Press release 30/04/2025

SURVEY ON PERSONAL WELL-BEING. 2024

The satisfaction with life of the Basque population stood at 7.4 out of 10 in 2024, one tenth more than in 2023

State of health, economic situation, employment status and level of education determined the differences in the scores for practically all indicators

The population of the Basque Country scored 7.4 for satisfaction with life in general in 2024 on a scale of zero to ten, according to Eustat data. This score was the same as in 2019 and slightly higher than in 2023 (7.3). It was the third highest score across all indicators.

This data is provided in the Survey on Personal Well-Being, which provides detailed information on the perception of well-being among the population aged 16 and over residing in family dwellings, through a series of questions that measure aspects concerning quality of life aside from the material dimension.

The highest satisfaction with life was found among people who considered their health to be very good (8.1), while those who reported being in poor or very poor health had the lowest score (4.5), even lower than in 2019 (5.2). In 2024, this score was lower among women (4.2) than men (4.9).

In general, men and women gave the same score for satisfaction with life (7.4). This score was the same in all three provinces of residence.

Meanwhile, people who considered their economic situation to be good were more satisfied with life (7.7) than those who perceived it to be bad (7). With regard to work activity, employed people gave the highest score (7.5) and unemployed people the lowest (6.9), with a difference of 0.5 points between unemployed men (6.6) and women in the same situation (7.1), in favour of the latter, contrary to what occurred with state of health.

There were higher scores for this indicator among young people aged 16 to 24 (7.8) and lower scores among those aged 50 and over (7.3), although the indicator scored between 7 and 8 in all cases. People with higher university education had the highest score for satisfaction with life (7.7) and people educated to primary school level or lower had the lowest (7.2).

The value of life indicator received the highest score

The value of one's own life, or the view that life is worthwhile, reached an average score of 7.7 in 2024, a slightly lower rating than in 2019 (7.8) and also lower than in 2023 (8.0). 62.6% of the population gave it a high score (between 8 and 10 points), compared to 3.1% who gave it a low score (between 0 and 4 points).

This indicator yielded better results the better the perception of health, with a significant difference between people who considered their health to be very good (8.3) and those who perceived it to be poor or very poor (5.6). As regards activity, employed people valued life the most (7.9) and unemployed people valued it the least (7.4), with a difference of 0.5 points between unemployed men (7.1) and women in the same situation (7.6).

The score for this indicator tended to decrease with age, with people aged 16 to 34 giving it the highest rating (7.9) and people aged 50 and over giving it the lowest (7.6).

People with university education had the highest score (8.0) and the group educated to primary school level or lower had the lowest (7.5). People who perceived their economic situation as bad also had a lower score (7.5) than those who perceived their economic situation as good (7.9).

Nevertheless, in all cases, except for people in poor or very poor health, satisfaction with one's own life scored between 7 and 8.

Overall, there were no differences between men and women in this indicator (7.7). By province of residence, the score in Gipuzkoa (7.8) was one tenth higher than in Álava and Bizkaia (7.7 in both cases).

Personal relationships was the second highest-rated aspect

Personal relationships, one of the highest-rated aspects, obtained a score of 7.5 in 2024, the same as in 2019. This indicator reflects the quality of interpersonal relationships. It achieved its highest score among people who considered their health to be very good (7.7) and its lowest among those who perceived it to be poor or very poor (6.7). However, personal relationships was the highest-rated indicator for this group.

Women rated their personal relationships slightly higher than men (7.5 and 7.4, respectively). Residents in all provinces gave the same score (7.5).

The rating given by people who considered their economic situation to be good (7.6) was higher than that given by people who perceived it to be bad (7.3). In terms of education, people who had reached university level had the highest score (7.6) and people educated to primary school level or lower had the lowest (7.4).

With regard to age, the youngest groups gave a higher score for this indicator, as was the case with people aged 16-34 (7.6), and from the age of 35 onwards, the score decreased (7.4 for the other groups). Lastly, unemployed people, as well as people born abroad, gave a slightly lower rating for this aspect than the average (7.2 in both cases).

Satisfaction with housing and surroundings was lower among people in poor health and higher among those aged 65 and over

In 2024, the score for satisfaction with housing and surroundings remained the same at 7.3. This indicator measures the perception of housing conditions and living environment. People who considered their health to be very good were the most satisfied (7.7), while those who perceived it to be poor or very poor were the least satisfied (6.6).

For this indicator, men were more satisfied than women (7.5 compared to 7.2), a difference seen in many categories, but especially the 16-24 age group, with 6.9 points for women and 7.6 for men. There were no differences between residents of Álava and Gipuzkoa (7.4), whose rating was very similar to that of people residing in Bizkaia (7.3).

People who considered their economic situation to be good had a better score for this indicator than those who perceived their economic situation to be bad (7.5 and 6.9, respectively). People with strong family relationships were more satisfied with this aspect (7.4) than those with no family relationships.

Lastly, in terms of age, people aged 65 and over were the most satisfied (7.5).

Satisfaction with the household economy improved slightly compared to 2019 and 2023

Satisfaction with the household economy rose from 6.9 in 2019 and 2023 to 7.0 in 2024. The score for this indicator increased with perceived health, varying from 7.5 among people who considered their health to be very good to 5.5 among people who reported being in poor or very poor health (5.3 among women and 5.8 among men). As expected, people who considered their economic situation to be good were more satisfied with this aspect than those who considered it to be bad (7.6 and 6.1, respectively).

With regard to education, people with a university qualification had the highest score (7.4), while people educated to primary school level or lower and people with secondary vocational education were the least satisfied (6.8 in both cases). In terms of activity, employed people were the most satisfied with their economy (7.1) and unemployed people were the least satisfied (5.6).

As regards age, the groups that were most satisfied with their economy were young people aged 16 to 24 (7.3), with men being more satisfied (7.5) than women (7.0), and people aged 65 and over (7.2), with men once again being more satisfied. By province of residence, Gipuzkoa recorded slightly higher satisfaction (7.2) than Álava and Bizkaia (7.0 in both cases). The score for this aspect was also similar for men and women (7.1 compared to 7.0). Lastly, the score was lower among people born abroad (6.6).

Satisfaction with leisure time was higher among unemployed and inactive people

Satisfaction with leisure time once again achieved a score of 6.7 in 2024. This indicator reflects how people rate their free time and recreational activities. If we look at age groups, people aged 65 and over gave the highest score (7.7), while those aged between 35 and 49 had the lowest (5.9).

This indicator obtained higher ratings among people who considered their health to be very good (7.0) than among those who perceived it to be poor or very poor (5.3). Scores for this indicator varied from 6.1 points among people who considered their economic situation to be bad to 7.1 among people who considered their economic situation to be good.

High scores were also given by inactive people (7.5), in particular inactive men (7.8) compared to inactive women (7.3), and unemployed people (7.0), while employed people had lower scores (6.1). People born abroad also gave low scores (6.5).

Men were slightly more satisfied than women (6.8 compared to 6.6). This difference was also seen among people with close family relationships, with a score of 7 points for men and 6.2 for women, and a rating of 6.8 for the group as a whole. There were smaller differences between residents of Gipuzkoa (6.8) and people residing in Álava and Bizkaia (6.7 in both cases).

The score for the trust in people indicator remained unchanged, although it was among the lowest at below 7 points

The score for the trust in people indicator saw no change, standing at 6.5 in 2024. This indicator measures the level of trust the population has in others. The highest score was given by the youngest age group, 16-24-year-olds, together with people with university education and people who considered their health to be very good (6.9 in all cases), while people who perceived their health to be poor or very poor gave the lowest rating for trust in people (5.7).

People who considered their economic situation to be good gave a higher score (6.7) than people who perceived their economic situation to be bad (6.1). Those educated to primary school level or lower and those with secondary vocational education also assigned this indicator a rating below the average (6.3 in both cases).

In terms of activity, employed people had a higher score (6.6) than unemployed people (6.2). Relatively low scores were also given by people born abroad (6.1), as well as people with no family relationships (6.0).

State of mind has improved over the last five years

The state of mind indicator, which measures the population’s emotional and psychological well-being, rose from 6.3 in 2019 to 6.5 in 2024. In 2023, it was 6.4. People who considered their health to be very good stood out with a score of 7.0, and those who perceived it to be poor or very poor had a score of 4.7.

People who considered their economic situation to be good reported having a more positive state of mind (6.7). In terms of activity, unemployed people gave a score of 6.5. Comparing age groups, people aged between 16 and 24 had the highest score (6.7) and those aged between 50 and 64 had the lowest (6.3).

Men had a higher score than women in general (6.7 and 6.3, respectively) and in many of the categories, especially the 16-24 age group, with 6.9 for men and 6.4 for women. People residing in Gipuzkoa (6.5) had a slightly higher score than residents of Bizkaia and Álava (6.4 in both cases).

People from abroad were the only respondents who rated public authorities at 5 or above

Trust in the public authorities remained stable between 2019 and 2024, with a rating of 4.5 points. People born abroad had the highest score of 5.3 (the only score above 5), with women giving a rating of 5.4, compared to foreign-born men with 5.1 points. At the other end of the scale, people with no family relationships had the lowest score (4.1).

People residing in Bizkaia (4.7) gave the highest rating, followed by Álava (4.5) and Gipuzkoa (4.3). Women had slightly more trust in the public authorities than men (4.6 compared to 4.4).

People who considered their health to be very good gave a higher score (4.6) than people who perceived it to be poor or very poor (4.1). Likewise, those who considered their economic situation to be good had greater trust (4.7).

In terms of education, people with a university qualification had the highest score (4.8), followed by those who had completed upper secondary education or similar studies (4.6).

People aged 65 and over had the highest score (4.8), followed by people aged between 16 and 24 (4.7). Inactive people reported having more trust than employed people (4.7 and 4.3, respectively).

For further information:

Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea/Basque Statistics Institute C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.es Tel.: 945 01 75 62