Indicators for measuring well-being
In recent years, the Government of Iceland has emphasised increasing prosperity and quality of life of the general public in its strategic planning. In 2019, 39 indicators of prosperity and quality of life, often referred to as well-being indicators, were defined to monitor social, environmental, and economic factors. The decision on the choice of indicators was based, among other things, on a large sample survey conducted by a committee appointed by the Prime Minister. The survey asked the respondents to rank factors related to prosperity and quality of life in order of importance.
For the purpose of measuring well-being the Icelandic government has chosen to use 40 indicators. They are based on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and utilise official statistics. The indicators are partly comparable with well-being indicators from other countries.
Statistics Iceland manages the group of indicators and updates it regularly.
The indicators are divided into three categories and thirteen subcategories:
Society
Health
- Life expectancy
- Mental health
- Unmet need for healthcare
Education
- Educational level
- Dropout rate from secondary school
- Lifelong learning
Social capital
- Trust in others
- Voter turnout
- Trust in political system
- Social support
- Participation in organised leisure activities
Security
- Vandalism
- Domestic violence
- Security in the neighbourhood
Work-life balance
- Long working hours
- Non-traditional working hours
- Multiple jobs
Economy
Economic conditions
- Purchasing power
- Household debt
- Public sector, private sector and household debt
- Price level developments (inflation)
- GDP and economic growth
Employment
- Unemployment
- Not in education, employment or training (NEET)
- Participation rate
- Job satisfaction
Housing
- Quality of housing
- Housing cost overburden
Income
- Material deprivation
- Income inequality (GINI co-efficient)
- Low income ratio
- Persistently low income
Energy
Air quality
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Particulate matter
Land use
- Progress in land reclamation
- Nature conservation areas
Energy
- Renewable energy
Waste and recycling
- Recycling rate of solid waste
- Quantity of household waste