Well-being - Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2024

Introduction

Respondents to the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), who are 16 years and over are asked to rate their satisfaction levels with various aspects of their lives, such as their overall life satisfaction and satisfaction with the financial situation of their households, on a scale from 0 (‘Not at all satisfied’) to 10 (‘Completely satisfied’). The mean score for each satisfaction level indicator is calculated by adding individual scores and dividing the total by the number of individuals. In this publication, the responses for the satisfaction level indicators are also grouped as low (0-5), medium (6-8), and high (9-10). 

SILC respondents are also asked how often they felt ‘downhearted or depressed’, or 'lonely' in the four weeks prior to their interview date. The responses are given on a 5-point scale, with answers ranging from ‘none of the time’ to ‘all of the time’.  

The data collection phase of the SILC survey occurs during the first six months of the SILC reference year. In 2021, COVID-19 related public health restrictions were in place during the January to June data collection period, including Level 5 restrictions for more than half of the data collection period.  

The CSO conducted a series of surveys throughout 2020 and 2021 on the social impact of COVID-19. Results from these surveys show how the pandemic affected mental health and well-being. See Social Impact of COVID-19 Survey February 2021: Well-being

Wellbeing questions in the SILC survey are asked by direct interview. High proxy rates for unemployed and student household members result in a lower number of observations with associated wellbeing variables for these groups. This negatively impacts on the robustness of wellbeing estimates for the unemployed and students.

Overall Satisfaction Rates

In 2024, the mean score for overall life satisfaction was 7.6, down from 7.7 in 2023. SILC survey results show that overall life satisfaction increased from a mean score of 7.4 in 2021 to 7.6 in 2022 and increased further to 7.7 in 2023.  See figure 2.1 and PxStat table WBB01.

In 2021 SILC, grouping satisfaction scores as low (0-5), medium (6-8), and high (9-10), just over two in ten (21.4%) respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with their overall life. This rate increased to almost three in ten (28.9%) respondents in 2023 but dropped to 26.4% in 2024. The percentage of respondents reporting low overall life satisfaction increased slightly from 10.2% in 2023 to 10.6% in 2024. The 2021 rate was 14.0%. See figure 2.2 and PxStat tables WBB11 & WBB63.

In 2024, the mean score for satisfaction with the financial situation of the household was 6.8, relatively unchanged from 6.9 in 2023. Again, grouping satisfaction scores as low (0-5), medium (6-8), and high (9-10) shows that the percentage of respondents reporting low satisfaction increased from 23.0% in 2023 to 24.6% in 2024. The percentage reporting high satisfaction in 2024 was relatively unchanged from the 2023 rate (18.2% and 18.4% respectively). See figures 2.1 & 2.3 and PxStat tables WBB01 and WBB11.

In 2024, 15.7% of respondents reported feeling downhearted or depressed at least sometimes in the four-week period prior to their SILC interview. In the SILC 2021, COVID-19-related public health restrictions were in place during the January to June data collection period, including Level 5 restrictions for more than half of this period. Results from 2021 SILC show that 22.2% of respondents reported feeling downhearted or depressed at least sometimes in the four-week period prior to their SILC interview. 

In 2024, 14.5% of respondents reported feeling lonely at least sometimes in the four-week period prior to their SILC interview. In the SILC 2021, 22.5% reported feeling lonely.