In 2025, the mean overall life satisfaction score for those in rented accommodation was 7.2 compared to 7.8 for those in owner-occupied accommodation. The mean score for overall life satisfaction level was calculated by adding individual scores and dividing the total by the number of individuals. These scores were the same for respondents in rented and owner occupied accommodation in 2024, at 7.2 and 7.8 respectively. See figure 5.1 and table 5.1.
In 2025, the mean score for overall satisfaction with the financial situation of the household was 5.9 for respondents in rented accommodation, compared to 7.2 for respondents in owner occupied accommodation. The scores have remained relatively steady for each group since 2021, ranging from 7.1 in 2024 and 7.2 in 2021 for those in owner occupied accommodation, and 5.7 in 2022 and 6.0 in both 2023 and 2024 for respondents in rental accommodation. See figure 5.2 and table 5.2.
Respondents living in rented accommodation were more likely to report they felt lonely at least sometimes in the four-week period prior to their interview. In 2025, almost a quarter (23.5%) renters reported feeling lonely. This is a 3.3 percentage point increase in the loneliness rate for renters on the 2024 rate, at 20.2%. The comparable rate for respondents living in owner-occupied accommodation was 11.6% in 2025 and 12.2% in 2024. See figure 5.3 and table 5.3.
SILC respondents to the 2025 survey who described their Principal Economic Status (PES) as ‘unable to work due to long-standing health problems’ reported much lower mean overall life satisfaction scores, at 5.8, when compared with other groups. In 2025, the mean overall life satisfaction score was highest for retired respondents at 8.0 and students at 8.1. See figure 5.4 and table 5.4.
In 2025, respondents who were ‘unable to work due to long-standing health problems’ were most likely to report feeling downhearted or depressed at least some of the time in the four-week period prior to their interview. Almost half (45.2%) of this group reported feeling this way in 2025, a 6 percentage point increase on the 2024 figure of 39.2%. In comparison, only one in eight (12.5%) employed respondents felt downhearted or depressed in 2025. See figure 5.5 and table 5.5.
Analysis of overall life satisfaction by marital status shows that, in 2025, married respondents had the highest mean overall life satisfaction score at 7.8. The lowest mean overall life satisfaction score was seen for respondents who were separated, at 6.9, and divorced, at 7.1. See figure 5.6 and table 5.6.
When it comes to feeling downhearted or depressed, almost one in four (24.5%) divorced respondents and almost one in three (30.4%) separated respondents said they felt downhearted or depressed at least sometimes in the four-week period prior to interview. The comparable rate for married respondents was 11.3%. One in five (20.1%) respondents who never married reported feeling downhearted or depressed at least sometimes. The rate for widowed respondents was similar, at 19.8%. See figure 5.7 and table 5.7.
Married respondents were less likely to report feeling lonely with less than one in ten (9.4%) reporting feeling lonely at least some of the time. The comparable rates for separated, widowed or divorced respondents was three times higher at 34.1%, 28.3% and 30.5% respectively. See figure 5.8 and table 5.8.
An individual is defined as being at risk of poverty if their nominal equivalised disposable income is under the at risk of poverty threshold, i.e. 60% of the median nominal equivalised disposable income.
Households that have difficulty affording goods and services which are considered the norm for other people in society, are considered to be deprived. A set of 11 basic deprivation indicators is used to identify those deemed to be deprived.
The consistent poverty measure is defined as people who are both at risk of poverty and experiencing enforced deprivation. See fact sheet on poverty indicators for further information on how poverty indicators are calculated.
Analysis of overall life satisfaction levels and satisfaction with household finances by poverty and enforced deprivation status shows that people at risk of poverty and people living in enforced deprivation have lower mean satisfaction scores. The mean overall life satisfaction score for people at risk of poverty was 7.3, compared to those who were not at risk of poverty (7.7). People living in enforced deprivation had a mean satisfaction with the financial situation of their household score of 4.3. The comparable score for people not living in enforced deprivation was 7.2. See figure 5.9 and table 5.9.
People who were in consistent poverty in 2025 (those who were at risk of being poor and who were living in enforced deprivation) were more likely to report feeling downhearted or depressed or lonely in the four-week period prior to their interview date. Over four in ten (41.8%) respondents who were living in consistent poverty in 2025 reported feeling downhearted or depressed at least sometimes in the four-week period before their interview date. This compares with 14.6% of respondents who were not living in consistent poverty. When compared with 2025, the rates for feeling downhearted or depressed were lower for respondents in consistent poverty in 2024, at 38.7%. For those not in consistent poverty, the 2025 rate (14.7%) was unchanged on the previous year. See figure 5.10 and table 5.10.
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