Jersey's Wellbeing Ranking
Jersey has been ranked 28th in the Better Life survey assessing wellbeing across 41 countries, according to Jersey Statistics. The bailiwick's position places it below both the UK and France in the 2025 survey. Its overall wellbeing score remained unchanged compared to the 2023 results.
Strengths in Community, Safety, and Health
Jersey achieved a top 10 ranking in the categories of community, personal safety, and health. Notably, it was ranked joint first for safety. The survey's community indicator measured whether people felt they had someone to rely on during a crisis, with the majority of Jersey residents affirming this.
Civic Engagement and Voter Turnout
Despite strengths in other areas, Jersey ranked lowest for civic engagement, largely due to a low voter turnout of 41.6% in the 2022 elections. This figure significantly impacted its civic engagement score, as highlighted in the Statistics Jersey report.
Life Expectancy and Housing Costs
Life expectancy at birth for Jersey in 2022 and 2024 was recorded at 83.2 years, which is higher than the average of 80 years across the surveyed countries. Housing costs in Jersey were the fourth highest as a proportion of people's income, marking an improvement from the previous report where it held the highest position. Statistics Jersey attributed this change to earnings increasing by more than inflation and shifts in rental prices.
"This is due to earnings increasing by more than inflation and changes in rental prices," Statistics Jersey said.
Regional Performance and Comparisons
The Better Life Index also evaluates performance at a regional level across more than 400 regions. Jersey's overall wellbeing score at this level improved, rising seven places compared to 2023. However, the bailiwick performed less well in life satisfaction, ranking 209th out of 447 regions, and in work-life balance, with one in seven employees working 50 or more hours per usual week.
Additional Insights from Principal Statistician
Dan Edmunds, Principal Statistician, commented on Jersey's performance, noting the challenges in life satisfaction and work-life balance. He also pointed out the low civic engagement ranking linked to the 2022 deputy election turnout. Comparatively, the closest UK region in terms of voter turnout was Yorkshire and the Humber, which had a 15% higher voting level in the 2024 General Election.
Top Performing Countries
Nordic countries, including Norway and Finland, achieved the highest overall scores in the Better Life Index, setting a benchmark for wellbeing standards.
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