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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

10 January 2018

The Wellbeing of the Nation 2017

  • The number of healthy life years one can expect to experience has increased from 66.9 in 2014 to 67.3 in 2015
  • The unemployment rate has fallen from 9.8% in 2015 to 8.6% in 2016
  • Participation in sport among those aged 15 years and older has fallen from 47.2% in 2013 to 45% in 2015
  • The CSO has today (10th January 2018) published The Wellbeing of the Nation. This new publication attempts to address the question how do people feel about their lives as a whole.
    Commenting on the data, Statistician Damien Lenihan said: “This publication attempts to measure wellbeing, which is influenced by many factors including the economic conditions of the country, the health of its population, and the educational attainment of its people”.
    With over 30 indicators across eight areas of society, the key findings of the publication include;

    • Average household debt has fallen from €93,900 in 2014 to €87,900 in 2015
    • The percentage of those aged 25 to 64 with third level education has remained constant at 41% between the years 2015 and 2016
    • The number of homeless people, as measured on Census night increased by 81% between 2011 and 2016 from 3,808 to 6,906 persons
    • The percentage of adults that think crime is a very serious problem in Ireland has increased from 46% in 2006 to 49% in 2010

    Commenting further, Damien Lenihan said: “This publication is a starting point in measuring wellbeing and is an area which will be expanded further in the coming years”.

    For further information contact:

    Damien Lenihan (+353) 21 453 5424 or Paul M Crowley (+353) 21 453 5090

    or email health@cso.ie

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