestavailablegeographyisused.DataarethelatestavailableatMarch2016.
Alsoreleasedtoday:
Nationalwell-beingmeasuresdataset(https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/measuringnationalwellbeing)containingthelatestdata,timeseriesdataanddetailedinformationonassessmentsofchangeaswellaslinkstodatasources
Staticwheelsummarisinglatestdataandassessmentsofchange(http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/HTMLDocs/dvc146/Wellbeing-Wheel-March2016-Web.pdf)
Interactivewheelofmeasures(https://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/HTMLDocs/dvc146/wrapper.html)whichincludeschartsshowingavailabletimeseriesforallmeasures
Interactivechartsshowingthelatestdataforselectedmeasuresbyregionandcountry(https://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/HTMLDocs/dvc195/wrapper.html)
2.
Assessingchangeinnationalwell-being3.
TheMeasuringNationalWell-being(MNW)programmesetouttoestablishmeasureswhichwouldhelppeopletounderstandnationalwell-being,andalsohelpmonitorit.Thisreportincludesassessmentsshowingthedirectionofchangeforeachofthemeasures,whethertheyhaveimproved,shownnooverallchange,ordeteriorated.Comparisonshavebeenmadewiththepreviousyear’sdata,orthepreviouslypublishedfigurewhereyearonyeardataarenotavailable,aswellasanassessmentofchangeoverathreeyearperiod.Infutureyears,asmoredatabecomeavailable,wewillpublishassessmentsofchangeoveralongertimeseries.
Figure1summarisestheassessmentsofchangeinmeasuresofnationalwell-being.
Figure1:Assessmentsofchange-Nationalwell-beingmeasures
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:Measuresofhealthylifeexpectancyandfeelingsafewalkingaloneafterdarkarepresentedforbothmenandwomen,andsothereare43measurestoassess.
1.
Figuresmaynotaddto100%duetorounding.2.
Lookingatthemostrecentchange:
40%(17measures)hadimproved
30%(13measures)showednooverallchange
9%(4measures)haddeteriorated
21%(9measures)werenotassessed
Overthethreeyearperiod:
40%(17measures)hadimproved
26%(11measures)showednooverallchange
19%(8measures)haddeteriorated
16%(7measures)werenotassessed
Anumberofmeasureshavenotbeenassessed,eitherbecausedataarenotavailableforcomparison,orwherethedirectionofchangeisnotaclearindicationofeitherimprovementordeterioration.
IndividualmeasuresofchangecanbeviewedintheWheelofmeasures(https://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/HTMLDocs/dvc146/wrapper.html).Detailsofhoweachmeasurehasbeenassessedareavailableinthenationalwell-beingmeasuresdataset(https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/measuringnationalwellbeing).
Itisrecognisedthatthemeasuresonwhichassessmentsofchangehavebeenmadeareheadlinemeasuresandthereforeonlyprovideasnapshotofhownationalwell-beingischanging.Therearemanyothermeasuresthatwillaffectnationalwell-beingthathavenotbeenconsideredhere.However,itishopedthatassessingchangeinthiswaywillhelptosignpostareasinneedofcloserevaluationandintervention.
Youropinionsmattertous,andwewouldwelcomeyourfeedbackonthewayinwhichchangehasbeenassessed.Pleaseemail:[email protected]
SummaryofLifeintheUK,20164.
Overallnationalwell-beinghasimproved.Ofthe41measures,assessmentsofchangeshowthat17haveimprovedwhile8havedeterioratedand11havestayedthesameoverthe3yearperiod1.
Whichareasofourliveshaveimproved?Whileimprovementscontinuetobeseeninpersonalwell-being,withincreasesintheproportionreportingveryhighratingsfortheiroveralllifesatisfaction,theirhappinessyesterday,thesensethatthingsinourlivesareworthwhile,andthosereportingverylowanxietylevels;themajorityofimprovementsinnationalwell-beinghavebeenseeninobjectiveasopposedtosubjectivemeasures.
Areasoflifewhicharegettingbetterincludeourpersonalfinancesandtheeconomy,whererealmedianhouseholdincomeandnetnationaldisposableincomehavebothrisenandtheunemploymentratehasfallen.Afallintheproportionfindingitdifficulttogetbyalsosuggestswearelessconcernedthanwewereaboutourfinances.Inotherareasoflife,healthylifeexpectancycontinuestoriseforbothmenandwomen,thenumberofcrimesagainstthepersonhasfallenandmoreofusturnedouttovoteatthelastgeneralelectionthanthepreviousone.
Improvementshavealsobeenseenacrossenvironmentalmeasures.Greenhousegasemissionshavefallen,theextentofareasdesignatedas‘protected’hasgrownandagrowingproportionofusaccessedthenaturalenvironmentduringthe3yearperiodexamined.Moreenergyhasbeenconsumedfromrenewablesourcesinthelastyearthaninpreviousyearsandrecyclingrateshaverisen,butitistooearlytosaywhethertheseareindicativeoflongtermchanges.
Whichareasofourliveshavedeteriorated?Notallareasofourlivesaregettingbetterandmanyofthemeasuresassessedashaving‘deteriorated’relatetooursatisfactionwithparticularaspects.Despiteincreasesinoverallpersonalwell-being,theproportionssatisfiedwiththeirhealth,accommodation,householdincomeandleisuretimehaveallfallenoverthethreeyearperiod,thoughsatisfactionwithincomeandleisuretimeremainunchangedduringthelatestyear.Populationmentalwell-beingscoresalsofelloverthethreeyearperiodasdidtheproportionwhohadaspouseorpartner,familymemberorfriendtorelyoniftheyhadaseriousproblem.Adultparticipationinsporthasalsofallen.
Howsustainableisourfuture?
Lookingatnationalstocksofthingssuchaseducation,skillsandcompetenciesinthelabourmarket(humancapital)andthevalueofnaturalresourcessuchaswoodlandsandrivers(naturalcapital),thereisamixedmessageaboutsustainabilityforthefuture.Humancapitalrosebetween2013and2014,butremainsbelowlevelsseenbeforethefinancialcrisisandlatestdatafornaturalcapitalshowslongtermdecline.Measuresofthesestocksareunderdevelopmentandworkcontinuesonthedevelopmentofsocialcapital.
AfocusonsustainabledevelopmentisgatheringpacegloballyandnationallyandwearesettoplayakeyroleinreportingandmonitoringUK’sprogressagainstsustainabledevelopmentgoal2(SDGs).TheSDGswereadoptedataUnitedNationssummitin2015,andwewillbedevelopingaframeworkandrelatedindicatorsthatwillconsiderhowbesttoaligntheSDGsandwell-beingagendas.
Notes:
1. Comparisonshavebeenmadewithdatafrom3yearsago,ornearestavailablewhere3yeardataarenotavailable.
2. See'Howsustainableis ourfuturewell-being'section.
Howdoweevaluateourownlives?Anindividual’sthoughtsandfeelingsabouttheirownqualityoflifeisanimportantaspectofwell-being–bothpersonalandnational.Howsatisfiedpeoplearewiththeirlives,theirlevelsofhappinessandanxiety,andwhetherornottheythinkthethingstheydoareworthwhileallhavestronglinkswithmanyelementsofwell-being,forexample,people’shealth,employmentandrelationships.
What’schanged?
5.
Table1:Assessmentsofchange–Personalwell-being
UK
Latestdata 1year 3year
Veryhighratingofsatisfactionwiththeir
livesoverall128.8%
(2014/15)Improved Improved
Veryhighratingofhowworthwhilethe
thingstheydoare134.4%
(2014/15)Improved Improved
Ratedtheirhappinessyesterdayasvery
high134.1%
(2014/15)Improved Improved
Ratedtheiranxietyyesterdayasverylow140.9%
(2014/15)Improved Improved
Populationmentalwell-being224.6/35
(2012/13)
Not
assessedDeteriorated
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:
1.Theveryhighratingsoflifesatisfaction,worthwhileandhappinessare
definedasratingsof9or10outof10.Verylowanxietyisdefinedasratingsof
0or1outof10.
2.ShortWarwick–EdinburghMentalWell-beingScale(SWEMWBS)isusedto
calculatepopulationmentalwell-being.
Personalwell-beinghasimprovedThe4measuresofpersonalwell-beingthatweproduceare,howsatisfiedpeoplefeelwiththeirlives,howworthwhiletheyfeelthethingstheydoare,howhappytheywereyesterdayandhowanxioustheyfeltyesterday.Theproportionofthoseaged16andoverthatgavethehighestratingsforall4measuresinthefinancialyearending2015significantlyincreasedcomparedwiththepreviousyear,andwiththefinancialyearending2012,asshowninFigure2.
Betweenthefinancialyearsending2014and2015,thosereportingthehighestratingsoflifesatisfactionincreased2.0percentagepoints,to28.8%.Thiswascloselyfollowedbyratingsofhowworthwhilethethingspeopledoare,whichincreasedby1.9percentagepointsto34.4%.Theproportionofpeoplereportingthehighestlevelsofhappiness,andlowestlevelsofanxietyincreasedby1.5percentagepointsto34.1%,and40.9%respectively.
Improvementacrossall4measuressuggeststhatmorepeopleintheUKarefeelingpositiveabouttheirlivesthaninthefinancialyearending2014.ThePersonalWell-beingintheUK,2014/15(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/measuringnationalwellbeing/2015-09-23)statisticalbulletindiscussesthesemeasuresinmoredetail.
Overthesameperiod,thereweresignificantreductionsintheproportionsofpeoplegivingthelowestratingsofhappiness(down0.8percentagepointsto8.9%),lifesatisfaction(down0.8percentagepointsto4.8%),worthwhile(down0.4percentagepointsto3.8%),andthehighestratingsofanxiety(down0.6percentagepointsto19.4%),(Figure2).
Figure2:Percentagesratingpersonalwell-beingathighestandlowestlevels,financialyearsending2012to20151
UK
Source:AnnualPopulationSurveyPersonalWell-beingNationalStatisticsdataset,OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereasked'Overall,howsatis fiedareyouwithyourlifenowadays?','Overall,towhatextentdoyoufeelthethingsyoudoinyourlifeareworthwhile?','Overall,howhappydidyoufeelyesterday?'and'Overall,how
1.
anxiousdidyoufeelyesterday?'where0is 'notatall'and10is 'completely'.
Howimportantaretherelationshipswehave?Thenatureofourrelationshipshasanimportantinfluenceonourpersonalwell-being.Strongrelationshipsmayhelpincontributingtoalong,healthyandhappylife.Anarticle“WhatmattersmosttoPersonalWell-being(http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/what-matters-most-to-personal-well-being-in-the-uk-/art-what-matters-most-to-personal-well-being-in-the-uk-.html#tab-Key-points)”publishedbyusin2013showedthatwhentakingothercircumstancesintoconsideration–relationshipsareoneofthestrongestdriversofpersonalwell-being.Anarticlewepublishedin2015alsoshowedthatchildren’srelationshipswiththeirparents(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/measuringnationalwellbeing/2015-10-20#tab-Parental-relationships)areimportantandcanhaveaninfluenceonchildren’smentalhealth.Converselypoorqualityrelationshipsorlonelinesscanhaveanegativeeffectonourhealthandwell-being,andthismayhaveimportantimplicationsforpolicymakers.
What’schanged?
6.
Table2:Assessmentsofchange–Ourrelationships
UK
Latest
data1year 3year
Averageratingofsatisfactionwithfamilylife8.2/10
(2011)
Not
assessed
Nooverall
change
Averageratingofsatisfactionwithsociallife7.1/10
(2011)
Not
assessed
Nooverall
change
Hasaspouseorpartner,familymemberor
friendtorelyoniftheyhaveaserious
problem
84.1%
(2013/14)
Not
assessedDeteriorated
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Howgoodareourrelationships?
Nochangeinaverageratingofsatisfactionwithfamilylifeandsociallifebetween2007and2011Obtainingandmaintainingthecorrectbalancebetweenworkinglifeandhomelifecanbebeneficialtoanindividual’swell-being.Averageratingsofsatisfactionwithfamilylifeandsociallifehaveremainedbroadlyunchangedsince2003.In2011,adultsaged18andoverintheUKscoredtheirsatisfactionwithfamilylifeas8.2outof101(onaverage)and7.1outof10forsatisfactionwiththeirsociallife.Theseratingsshowednooverallchangesincetheprevioussurveyin2007indicatingthattheeconomicdownturnin2008maynothavehadaneffectonpeople’sfamilyandsociallife(EuropeanQualityofLifeSurvey,Eurofound).
Anarticlepublishedbyusaboutinequalitiesinsocialcapital(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/measuringnationalwellbeing/2015-07-09)2showedthatthoseintheirmiddleyearsratedtheirsatisfactionwithfamilyandsociallifeloweronaveragethanotheragegroups.AU-shapewasobservedforsatisfactionwithfamilylife,withthoseaged35to54beingtheleastsatisfiedwiththeirfamilylifeonaverage(7.9outof10)inthefinancialyearending2012.Thoseaged75andoverhadthehighestaveragerating(8.8outof10)ofallagegroupsforsatisfactionwithfamilylife.ThisU-shapewasmoremarkedforsatisfactionwithsociallife,withthoseaged45to54ratingtheirsatisfactionwithsociallifeat6.3outof10onaverage.Thoseaged18to24hadthehighestaveragerating(8.0outof10).
Theproportionwithsomeonetorelyonfellbetween2011and2014Thereisasaying,“aproblemsharedisaproblemhalved”–sohavingsomeonetoturntoforcompanyandsupportintimesofneedisessentialforaperson’swell-being.Over8in10people(84.1%)aged16andoverintheUKhadaspouseorpartner,familymemberorfriendtorelyoniftheyhadaseriousprobleminthefinancialyearending2014;adeteriorationfrom3yearsearlier(86.4%).Havingsomeonetorelyonvariedbyage–inthefinancialyearending2014,88.7%ofpeopleaged65andoverhadsomeonetorelyoncomparedwith76.3%ofthoseaged16to24(UnderstandingSociety,theUKHouseholdLongitudinalSurvey).
Lonelinesshasanimpactonaperson’swell-beingandarangeofpersonalcircumstancessuchaspoorhealth,livingaloneandalackofasupportnetworkarefactorscontributingtofeelingsofloneliness.Werecentlypublishedanarticleaboutlonelinessanditseffectsonolderpeopleandtheirwell-being(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/measuringnationalwellbeing/2015-10-01#tab-Introduction),whichshowedthatthosewhoreportedbeinglonelywere7timesmorelikelytohavelowlifesatisfaction.
Howdoourrelationshipsaffectourpersonalwell-being?
AhigherproportionofmarriedpeopleintheUKreportedaveryhighrating(9to10outof10)oflifesatisfactioncomparedwithothersbetweenApril2014andMarch2015(Figure3).Overathird(34.7%)ofpeoplewhoweremarriedorinacivilpartnershipratedtheirleveloflifesatisfactionasveryhighcomparedwith28.9%ofthosewhowerewidowedorasurvivingcivilpartner,orthosewholivedwiththeirpartner.Peoplewhowereseparatedordivorcedemergedastheleastsatisfied,withonly19.5%ratingtheirlifesatisfactionasveryhigh–lowerthanthosewhoweresingle(21.9%).Peoplewhoweremarriedwerealsotheleastlikelytoreportlowlifesatisfaction.Just2.8%ratedlowlifesatisfaction(0to4outof10),comparedwith3.2%ofcohabitees,6.2%ofsinglepeople,7.2%ofwidowsorsurvivingcivilpartners,and10.4%ofdivorcees.
Figure3:Lifesatisfaction1:bymaritalstatus,April2014toMarch2015
UK
Source:AnnualPopulationSurveyPersonalWell-beingNationalStatisticsdataset,OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereasked"Overall,howsatis fiedareyouwithyourlifenowadays?''where0is 'notatall'and10is 'completely'.
1.
Notes:
1. Usingascalefrom1to10where1indicates“verydissatisfied”and10indicates“verysatisfied”.
2. Ingeneralterms,socialcapitalrepresentssocialconnectionsandallthebenefitstheygenerate.
Howgoodisourhealth?AccordingtotheWhatWorksCentreforWellbeingPublicDialoguesReport,peoplebelievegoodphysicalandmentalhealthisattheheartofwell-being.Thissupportsourearlieranalysiswhichfoundthatwhenallotherfactorsareheldequal,people’sassessmentoftheirhealthisthefactorthatismostcloselylinkedtotheirpersonalwell-being(http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/what-matters-most-to-personal-well-being-in-the-uk-/art-what-matters-most-to-personal-well-being-in-the-uk-.html#tab-Key-points).
TheWorldHealthOrganisationdefineshealthas"astateofcompletephysical,mental,andsocialwell-beingandnotmerelytheabsenceofdiseaseorinfirmity."Ifanindividualisingoodhealththeyaremorelikelytobeinemployment,totakeupexerciseandhaveanactivesociallife,whichinturnwillimprovetheiroverallwell-being.However,thesamecanbesaidofthosethathavehighlevelsofwell-being,astheyaremorelikelytohavepositivehealthbehaviourswhichwillencouragegoodhealth.
What’schanged?
7.
Table3:Assessmentsofchange–Health
UK
Latestdata 1year 3year
Healthylifeexpectancyatbirth-Male64.2(2009–
11)Improved Improved
Healthylifeexpectancyatbirth-
Female
66.1(2009–
11)Improved Improved
Somewhat,mostlyorcompletely
satisfiedwithhealth
57.8%
(2013/14)Deteriorated Deteriorated
Percentagewithsomeevidence
indicatingdepressionoranxiety
19.7%
(2013/14)Deteriorated
Nooverall
change
Percentagewhoreportedalong-
termillnessand/ordisability
17.2%(Octto
Dec2015)
Not
assessed
Not
assessed
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Doeshowhealthywefeelaffectourpersonalwell-being?Thereisaclearrelationshipbetweenhowpeopleratetheirhealthandhowtheyratetheirpersonalwell-being.
Figure4:Veryhighlevelsoflifesatisfaction1:byself-reportedhealth,April2014toMarch2015
UK
Source:AnnualPopulationSurveyPersonalWell-beingNationalStatisticsdataset,OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:
AdultsintheUKwhoreportedverygoodorgoodratingsofselfreportedhealth,hadhigherproportionsofveryhighlifesatisfactionwhencomparedwiththosewhoreportedbadorverybadratingsofself-reportedhealthinthefinancialyearending2015(Figure4).Ofthosethatconsideredthemselvestobeinverygoodhealth,37.3%ratedtheirlifesatisfactionasveryhigh,comparedwith11.1%ofthosethatreportedtheywereinverybadhealth.
Adults aged16andoverwereasked'Overall,howsatis fiedareyouwithyourlifenowadays?'where0is 'notatall'and10is 'completely'.VeryHighlifesatis factionis definedasthosethatreportedaratingof9or10outof10.
1.
Healthylifeexpectancyatbirthhasincreasedto64.2formalesand66.1forfemalesDuringtheperiod2009to2011thehealthylifeexpectancyformalesatbirthintheUKwas64.2years,whichwasanimprovementonthepreviousperiod(2006to2008)whenitwas62.5years.Duringthesameperiod,femalehealthylifeexpectancyatbirthalsoimprovedfrom64.2yearsto66.1years.
Figure5:Maleandfemalehealthylifeexpectancyatbirthbetween2000to2002and2009to2011
UK
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Thehealthylifeexpectancyforbothmalesandfemaleshasbeenincreasingsince2000to2002(Figure5).Thegapbetweenthesexesin2009to2011healthylifeexpectancyatbirthwas1.9years,withfemalesexpectedtolivemoreyearsin“good”healththantheirmalecounterparts.
Satisfactionwithhealthhasfallen
Theproportionofpeopleaged16andoverintheUKwhoweresomewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfiedwiththeirhealthwaslowerinthefinancialyearending2014(57.8%)thaninthepreviousyear(59.3%).Thewayinwhichpeopleviewtheirhealthiscrucialtowell-being.Althoughwearelivinglongerhealthierlives,wearelesssatisfiedwithourhealth.Thishighlightstheimportanceofconsideringhowpeoplearefeeling,forexample,theirsatisfactionwithhealthalongsidemeasuressuchashealthylifeexpectancies.
Thoseaged75andover,andbetween45and54,hadthelowestproportionsofpeoplesatisfiedwiththeirhealth,50.7%and54.7%respectively.Almosttwo-thirds(66.0%)ofyoungpeopleaged16to24weresomewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfiedwiththeirhealth,with15.2%reportingthattheywerecompletelysatisfiedwiththeirhealth.Aspeoplegetoldertheytendtodevelopmorehealthproblems,sothefactthatthoseaged75andoverhavethelowestproportionsatisfiedwiththeirhealthisnotunexpected.
Figure6:Satisfactionwithhealth1:byage,April2013toMarch2014
UK
Source:UnderstandingSociety,UKHouseholdLongitudinalStudy
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereaskedtoratetheirsatis factionwiththeirgeneralhealthonascalefromcompletelydissatis fiedtocompletelysatis fied.Thechartaboveincludesthosethatstatedsomewhat,mostlyandcompletelysatis fied.
1.
Figure6showsthattheproportionof45to54and55to64yearoldsthatweresomewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfiedwiththeirhealthwaslowerthanthoseaged65to74.Althoughthesedifferencesaren’tlargeenoughtobeclassifiedas“significant”(i.e.thedifferencesbetweentheagegroupscouldbedowntochance),theyfollowasimilartrendtotherecentlypublishedpersonalwell-beingdata(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/measuringnationalwellbeing/atwhatageispersonalwellbeingthehighest).Thisshowedthattheagegroupthatwasleastsatisfiedwiththeirlifeoverallwas45to54.Suggestedreasonsforlowerlifesatisfactionamongstthisagegroupincludedmanagingthehome,balancingworkandfamilycommitmentsandcaringforparentsandchildren.Thesereasonscouldalsobebehindalowerproportionreportingfeelingsomewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfiedwiththeirhealth.
IncreaseintheproportionindicatingsomedepressionoranxietyInthefinancialyearending2014theproportionofpeopleaged16andoverintheUKthatshowedsomeevidenceofanxietyordepression,accordingtotheGeneralHealthQuestionnaire(GHQ-12)increasedto19.7%,from18.3%inthepreviousyear.Mentalhealthisafactorthataffectswell-being.Peoplewithpositivementalhealthwillfeelgoodaboutthemselves,andwillfeeltheyarebetterequippedtocopewiththeirproblems,whereasthosepeoplethatindicatedepressionoranxietymayfindthismorechallenging.Thiswillundoubtedlyimpactonpersonalandthereforenationalwell-being.
Ahigherproportionofwomen(22.5%)thanmen(16.8%)indicatedtheyhadsomefeelingsofdepressionoranxietyinthefinancialyearending2014.Theagegroupwiththehighestproportionindicatingdepressionoranxietywas45to54yearolds(22.8%),whereasthelowestwasthoseaged65to74(14.4%)(UnderstandingSociety,UKHouseholdLongitudinalStudy).
ArecentreportpublishedbyNHSEnglandoutlinedthatpreventionofmentalhealthproblemsshouldbemadeapriority.Carers,healthcareprofessionalsandthosethathavelivedwithmentalhealthproblemshighlightedthatamongstotherareas,ensuringgoodoverallphysicalandmentalhealthandwell-beingwillassistinthepreventionofmentalhealthproblems.
TheWorldHappinessReportcitesresearchthatfoundoverhalfofchildrenwhohaveamentalhealthproblemwillsufferfrommentalill-healthasadults,thereforeitisimportanttotackletheissueasearlyinlifeaspossible.Italsoexplainsthatmentalhealthproblemssuchasdepressioncanbemoredisablingthanphysicalproblemssuchasarthritisorasthma.Inarecentpublicationwefoundthatchildrenwhospent3ormorehoursonsocialmediaadayweremorelikelytoreportmentalill-healthsymptoms.Thereportalsoprovidesmoreindepthanalysisofchildren’swell-being(http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/children-and-young-people-s-well-being-in-the-uk--october-2015/index.html).
Howdowespendourtimeandarewesatisfiedwithitsuse?Whatwedoinlifeshapesourlifestyles,ourrelationshipswithothersandourwell-being.Peoplehavemanydifferentlifestylesbasedonindividualchoices,characteristics,personalpreferencesandcircumstances.Individualsdividetheirtimebetweenvarioustasksandactivities,includingpaidorunpaidemployment,volunteeringandnumerousleisureactivities.
What’schanged?
Table4:Assessmentsofchange–Whatwedo
8.
UK(unlessotherwisespecified)
Latestdata 1year 3year
Unemploymentrate
5.1%(Nov
2015toJan
2016)
Improved Improved
Somewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfied
withtheirjob
78%
(2013/14)
No
overall
change
Nooverall
change
Volunteeredmorethanonceinthelast
12months
17.4%
(2012/13)
No
overall
change
Not
assessed
Somewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfied
withtheiramountofleisuretime
57.2%
(2013/14)
No
overall
change
Deteriorated
Engagedwith/participatedinartsor
culturalactivityatleast3timesinlast
year(England)
82.4%
(2014/15)
No
overall
change
Nooverall
change
Adultparticipationin30minutesof
moderateintensitysport,onceperweek
(England)
35.8%(Oct
2014toSep
2015)
No
overall
change
Deteriorated
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
TheunemploymentratehasfallenInthe3monthstoJanuary2016,theunemploymentrate1was5.1%;animprovementonbothayearearlier(5.7%)andNovembertoJanuary2013(7.8%)(Figure7).Theannualdecreasewasequivalentto171,000people.Thereisstrongevidencethatworkisgoodforphysicalandmentalhealthandwell-being2.Inthe3monthstoJanuary2016,theproportionaged16to64inworkgrewfrom73.3%to74.1%,equivalentto478,000peoplecomparedwithayearearlier.
Figure7:Unemploymentrate1,seasonallyadjusted,NovembertoJanuary2011toNovembertoJanuary2016
UK
Source:LabourForceSurvey,OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:
NochangeinsatisfactionwithjobsJobsatisfactionisconsideredastrongpredictorofoverallindividualwell-being.Inthefinancialyearending2014,nearly8in10(78.0%)adultsaged16andoverintheUKreportedthattheyweresomewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfiedwiththeirjob.Thiswasbroadlyunchangedsincethefinancialyearending2013(77.6%)andthefinancialyearending2011(78.5%).Justover1in10(12.7%)adultsreportedbeingsomewhat,mostlyorcompletelydissatisfiedwiththeirjobinthefinancialyearending2014(UnderstandingSociety,theUKHouseholdLongitudinalSurvey).
Theunemploymentrateis calculatedasthenumberofunemployedpeopleaged16andoverdividedbytheeconomicallyactivepopulationforthatagegroup.
1.
NochangeintheproportionvolunteeringVolunteeringmayhavebenefitsforanindividual’shealthandwell-beingandcanmakeadifferencetothelivesofotherpeople,thecommunityortheenvironment.Inthefinancialyearending2013,17.4%ofpeopleaged16andoverintheUKdidsomesortofunpaidhelporvolunteeringseveraltimesayearormoreinthe12monthspriortointerview.Thiswasbroadlyunchangedfromthefinancialyearending2011(16.7%)(UnderstandingSociety,theUKHouseholdLongitudinalSurvey).
Accordingtoouranalysis,thevalueoffrequentvolunteering(http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/household-satellite-accounts/valuing-voluntary-activity-in-the-uk/art--valuing-voluntary-activity-in-the-uk.html#tab-abstract)(thosewhovolunteeredatleastonceamonth)was£23.9billioninthefinancialyearending2013.
Nochangeinsatisfactionwithamountofleisuretime,followingadeteriorationbetween2011and2014Theamountandqualityofleisuretimeisimportantforpeople’swell-beingforthedirectsatisfactionitbrings.Overhalf(57.2%)ofadultsaged16andoverweresomewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfiedwiththeiramountofleisuretimeinthefinancialyearending2014–nooverallchangefromayearearlier(58.2%),andadeteriorationsincethefinancialyearending2011(60.9%).Overaquarter(27.8%)reportedthattheyweresomewhat,mostlyorcompletelydissatisfiedwiththeiramountofleisuretimeinthefinancialyearending2014(UnderstandingSociety,theUKHouseholdLongitudinalSurvey).
Nochangeinparticipationinsports,artsandcultureAreport“QuantifyingandValuingtheWell-beingImpactsofCultureandSport”publishedin2014bytheDepartmentforCulture,MediaandSportidentifiedstatisticallysignificantassociationsbetweenculturalandsportengagementandindividualwell-beingandarangeofothersocialimpacts.
Over8in10(82.4%)adultsaged16andoverinEnglandengagedwith,orparticipatedin,artsorculturalactivity3atleast3timesintheyearpriortointerviewinthefinancialyearending2015(TakingPartSurvey,DepartmentforCulture,MediaandSport).
BetweenOctober2014andSeptember2015,overathird(35.8%)ofadultsaged16andoverinEnglandparticipatedinatleast30minutesofsportatmoderateintensityatleastonceaweek,equivalentto15.7millionpeople.Thiswasbroadlyunchangedfromayearearlier(36.1%)butadeteriorationsinceOctober2011toOctober2012(36.9%).BetweenOctober2014andSeptember2015,morethanhalf(57.4%)ofadultsdidnotparticipateinatleast30minutesofmoderateintensitysportonaregularbasis.Menweremorelikelythanwomentoparticipateonceaweek(40.7%and31.2%respectively).Whenanalysedbyagegroupoverthesameperiod,55.2%aged16to25participatedonceaweekcomparedwith32.1%aged26andover(ActivePeopleSurvey,SportEngland).
Theamountandqualityofleisuretimeisalsoimportantforchildren’swell-being.Wepublishedanarticlein2015whichexploredsportsparticipationandengagementandparticipationinartsorculturalactivityamongchildren(http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/children-and-young-people-s-well-being-in-the-uk--october-2015/index.html).Thereportshowedthatalmostallchildren(96.7%)hadengagedwithorparticipatedinartsorculturalactivitiesatleast3timesinthelastyear.Most(75.7%)haddonesoatleastonceinthelastweek.In2014to2015,8in10(78.2%)childrenhadparticipatedinsportinthelastweek.Almost7outof10(69.1%)childrenaged5to10yearsand9outof10(89.5%)childrenaged11to15yearshadparticipatedinsport.
Howdoesoureconomicactivityaffectlifesatisfaction?“PublicDialogues”,areportpublishedbyWhatWorksCentreforWell-beingstatedthat,“Themainvalueofworkformanyisfinancialsecurity,stabilityandfeelingsafe.Atitsbestworkandlearningcanbringachievementandopportunity.”Toboostthenumberofjobsandcreateaflexiblelabourmarket,thegovernmenthasanumberofpoliciesincludingmodernisingemploymentlawandprovidingjobsearchsupport.
Figure8:Lifesatisfaction1:byeconomicactivity,April2014toMarch2015
UK
Source:AnnualPopulationSurveyPersonalWell-beingNationalStatisticsdataset,OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereasked"Overall,howsatis fiedareyouwithyourlifenowadays?",where0is "notatall"and10is "completely".
1.
Ahigherproportionofeconomicallyinactive4peopleintheUKreportedaveryhighrating(9or10outof10)oflifesatisfaction(32.4%),comparedwiththosewhowereeitherinemployment(27.3%)orunemployed(18.8%)betweenApril2014andMarch2015(Figure8).Theeconomicallyinactivegroupcontainalargerproportionofpeoplewhoareretiredordonotneedtowork,forexample,becausetheyareinfull-timeeducation.Theseindividualsmighthavemorefreetimetospendonactivitieswhichpromotetheirwell-beingsuchaspursuingapastime.However,thoseinemploymentweretheleastlikelytoreportlowlifesatisfaction.Just2.9%ratedlowlifesatisfaction(0to4outof10),comparedwith12.5%ofthoseunemployedand6.9%whowereeconomicallyinactive(AnnualPopulationSurvey,OfficeforNationalStatistics).
Notes:
1. Theunemploymentrateiscalculatedasthenumberofunemployedpeopleaged16andoverdividedbytheeconomicallyactivepopulationforthatagegroup.
2. GordonWaddell,AKimBurton-IsWorkGoodforyourHealthandWell-being?
3. Thiscoversengagementorparticipationinthearts(excludingreadingforpleasure),museumsandgalleries,libraries,archivesandheritagesites.
4. Theeconomicallyinactivearedefinedaspeoplewhoarenotinemploymentorunemployed.Theseincluderetirement,beinginfull-timeeducation,beingillordisabledandunabletowork,lookingafterahomeorfamily,beingacarerofanotheradult,orsimplynotneedingtoworkwhichmeansthattheyarenotparticipatinginthelabourmarket,buttheirreasonsfornotdoingsoarequitediverseasaretheircircumstances.
Howdowefeelaboutwherewelive?Positivefeelingsaboutwherewelivecancreateastrong,inclusivecommunitywherepeoplefeelthattheybelong,andwheretheyfeelsafe.Inturncommunitiesthatarestrongaremorelikelytodeliverhigherratesofsocialandcivicparticipation,lowerratesofcrime,andimprovedphysicalandmentalhealthamongitsinhabitants.
What’schanged?
9.
Table5:Assessmentsofchange–Wherewelive
UK(unlessotherwisespecified)
Latest
data1year 3year
Agreed/agreedstronglytheyfeltthey
belongedtotheirneighbourhood
63.3%
(2011/12)Deteriorated
Not
assessed
Feltfairly/verysafewalkingaloneafter
dark(men)(EnglandandWales)
85.8%
(2014/15)
Nooverall
change
Nooverall
change
Feltfairly/verysafewalkingaloneafter
dark(women)(EnglandandWales)
61.7%
(2014/15)ImprovedDeteriorated
Crimesagainsttheperson(per1,000
adults)(EnglandandWales)
57
(2014/15)Improved Improved
Fairly/verysatisfiedwiththeir
accommodation(England)
89.2%
(2013–
14)
Deteriorated Deteriorated
Householdswithgoodtransportaccessto
keyservicesorwork(2011=100)
(England)
106
(2013)
Nooverall
change
Nooverall
change
Accessednaturalenvironmentatleast
onceaweekinthelast12months
(England)
59%
(2014/15)
Nooverall
changeImproved
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
ProportionfeelingtheybelongtotheirneighbourhoodhasfallenInthefinancialyearending2012,over6in10(63.3%)peopleaged16andoverintheUKagreedorstronglyagreedthattheybelongedtotheirneighbourhood,adeteriorationfromfinancialyearending2010(66.0%).
Theproportionofpeoplewhoreportedbelongingtotheirneighbourhoodincreasedwithage.Justunderhalf(49.0%)ofthoseaged16to24agreedorstronglyagreedthattheybelongedtotheirneighbourhoodcomparedwith81.1%ofthoseaged75andover(UnderstandingSociety,theUKHouseholdLongitudinalStudy).
InJuly2015wepublishedananalysisofsocialcapital(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/measuringnationalwellbeing/2015-01-29#tab-Trust-and-Cooperative-Norms)intheUKwhichincludesotheraspectsofbelongingtoaneighbourhoodsuchastrustandsocialnetworks.
ProportionfeelingsafeafterdarkhasincreasedforwomenbutnotmenFeelingsafeinthelocalneighbourhoodcanbeanimportantfactorforaperson’ssenseofsatisfactionintheareaaroundthem.Agoodindicatorofthisistofindoutwhetherapersonfeelssafewalkingaloneafterdarkintheirlocalarea.IntheyearendingMarch2015,85.8%ofmenand61.7%ofwomenaged16andoverinEnglandandWalesreportedthattheyfeltfairlyorverysafewalkingaloneafterdark.ComparedwiththeyearendingMarch2014,thisrepresentednochangeformen(85.1%)butasignificantimprovementforwomen(58.0%)(CrimeSurveyforEnglandandWales,OfficeforNationalStatistics).
Numberofcrimesagainsttheperson(per1,000adults)hasfallenCrimecanhaveanimpactonaperson’smentalandphysicalhealthduetolimitedactivityandcanaffectaperson’swell-beingduetoisolationorlimitedsocialcohesion.IntheyearendingMarch2015,therewereanestimated57personalcrimesper1,000adultsaged16andoverinEnglandandWales.Thiswasanimprovementonthepreviousyear(66per1,000adults)andanimprovementsincetheyearendingMarch2012(82per1,000adults)(CrimeSurveyforEnglandandWales,OfficeforNationalStatistics).
Proportionofhouseholdssatisfiedwiththeiraccommodationhasfallen
Justunder9in10(89.2%)householdsinEnglandinthefinancialyearending2014reportedthattheywereveryorfairlysatisfiedwiththeiraccommodation,adeteriorationfromayearearlier(90.6%)andsincethefinancialyearending2011(90.8%).Variationsexistbytenure.Ouranalysisin2015showedthatpersonalwell-beingishigheramonghouseholdswhoownedtheirownhomethanthosewhorented(http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/personal-well-being-in-the-uk--2014-15/sty-personal-well-being-and-housing-tenure.html).
Inthefinancialyearending2014,93.8%ofowner-occupierssaidthattheywereveryorfairlysatisfiedwiththeiraccommodationwhile3.3%statedtheywereslightlyorverydissatisfied.Incomparison,80.6%ofsocialrentersand81.8%ofprivaterenterswereeitherveryorfairlysatisfied(EnglishHousingSurvey,DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment).
TraveltimetokeyservicesTheproximityofhousingtoarangeofemployment,servicesandfacilities,aswellaspublictransportinfrastructurecouldhaveabearingonthesatisfactionlevelwiththeareainwhichpeopleliveandinturncontributetotheirwell-being.
TheaverageminimumtraveltimeacrossEnglandtoaselectionof8keyservices1in2014bypublictransportorwalkingwas17minutes.However,therewasconsiderablevariationinthesetimesbetweenthoselivinginurbanareas(15minutes)andthoselivinginruralareas(27minutes).
Lookedatinmoredetail,theaverageminimumtraveltimetothenearestservicebypublictransportorwalkingwaslowestforfoodstoresandprimaryschools(9minutes)andhighestforhospitals(37minutes).(DepartmentforTransportJourneyTimeStatistics).
6in10ofusvisittheoutdoorsforleisureatleastonceaweekAccesstoaparkorgreenspacecanhavewide-rangingbenefitsforourhealthandwell-being.Stakeholdersinthe“WhatWorksCentreforWell-being”communitywell-beingevidenceprogrammereportedthatnatureandgreenoropenspacewereoneofthefactorsthatcontributedtomaking“agoodplace”.
Inthefinancialyearending2015,nearly6in10(59%)ofadultsaged16andoverinEnglandreportedthattheyvisitedtheoutdoorsforleisure,awayfromhome,atleastonceaweekinthe12monthspriortointerview.Therewasnooverallchangefromayearearlier(58%)butanimprovementsincethefinancialyearending2012(55%).While13%reportedthattheyvisitedonadailybasis,nearly1in10(8%)statedthattheyhadnotvisitedtheoutdoorsintheprevious12months(MonitorofengagementwiththeNaturalEnvironment,NaturalEngland2).
Doesvisitingthenaturalenvironmentaffectourwell-being?Variousstudieshavedemonstratedassociationsbetweenaccesstolocalgreenspaceandpopulationhealthandwell-being.Peoplelivinginareaswithhighquantitiesofgreenspacehavebeenfoundtohavebetterhealth,asmeasuredusingbothself-reporteddatafromsurveys,andrecordsofmorbidityandmortalityrates(Maasetal.,2006,2009;MitchellandPopham,2007,2008).
Figure9a:Averagelifesatisfactionratings1byvisitstothenaturalenvironment2,April2013toMarch2014
England
Source:MonitorofengagementwiththeNaturalEnvironment,NaturalEngland
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereasked'Overall,howsatis fiedareyouwithyourlifenowadays?',where0is 'notatall'and10is 'completely'.Doesnotincludethosewhoreported'don'tknow'.
1.
Peoplerespondingthattheyspentleisuretimeoutofdoorsawayfromhomemorethanonceperday,everyday,orseveraltimesaweek,wereclassedasmostregularvis itors;peoplerespondingwithonceaweekoronceortwiceamonthwereclassedaslessregularvis itors;andpeoplerespondingwithonceevery2to3months,onceortwice,orneverwereclassedasleastregularvis itors.
2.
Figure9b:Averageworthwhileratings1byvisitstothenaturalenvironment2,April2013toMarch2014
England
Source:MonitorofengagementwiththeNaturalEnvironment,NaturalEngland
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereasked'Overall,towhatextentdoyoufeelthethingsyoudoinyourlifeareworthwhile?',where0is 'notatall'and10is'completely'.Doesnotincludethosewhoreported'don'tknow'.
1.
Peoplerespondingthattheyspentleisuretimeoutofdoorsawayfromhomemorethanonceperday,everyday,orseveraltimesaweek,wereclassedasmostregularvis itors;peoplerespondingwithonceaweekoronceortwiceamonthwereclassedaslessregularvis itors;andpeoplerespondingwithonceevery2to3months,onceortwice,orneverwereclassedasleastregularvis itors.
2.
Figure9c:Averagehappinessratings1byvisitstothenaturalenvironment2,April2013toMarch2014
England
Source:MonitorofengagementwiththeNaturalEnvironment,NaturalEngland
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereasked'Overall,howhappydidyoufeelyesterday?',where0is 'notatall'and10is 'completely'.Doesnotincludethosewhoreported'don'tknow'.
1.
Peoplerespondingthattheyspentleisuretimeoutofdoorsawayfromhomemorethanonceperday,everyday,orseveraltimesaweek,wereclassedasmostregularvis itors;peoplerespondingwithonceaweekoronceortwiceamonthwereclassedaslessregularvis itors;andpeoplerespondingwithonceevery2to3months,onceortwice,orneverwereclassedasleastregularvis itors.
2.
Figure9d:Averageanxietyratings1byvisitstothenaturalenvironment2,April2013toMarch2014
England
Source:MonitorofengagementwiththeNaturalEnvironment,NaturalEngland
Notes:Adults aged16andoverwereasked'Overall,howanxiousdidyoufeelyesterday?'where0is 'notatall'and10is 'completely'.Doesnotincludethosewhoreported'don'tknow'.
1.
Peoplerespondingthattheyspentleisuretimeoutofdoorsawayfromhomemorethanonceperday,everyday,orseveraltimesaweek,wereclassedasmostregularvis itors;peoplerespondingwithonceaweekoronceortwiceamonthwereclassedaslessregularvis itors;andpeoplerespondingwithonceevery2to3months,onceortwice,orneverwereclassedasleastregularvis itors.
2.
Inthefinancialyearending2014(thelatestdataavailable)themostregularvisitorstothenaturalenvironmentinthe12monthspriortointerviewhadsignificantlyhigherlevelsofpersonalwell-being(lifesatisfaction,worthwhile,happinessandanxiety)thanthosewhovisitedlessregularly(Figures9atod).
However,therelationshipmaybemerelyassociativeandwhetherfrequencyofvisitingnaturalenvironmentsinfluenceswell-beingorhavinghigherwell-beingcausesmorenaturalenvironmentvisitsisunclear.
Notes:
1. TheDepartmentforTransportmeasuresaccessto8keyservicesinEnglandbypublictransport,walking,andothermodesoftransportthatareusedinaccessibilityplanningbylocalauthorities.The8keyservicesare:Employmentcentres;primaryschools;secondaryschools;furthereducationinstitutions;GPs;hospitals;foodstores;andtowncentres.
2. SimilardataforScotlandareavailablefromScotland'sPeopleandNatureSurveyandforWalesfromtheWelshOutdoorRecreationSurvey.
Howarewecopingfinancially?Personalwell-beingisstronglyrelatedtothelevelsofwealthandincomeofthehousehold(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/debt/articles/wealthingreatbritainwave3/2015-09-04)inwhichapersonlivesaccordingtoourresearch.TheNationalDebateonMeasuringNationalWell-being(http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/well-being/publications/findings-from-the-national-well-being-debate.pdf)illustratedthatpersonalfinancecanhaveasignificantimpactonpeople'ssenseofwell-being.Oneresponseduringthedebatestated;“It'snotabouthavingmillionsofpounds,butworkingandearningagoodamounttokeepmyselfandanyfuturefamilyIhavesafeandwell".
What'schanged?
10.
Table6:Assessmentsofchange–Personalfinance
UK(unlessotherwisespecified)
Latestdata 1year 3year
Percentagewhoweresomewhat,mostly
orcompletelysatisfiedwiththeincomeof
theirhousehold
53.7%
(2013/14)
No
overall
change
Deteriorated
Percentagewhoreportfindingitquiteor
verydifficulttogetbyfinancially
9.1%
(2013/14)Improved Improved
Medianwealthperhousehold,including
pensionwealth(GreatBritain)
£225,100(July
2012toJune
2014)
Not
assessed
Not
assessed
Realmedianhouseholdincome£25,660
(2014/15)Improved Improved
Percentageofindividualslivingin
householdswithlessthan60%of
medianincomeafterhousingcosts
21%
(2013/14)
No
overall
change
Nooverall
change
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Smallerproportionweresatisfiedwiththeincomeoftheirhouseholdinfinancialyearending2014thaninfinancialyearending2011
Inthefinancialyearending2014,thepercentageofpeopleaged16andoverintheUKthatweresomewhat,mostly,orcompletelysatisfiedwiththeirlevelofincomewasbroadlyunchangedat53.7%whencomparedwiththeyearearlier(53.4%).However,overthe3yearperiod(financialyearending2011tofinancialyearending2014)theproportionofthosesatisfiedwiththeirincomedecreasedfrom57.2%to53.7%.Satisfactionwithincomefellsteadilybetween2007andthefinancialyearending2011,andwasfollowedbya4.5percentagepointdropinthefinancialyearending2012.Whiletheincreaseinthefinancialyearsending2013and2014showssomeimprovementinthistrend,itremainsbelowthelevelsseenpriortotheeconomicdownturnin2008.
Satisfactionwithincomevarieswithage.Aspeoplegetoldertheyaremorelikelytohavepaidofftheirmortgageandhavelessexpenditureeachmonth,whichcouldimpactontheirattitudetowardstheirincome.Figure10showsthatinthefinancialyearending2014,therewasalargerproportionofthose75andoverwhoweresatisfiedwiththeirlevelofincome(67.8%)comparedwithanyotheragegroup.Forthesameyear,45to54yearoldshadasignificantlylowerproportionsatisfiedwiththeirincome(47.1%)whencomparedwithallpeopleaged16andover(53.7%).
Figure10:Somewhat,mostlyorcompletelysatisfiedwiththeincomeoftheirhousehold:byage,April2013toMarch2014
UK
Source:UnderstandingSociety,UKHouseholdLongitudinalStudy
Smallerproportionfindingitquiteorverydifficulttogetbyfinanciallyinfinancialyearending2014thaninfinancialyearending2011Around1in10(9.1%)peopleaged16andoverintheUKreportedfindingitquiteorverydifficulttogetbyfinanciallyinthefinancialyearending2014.Thiswas1.0percentagepointlowerthanayearearlierand2.5percentagepointslowerthan3yearsearlier,continuingthedownwardtrendsinceitpeakedat12.3%inthefinancialyearending2010.Despitefallinginrecentyears,theproportionofindividualsthatreportfindingitdifficulttogetbyfinanciallyremainsabovepre-economicdownturnlevels,whichin2007was6.0%(UnderstandingSociety,theUKHouseholdLongitudinalStudy).
Top10%ofhouseholdsholdaround45%ofallhouseholdwealthThemedianhouseholdwealthforGreatBritain,includingpensionwealth,was£225,100betweenJuly2012andJune2014comparedwith£216,500betweenJuly2010andJune2012accordingtotheWealthandAssetsSurvey(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/compendium/wealthingreatbritainwave4/2012to2014).Thedistributionofwealthishighlyskewed,withthetop10%ofhouseholdsholdingaround45%ofallhouseholdwealth.Asaresult,thewealthofindividualhouseholdsvariesconsiderably.Belongingtothewealthiest10%ofhouseholdsrequiredtotalwealthgreaterthan£1,048,500.Tobeinthebottom10%ofthedistribution,ahousehold’svalueoftotalwealthneededtobelessthan£12,600.
Figure11:Distributionofhouseholdwealthincludingpensionwealth1:byregion,July2012toJune2014
GreatBritain
Source:WealthandAssetsSurvey,OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:
MediantotalhouseholdwealthintheSouthEastandSouthWestofEnglandwasmorethandoublethatintheNorthEastofEnglandintheperiodJuly2012toJune2014(Figure11).TheSouthEastofEngland’smedianwasaround£192,000greaterthantheNorthEast’smedian.
AcrossGreatBritaininthesameperiod,theNorthEastofEnglandandYorkshireandTheHumberhadthelowestmediantotalhouseholdwealth,at£150,000and£173,000respectively.ThegreatestmediantotalhouseholdwealthwasintheSouthEastofEngland,at£342,400,followedbytheSouthWestat£308,800andtheEastofEnglandat£267,200.
Excludesassetsheldintrusts(exceptChildTrustFunds)andanybusinessassetsheldbyhouseholds.Basedonindividualresponseswithinhouseholds.
1.
RealmedianhouseholddisposableincomehasimprovedThemedianhouseholddisposableincome1intheUKforthefinancialyearending2015hasincreasedto£25,700,comparedwith£24,800(in2014/15prices)inthepreviousyear.
Medianhouseholdincomeistheincomeofthemiddlehouseholdifallhouseholdsarerankedfromthelowestincometothehighest,andthereforeitgivesanindicationoftheincomeofthe“typical”household.
MedianhouseholddisposableincomeintheUKinthefinancialyearending2015is£1,500higherthanitsrecentlowinthefinancialyearending2013,afteraccountingforinflationandhouseholdcomposition,andisatasimilarleveltoitspre-downturnvalueinthefinancialyearending2007(£25,400).(NationalAccounts,OfficeforNationalStatistics).
Percentageofthoselivinginhouseholdswithlessthan60%ofmedianincomeafterhousingcostsremainsunchangedTheproportionofindividualsintheUKlivinginhouseholdswithlessthan60%ofmedianincomeafterhousingcostswasbroadlyunchangedbetweenthefinancialyearsending2009and2014,witharound1in5(21%)doingsoin2014.Theproportionhasbeenonageneraldownwardtrendsincethefinancialyearending1999,dropping3percentagepointsbetweenfinancialyearsending1999and2014(FamilyResourcesSurvey,DepartmentforWorkandPensions).
Notes:
1. Adjustedforpricechangestoallowforcomparisonovertime
Howstrongisoureconomy?Theeconomymakesanimportantcontributiontonationalwell-being.Financialstabilityandlowinflationareimportantforeconomicgrowth.Withoutfinancialstability,banksaremorereluctanttofinanceprofitableprojectswhichinturnaffectjobsandwages.
11.
ChangeinGrossDomesticProduct(GDP)isanacceptedmeasureofeconomicprogressand,formanyyears,hasbeenusedasakeyindicatorfor“howsocietyisdoing”.However,ithaslongbeenrecognisedthatGDPdoesnotcaptureeverythingthatdeterminessociety’swell-being,norwasitdesignedtodoso.Wepublishaquarterlyeconomicwell-beingarticle(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/bulletins/economicwellbeing/2015-03-31)thatpresentsasetofeconomicindicatorsdesignedtogiveabroaderpictureoftheeconomyfromtheindividualandhouseholdperspectivetosupplementGDP.
What'schanged
Table7:Assessmentsofchange–Economy
UK
Latestdata 1year 3year
Realnetnationaldisposableincomeper
head
£22,786
(2014)Improved Improved
UKpublicsectornetdebtasapercentageof
GrossDomesticProduct
83.7%
(2014/15)
Not
assessed
Not
assessed
Inflationrate(asmeasuredbytheConsumer
Pricesindex)
0.3%
(January
2016)
Not
assessed
Not
assessed
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
RealnetnationaldisposableincomehasimprovedNetnationaldisposableincome(NNDI)adjustsGDPtoreflecttheincomeavailabletoresidentsofthecountryfromproduction(athomeorabroad).Thismeasureincludesincomethatisavailabletobusinessesandthegovernment,aswellashouseholds.
In2014,real(adjustedforinflation)NNDIperheadwas£22,786,animprovementon2013(£22,463)and2011(£22,487).Lookingoverthelastdecade,realNNDIperheadpeakedat£23,503in2007,andwasatitslowestin2009at£21,889(OfficeforNationalStatistics).
UKpublicsectornetdebtasapercentageofGDPhasmorethandoubledsince2008Ahighlevelofgovernmentborrowingwillresultinmoneyhavingtobespentrepayingthatdebt.Thiscanleadtobothareductionininvestmentandarequirementonfuturegenerationstocontinuepayingoffthesedebts,whichcouldinturnhaveanegativeimpactonnationalwell-being.However,publicsectordebtincreasesarenotnecessarilybadfornationalwell-being.Forexample,agovernmentmayborrowtoinvestininfrastructureprojectsortrainingthatwillbenefitindividualsandbusinessesinthelong-term.
Inthefinancialyearending2008,publicsectornetdebt(totalgrossfinancialliabilitieslessliquidfinancialassets)stoodat36.9%ofGDP.Bythefinancialyearending2015,thishadmorethandoubledto83.7%ofGDP(OfficeforNationalStatistics).
Inflationrate(asmeasuredbytheConsumerPricesIndex1)remainsatarecordlowTherateofinflationisimportantforwell-beingbecauseofitseffectonincomeandnetwealth.ThePersonalFinancesectionofthisreleaseconsidershouseholdincome,adjustedforinflation.
InJanuary2016,therateofinflationwas0.3%,thesamerecordlowas2015,andmuchlowerthanduring2011(4.0%)and2012(3.6%).Thefallintherateofinflationisacontinuationofadownwardtrendthatstartedin2012.Muchoftherecentdownwardpressureisaccountedforbyfallingenergy,foodandfuelprices.Thispartiallyreflectstherecentdeclineinoilprices,theappreciationofsterlingandstrongcompetitionamongretailers(OfficeforNationalStatistics,ConsumerPricesIndex).
Whatareourperceptionsoftheeconomy?
Figure12showsthatinNovember2015,53%ofpeoplethoughtthesituationoftheeconomywasgood.However,thestateoftheeconomyhadvariedoverthepast10years.InSeptember2006and2007,aroundtwo-thirdsofpeople(69%and63%respectively)reportedthattheythoughtthestateoftheeconomywasgoodbutbythestartofthefinancialcrisisinOctober2008thishadfallentojust18%.Afterfallingto15%inNovember2011ithassubsequentlyriseneachyear(Eurobarometer).
Figure12:Satisfactionwiththeeconomy1,September2006toNovember2015
UK
Source:Eurobarometer
Notes:
Notes:
Respondentsaged15andoverwereasked"Howwouldyoujudgethecurrents ituationoftheeconomy?"Goodis "verygood"or"rathergood"andbadis "verybad"or"ratherbad".
1.
1. TheConsumerPricesIndex(CPI)is theinflationmeasureusedinthegovernment’stargetforinflation.TheBankofEnglandhasresponsibilityforkeepingCPIclosetoatargetsetbythegovernment(2%asof2011).
Howskilledarewe?Educationisanimportantfactorinenablingpeopletomaximisetheopportunitiesavailabletothem,achievetheirpotentialandmakeacontributiontothecountry’seconomy.Educationalqualificationsareanimportantdeterminantoffutureemploymentandincome.AccordingtotheWhatWorksCentreforWell-being’sPublicDialogues,“Learning-bothformalandinformal–atitsbestgivesusasenseofhope,opportunityandgrowth”.
What'schanged?
Table8:Assessmentsofchange–Educationandskills
UK(unlessotherwisespecified)
Latestdata 1year 3years
FullHumancapital1£18.95
trillion
(2014)
ImprovedNooverall
change
Percentagewith5A*-CGCSEsincluding
MathsandEnglish(England)
53.8%
(2014/15)
Not
assessed
Not
assessed
Percentagewithnoqualifications 8.6%(2015)Nooverall
changeImproved
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:
1.Fullhumancapitalincludeshumancapitalofthosethatareunemployed.
Dataonemployedhumancapitalarealsoavailable.
12.
HumancapitalhasincreasedThevalueoffullhumancapitalhasincreasedby£170billion,from£18.78trillionin2013to£18.95trillionin2014.Fullhumancapitalisameasureofindividuals’skills,knowledge,abilities,socialattributes,personalitiesandhealthattributes.Thesefactorsenableindividualstowork,andthereforeproducesomethingofeconomicvalue.
Figure13showstheeffecttheeconomicdownturnhadontheUK’sfullhumancapital.Between2004and2007thevalueoftheUK’sfullhumancapitalincreasedatanaverageof2.6%peryear.Thiswasdrivenbyincreasesintheemployedworking-agepopulationandtheskillslevelofthepopulation.AnotherdriveroftheincreaseinthevalueoftheUK’sfullhumancapitalwasearningsgrowth,whichgrewinrealtermsbetween2004and2007.In2010,theemploymentrateandlevelofemploymentforthoseaged16to64fell.This,alongsidefallsinrealearnings,contributedtofurtherfallsinthevalueoftheUK’sfullhumancapitalin2010and2011(-1.5%and-2.0%respectively).Followingthesefalls,thevalueoftheUK’sfullhumancapitalbegantostabilisein2012and2013beforeincreasingin2014.
Figure13:Humancapital,2004to2014
UK
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
NochangeinproportionwithnoqualificationsIntheacademicyearending2015,53.8%ofpupilsthatleftschoolinEnglandachieved5ormoreGCSEA*toCgrades,includingMathsandEnglish.Itisdifficulttocomparethisfigurewithpreviousyearsasthewayinwhichthefigureiscalculatedhaschanged1(DepartmentforEducation).
TheproportionofpeopleintheUKwithnoeducationalqualificationsshowednooverallchangein2015.Itremainedat8.6%,whichwasthesameas2014.However,theproportionofUKresidentswithoutqualificationsis6.9percentagepointslowerin2015thanitwasin2002,when15.5%ofUKresidentshadnoqualifications.PeopleinNorthernIrelandandtheWestMidlandsweremostlikelytoreportthattheyhadnoqualificationsin2015(15.8%and12.7%respectively).PeopleintheSouthWestandSouthEastwereleastlikelytoreportthattheyhadnoqualifications(5.2%and6.0%respectively)(LabourForceSurvey,OfficeforNationalStatistics).
Dooureducationalachievementsaffectourpersonalwell-being?Educationalattainmentcanbeapassporttoahigherincomeandemployment,bothofwhichimpactonpersonalwell-being.
Ahigherproportionofthosewithadegreeorequivalentratedtheirlifesatisfactionashighorveryhighwhencomparedwiththosethathadalowereducationalattainment(Figure14).Thiswasalsothecaseforthosewhosehighesteducationalattainmentwashighereducation,GCEALevelorequivalent,andGCSEA*-Corequivalent.Thosepeoplewhohadnoqualificationshadasignificantlylowerproportionofpeoplewithhighorveryhighlifesatisfactionwhencomparedwithallgroupswithqualifications.
Figure14:Reportinghighorveryhighlifesatisfaction1:byeducationalattainment2April2014toMarch2015
UK
Source:AnnualPopulationSurveyPersonalWell-beingNationalStatisticsdataset,OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:
Notes:
1. Fromtheacademicyearending2014,thefigureonlycountedapupil’s firstattemptata
Adults aged16andoverwereasked'Overall,howsatis fiedareyouwithyourlifenowadays?'where0is 'notatall'and10is 'completely'.Highorveryhighlifesatis faction,arethosewhoreportedaratingof7to10outof10.
1.
ThequalificationsincludedinthesegroupscanbefoundinVolume4oftheLabourForceSurveyUserGuidance.
2.
qualification(ifcountedintheEnglishBaccalaureate),andrestrictionsonvocationalqualificationswerealsointroduced.Asoftheacademicyearending2015,newearlyentryrules(firstattemptcountedonly)wereextendedtoallsubjects.
Howpoliticallyengagedarewe?Politicalengagementandvoicingpoliticalopinionsmatterstonationalwell-beingasithelpsshapegovernmentactivities,whichinturnhelpbuildstrongandresilientcommunities.Trustingovernmentisessentialforsocialcohesionandwell-being.Itrepresentstheconfidenceofcitizensandbusinessesintheactionsofthegovernment.Votingisthemostprominentformofpoliticalparticipationand,formanypeople,itistheonlyengagementwithpoliticsthattheyhave.
What'schanged?
Table9:Assessmentsofchange–Governance
UK
Latestdata 1year 3year
Voterturnout(atUKgeneral
elections)66.2%(2015) Improved Improved
Thosewhohavetrustinnational
government
31%(Autumn
2015)
Nooverall
changeImproved
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
TurnoutatgeneralelectionshasimprovedVoterturnoutingeneralelectionsintheUKfellfromahighof83.9%in1950,toalowof59.4%in2001.Theturnoutforthelastgeneralelectionin2015was66.2%whichwashigherthantheprevious3elections,butstillthefourthlowestsince1945(ResearchBriefings,HouseofCommonsLibrary).
3in10trustthegovernment
13.
Intheautumnof2015,31%ofpeopleaged15andoverintheUKreportedthatthey“tendedtotrust”theirnationalgovernment.Therewasnooverallchangefromautumn2014butanimprovementonautumn2012(25%).Over6in10(64%)peoplereportedthattheytendednottotrustthegovernment.ThisfigureiscomparablewithanumberofEuropeancountries,butlowerthanGreece,Spain,SloveniaandPortugalwherearound8in10tendednottotrusttheirnationalgovernment(Eurobarometer).
Havingtrustinthegovernmentisimportant.Ifthereisadeclineintrustpeopleorbusinessesmaybemoreriskadverse,forexample,delayinginvestment,innovationandemploymentdecisionsthatareessentialtoregaincompetitivenessandjumpstartgrowth.
Howdoesourtrustingovernmentchangeovertime?Sinceautumn2004theproportionofpeoplethatstatedtheytendedtotrustthegovernmentvariedbetweenalowof19%intheautumnof2009toahighof37%inthespringof2015(Figure15).Theproportionalchangesovertimemaybeduetopoliticalandnon-politicalevents.Forexample,inthespringof2007theproportionofpeoplethat“tendedtotrust”thegovernmentstoodatoverathird(34%),butfelltojustunderafifth(19%)intheautumnof2009.Thesechangesmayhavebeenduetothestartofthefinancialcrisis(2008)andtheUKparliamentaryexpensesscandal(2009).Conversely,eventssuchaspre-electionperiods(Spring2005,2010and2015)whenpoliticiansaremorevisibleand“feel-good”eventsliketheLondonOlympicGames(July/August2012)mayhavehadaneffectontheproportionalincreasesofthosewhoreportedtrustinthegovernment.
Figure15:Percentageofthosewhohavetrustinnationalgovernment1,2004to2015
UK
Source:Eurobarometer
Notes:Respondentsaged15andoverwereaskedifthey'tendtotrust'or'tendtonottrust'theUKgovernment.Percentagesareforthosewhoanswered'tendtotrust'.Fieldworkwascarriedoutinspringandautumnofeachyear.
1.
Areweprotectingournaturalenvironmentforfuturegenerations?14.
AccordingtotheWhatWork’sCentreforWellbeingPublicDialoguesReport,manypeoplefeelthattheenvironmentisfundamentaltowell-being.Nature,greenspace,builtenvironment,andcommunalorpublicspacestomeetwereallmentionedasimportantaspectsforwell-being.Oneparticipantinthereportstatedthat,“buildingsustainablecommunitiesmeansrespectingnature,it’swhereyougetyourfoodfrom,it’swhereyougetyourartfrom,andyourwater,andthecurrentfocusisallabouteconomicgrowth…perhapstheenvironmentshouldbethekeyelementofanykindofpoliciesthataredevelopedforcommunitywell-being”.
What'schanged?
Table10:Assessmentsofchange–Naturalenvironment
UK
1year 3year
Greenhousegasemissions514.4MtCO2e
(2014)1Improved Improved
Energyconsumptionfrom
renewablesources7.0%(2014) Improved
Nooverall
change
Recyclingrates 44.9%(2014) ImprovedNooverall
change
Protectedareas21.413million
hectares(2015)
Nooverall
changeImproved
Source:OfficeforNationalStatistics
Notes:
1.MtCO2e=milliontonnescarbondioxideequivalent.
Greenhousegasemissionsarefalling
TheUK’sgreenhousegas(GHG)emissionswereestimatedat514.4milliontonnescarbondioxideequivalent(MtCO2e)in2014.Thiswas7.7%lowerthan2013,and35.4%lowerthan1990.GHGemissionsarewidelybelievedtocontributetoclimatechange,whichiswhytheyhavebeenincludedasaheadlinemeasureofnationalwell-being.
TheUKhasbothinternationalanddomestictargetsforreducingGHGemissions.TheKyotoProtocolisaninternationalagreementwhichcommitsitspartiestosettinginternationallybindingemissionreductiontargets.TheUK’stargetwastoreduceemissionsby12.5%from1990to2012,whichwasmet.ForthesecondKyotoProtocolcommitmentperiod(2013–2020)aUKtargetisyettobeformallyagreed.
Furthertothis,undertheClimateChangeAct2008theUKhasalegallybindingtargettoreduceemissionsbyatleast80%below1990baselinesby2050,withaninterimtargettoreduceGHGemissionsbyatleast34%comparedtothe1990baselineby2020.Tohelpsetthistrajectory,theClimateChangeActalsointroducedcarbonbudgets,whichsetlegally-bindinglimitsonthetotalamountofGHGemissionstheUKcanemitforagivenfive-yearperiod.Thefirstcarbonbudgetranfrom2008to2012.In2014,theUKconfirmedthatithadmetthefirstcarbonbudget,withemissions36MtCO2ebelowthecapof3,018MtCO2eoverthefirstcarbonbudgetperiod.
MoreenergybeingconsumedfromrenewablesourcesFinalenergyconsumptionfromrenewablesourcesreached7.0%in2014,upfrom5.6%in2013(Figure16).Althoughfossilfuelsremainthedominantsourceofenergysupply(accountingfor85%ofallenergyconsumed),theircontributiontotheoverallenergymixhasreachedarecordlow.IncreasesinrenewableenergyplayanimportantroleinreducingGHGemissionsandsupportashifttowardsagreenerandmoresustainableeconomy.
TheUKiscommittedtotargetstoobtainanincreasingshareofitsenergyfromrenewablesources.By2020,15%oftheUK’senergyconsumptionshouldbefromrenewablesources.TheUKhasexceededthefirst2interimtargetsandthelinesonFigure16indicatetheinterimtargetsthatwillkeeptheUKontracktomeettheoverall2020target.
Figure16:Percentageoffinalenergyconsumptionfromrenewablesources,2004to2020(projected)
UK
Source:DepartmentforEnergyandClimateChange
RecyclingratesnotprogressingfastenoughtoreachEU2020targetIn2014,26.8milliontonnesofhouseholdwastewasproducedintheUKwith12.0milliontonnes(44.9%)ofitbeingrecycled.Althoughthisfigurehasincreasedwhencomparedwiththepreviousyear’sfigure(44.1%),whetherthismeasurementhasimprovedisassessedagainsttheEUtargetofrecycling50%ofhouseholdwasteby2020.Currently,theUKisnotprogressingatasufficientpacetoreachthistargetby2020,andisthereforeassessedashaving“nooverallchange”inthelonger-termwhileshowingasufficientyearonyearincrease.Recyclingratesin2014variedacrossthecountriesoftheUK.InWales,morethanhalf(54.8%)ofhouseholdwastewasrecycled,comparedwith44.8%inEngland,41.0%inScotlandand43.6%inNorthernIreland(DepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs).
Littlechangeinprotectedareasfollowinglargeincreasesbetween2010and2014IntheUKin2015,21.4millionhectaresoflandandseawasdesignatedasanationallyorinternationallyimportantprotectedarea.Protectedareasarelocationsthatareconservedforlandscape,ecologicaland/orculturalreasons,withthemainpurposeofprotectingbiodiversity.
Thetotalareaprotectedhasnotchangedsince2014;however,between2010and2015thetotalextentoflandandseaprotectedintheUKincreasedby10.7millionhectares,anincreaseof99.1%.Themajorityoftheoverallincreaseisasaresultofdesignationof10.6millionhectaresofmarineprotectedareasinbothinshoreandoffshorewaters(undertheHabitatsDirective,designationofmarineconservationzonesinEnglish,Welsh,andNorthernIrishwaters,anddesignationofnatureconservationmarineprotectedareasinScottishwaters).(DepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs).
Dowevaluethenaturalenvironmentandtakeactiontopreserveit?Ithasbeenshownthatdifferencescanexistbetweentheextenttowhichpeoplesaythattheyvaluethenaturalenvironmentandtheextentoftheiractualparticipationinactivitiestocounterenvironmentalproblems.Thisdiscrepancybetweenattitudesandbehaviourhasbeenreferredtoasthe“Value-ActionGap”andishighlightedintheMonitoringandEngagementoftheNaturalEnvironmentreportfromNaturalEngland(MENE).Thesurveycontainsanumberofquestionswhichreflectavarietyof“Value”and“Action”topicsaroundtheenvironmentinEngland.Usingdatafrom2009to2014,therelationshipsbetweenvalueandactionhavebeenexplored.
Thereisaconsiderablegapbetweenthevalueattributedtothenaturalenvironmentandthelevelofactiontakentopreserveit,particularlyinrelationtoactionsthatrequireahigherinvestmentoftimeormoney.Almost9outof10respondents(87%)inEnglandovertheperiod2009to2014eitheragreedorstronglyagreedthattheywereconcernedaboutdamagetothenaturalenvironment.TheMENEstudycontained9pro-environmentalactionsofvaryingprevalence1.Onaverage,peoplereportedundertakingaround2actions,withsomepeoplenotundertakinganyatall(Figure17).
Figure17:Numberofpro-environmentalactionstaken,2009to2014
England
Source:MonitorandEngagementoftheNaturalEnvironment(MENE),NaturalEngland
Notes:
1. “Iusuallyrecycleitemsratherthanthrowthemaway”“Iusuallybuyeco-friendlyproductsandbrands”“Iusuallybuyseasonalorlocallygrownfood”“Ichoosetowalkorcycleinsteadofus ingmycarwhenIcan”“Iencourageotherpeopletoprotecttheenvironment”“Iamamemberofanenvironmentalorconservationorganisation”“Ivolunteertohelpcarefortheenvironment”“Idonatemoneyatleastonceeverythreemonthstosupportanenvironmentalorconservationorganisation"“Idonatemytimeatleastonceeverythreemonthstoanenvironmentalorconservationorganisation”
Children’swell-beingChildren’swell-beingisanimportantpartofthenation’swell-being.Notonlydoeschildhoodsetthefoundationforawell-functioningandhealthyadulthood,butchildrenoughttobeabletoexperiencelifeandflourishaschildren.Wehavedevelopedasetof31headlinemeasures,across7domainsofthenationalframework,toshowhowchildrenarefaringinthearenasoflifethatareimportanttothem,forexample,school,familyandpeerrelationships,havingautonomyandaspirationsforthefuture.
Thelatestdatashowsfewchangesinchildren’swell-beingoverall.Thereisamixedpicture,withchildrenreportingrelativelyhighlevelsofpersonalwell-being,andpositiverelationshipswithparents.However,therearestillareasofconcern,suchastheproportionofchildrenwhoreportbeingbulliedfrequentlyandtheproportionofchildrenreportingsymptomsofmentalill-health.Thefullsetof31measurescanbefoundinthedataset(https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/childrenswellbeingmeasures).Ageographicalbreakdownofselectedmeasures(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/adhocs/005283selectedchildrenswellbeingmeasuresbycountrylatestdataavailable)isalsoavailable.
ONShasalsodevelopedasetof28measuresofwell-beingforyoungpeopleaged16to24.Thesehavenotbeenpublishedasaseparatespreadsheet,astheNationalMeasuresspreadsheetincludesthelatestdataformostmeasuresdisaggregatedbyagegroup.
15.
Howsustainableisourfuture?Nationalwell-beingcoversnotjusthowwearedoingtoday,asindividualsandasanation,butalsohowsustainablethisisforthefuture.Oneapproachtoassessingsustainabilityforthefuture,adoptedbytheOECD‘How’sLife’report,istoconsiderthestockswehavenowinthingssuchaseducationandskills,naturalresourcesandcommunitycohesion,whichallmatterforthepresentandfuturewell-beingofindividuals.TheMeasuringNationalWell-beingprogrammecollectsinformationintheseareasaspartofworkonhuman,naturalandsocialcapital.
Humancapital
16.
Humancapitalisameasureofindividuals’skills,knowledge,abilities,socialattributes,personalityandhealthattributes.Thesefactorsenableindividualstowork,andthereforeproducesomethingofeconomicvalue.Anindividual’slabourmarketoutcomesarelinkedtotheirhumancapital.Ingeneral,individualswithlowskillsorlevelsofeducationaremorelikelytobeunemployedandfacesocialexclusion.Higherhumancapital(inparticulareducationalattainment)isalsoassociatedwithhigherearnings.Researchoneconomicgrowthsuggeststhatcountrieswithhigherlevelsofhumancapital,otherthingsbeingequal,havegreaterpotentialoutputandincomeinthefuture.
Humancapitalcanalsohavesocialimpacts;inparticular,higherlevelsofhumancapitalareassociatedwithimprovedhealthoutcomes,lowercrimerates,andhigherratesoftrustandsocialparticipation.
In2014thevalueoftheUK’shumancapitalstockwas£18.95trillion,anincreaseof£170billionfrom£18.78trillionin2013.TheEducationandskillschapterprovidesmoredetailonthechangesthathaveoccurredinHumancapitalsince2004.
FurtherinformationcanbefoundontheHumancapitalsectionoftheONSwebsite.(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/humancapitalestimates/2015-08-25)
NaturalcapitalNaturalcapitalvaluesournaturalresources,suchaswoodlandsandrivers.AspartoftheMeasuringNationalWell-beingprogramme,wearemeasuringnaturalcapitalbydevelopingecosystemaccountstomonitorchangesinthevalueandconditionofUKnaturalcapital.
In2011,UKnaturalcapitalwaspartiallyestimatedat£1.6billion,thiswas4%lowerthanthevaluein2007.Theseestimatesareexperimentalandaretermed,‘partial’astheyincludeonlyafewofthematerialandnon-materialbenefitsofnature.Forexample,recreationalbenefitsofnatureandthevalueoftimberwereincludedintheestimates,however,thebenefitstreesandsoilprovidebystoringcarbonisnotincluded.
FurtherinformationandtheecosystemaccountsdevelopedsofarcanbefoundontheNaturalCapitalsectionoftheONSwebsite(http://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/methodologies/naturalcapital).
Socialcapital
Socialcapitalreferstosocialconnectionsandthebenefitstheygenerate.Unlikenaturalorhumancapital,afinancialvalueisnotcalculatedforsocialcapital.InJanuary2015,wepublishedasetof25measuresthatcover4keyaspects:personalrelationships,socialnetworksupport,civicengagementandtrust,andcooperativenorms.
Latestdataforpersonalrelationshipsshowedthatmostofus(95%)hadatleastoneclosefriendinthefinancialyearending2012,andthat11%ofpeoplefeltlonelymorethanhalfofthetimeovertheprevioustwoweeks.Intermsofsocialnetworksupport,mostpeoplefeltthattheycanrely“alot”ontheirpartner(80.7%)andtheirfamily(60.7%)incaseofaseriousproblem,butlessthanhalf(43.2%)feltthattheycouldrely“alot”ontheirfriends,inthefinancialyearending2014.Voluntaryactivitywhichisaformofcivicengagementwasvaluedat£23.9billionintheUKinthefinancialyearending2013andinNovember2015,31%reportedthatthey“tendedtotrust”nationalgovernmentcomparedwith25%ofpeopleinNovember2012.
Measuresofsocialcapitalwillcontinuetobedeveloped.FurtherinformationcanbefoundontheSocialCapitalsectionoftheONSwebsite(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/measuringnationalwellbeing/2015-01-29).
SustainabledevelopmentgoalsAtaUnitedNationssummitinSeptember2015,worldleaderscametogethertoexpresstheircommitmenttoanambitiousplantoeradicatepovertyandachievesustainabledevelopmentoverthenext15years.Attheheartofthisplanarethe17sustainabledevelopmentgoals(SDGs),alsoknownastheglobalgoals,andtheiraccompanyingtargets.ThesegoalshavebeendescribedbytheUNSecretaryGeneralBanKi-Moonasa‘todolistfortheplanet,andablueprintforsuccess’.
ItisexpectedthatglobalreportingofprogresstowardstheSDGswillbebasedonglobalandregionalaggregatesofdata.However,allcountrieswillbeencouragedtoreportonbothdomesticandinternationalimplementationofthegoalsandwearesettoplayakeyroleinthemonitoringandreportingoftheUK’sprogresstowardsthegoals.Thiswillincludelookingatthewayexistingreportingframeworks(forexample,MeasuresofNationalWell-beingandSustainableDevelopmentIndicators)alignwiththeSDGstogiveacomprehensivepictureoftheUK’sprogresstowardsasustainablefuture.Weareplanningtoconsultwithstakeholdersinsummer2016ontheproposedframeworkfornationalreportingofSDGs.
FurtherinformationcanbefoundontheSustainableDevelopmentIndicatorssectionoftheONSwebsite(http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/sustainabledevelopmentindicators).
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Renewablesstatistics,DepartmentofEnergy&ClimateChange(http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewables-statistics)
UKgreenhousegasemissionsstatistics,DepartmentofEnergy&ClimateChange(http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistics)
Wasteandrecyclingstatistics,DepartmentforEnvironment,Food&RuralAffairs(http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/waste-and-recycling-statistics)
WellbeingPublicDialogues,WhatWorksCentreforWell-being(http://www.whatworkswellbeing.org/evidence-program/public-dialogues/)