UK youth ranks lowest in life satisfaction across Europe

Euronews discloses that a recent report by The Children’s Society highlights a troubling trend in the well-being of young people in the UK, revealing that they rank lowest in life satisfaction among their European peers.  

The UK has been ranked the lowest in children's well-being across Europe. How do other countries measure up, and what do experts believe is causing the decline in life satisfaction among youth?  

Despite the European Union being one of the wealthiest regions globally, many young people within its borders are experiencing a notable drop in well-being, accompanied by rising mental health concerns.  

Recently, the Children’s Society, a UK charity, published a report examining the well-being of young people in the UK compared to their European peers. The 2024 Good Childhood Report revealed that approximately 16.6 per cent of youth in Europe express dissatisfaction with their lives, equating to about one in six across the continent.  

The Netherlands reported the lowest dissatisfaction rate, with only 6.7 per cent of 15-year-olds feeling unsatisfied. Nordic countries like Finland and Denmark also fared well, with 10.8 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively reporting low life satisfaction.   In stark contrast, the UK showed the highest levels of dissatisfaction among young people, with 25.2 per cent indicating they are unhappy, followed closely by Poland at 24.4 per cent and Malta at 23.6 per cent.

"The findings from The Good Childhood Report 2024 are concerning and depict an unacceptable state of children’s well-being in the UK. It clearly demonstrates that young people in the UK have lower levels of well-being and life satisfaction compared to their counterparts in Europe, and that overall youth well-being is on the decline," said Jack O’Neill, policy and public affairs manager at The Children’s Society, in an interview with Euronews Health.  

The report utilized data from various sources to assess youth life satisfaction, including the UK Longitudinal Household Survey, The Children’s Society’s annual survey, and the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

By Naila Huseynova