NI wellbeing holds steady — but anxiety and loneliness persist

Love Ballymena
4 minutes ago
3 min read

Northern Ireland’s overall sense of wellbeing has remained steady over the past year — but beneath the surface, new figures reveal a stubborn undercurrent of anxiety and loneliness affecting thousands of people.

Fresh data published recently by The Executive Office shows that while life satisfaction, happiness and feelings of purpose remain high, around one in five people continue to experience high levels of anxiety, and nearly 18% report feeling lonely at least some of the time.

The findings, covering 2024/25, paint a picture of stability rather than progress — with many of the same inequalities and pressures continuing to shape how people feel about their lives.

Stability at the top level — but no real improvement

Across Northern Ireland, headline measures of personal wellbeing have held firm compared to the previous year.

Levels of life satisfaction, happiness and feeling that life is worthwhile all remain rated as “high”, while overall anxiety levels are classed as “low” on average.

However, a closer look reveals the nuance:

33% of people report very high life satisfaction
36% report very high happiness
41% feel strongly that their lives are worthwhile
43% experience very low anxiety

Yet, at the same time:

20% report high anxiety
17.9% feel lonely at least some of the time

The figures highlight a population that is broadly coping — but with a significant minority struggling.

Health, work and relationships shape wellbeing

The report underlines a clear pattern: people’s circumstances strongly influence how they feel about their lives.

Those in very good health consistently report higher happiness, lower anxiety and stronger life satisfaction than those in poor health.

Similarly, people:

In employment
Who are married or in a civil partnership

tend to report better wellbeing, including lower loneliness and higher confidence in their ability to shape their lives.

By contrast, those:

Living with a disability
Out of work
Or living in more deprived areas

report significantly worse outcomes across almost all measures.

The “wellbeing gap” remains stark

One of the clearest messages from the data is the persistence of inequality.

People living in the most deprived communities continue to experience:

Lower life satisfaction
Lower happiness
Higher anxiety
Reduced sense of control over their lives

This “wellbeing gap” mirrors broader economic and health inequalities — suggesting that improvements in wellbeing are closely tied to wider social conditions.

Loneliness and anxiety: ongoing challenges

Despite overall stability, two issues stand out as ongoing concerns.

• Loneliness

Nearly 18% of people report feeling lonely at least some of the time, with higher levels among those who are single, separated or divorced.

• Anxiety

Around one in five people report high anxiety — a figure that has remained persistently elevated.

This suggests that while general wellbeing hasn’t declined, mental strain remains a significant issue for a sizeable portion of the population.

Understanding the four pillars of wellbeing

The report assesses wellbeing through four key areas:

Loneliness: how often people feel isolated
Self-efficacy: confidence in influencing life outcomes
Personal wellbeing: life satisfaction, happiness, anxiety, and sense of purpose
Locus of control: whether people feel in control of their lives or shaped by external forces

Higher self-efficacy and a stronger sense of control are closely linked to better wellbeing outcomes — particularly among those in work or with higher levels of education.

New data offers deeper local insight

For the first time, wellbeing data is now available at parliamentary constituency level, offering a more detailed view of how different communities across Northern Ireland are experiencing life.

The report also highlights:

Differences between urban and rural areas, with rural communities often reporting slightly higher satisfaction
A continued link between community connection and lower loneliness
Variations tied to economic opportunity and access to services

A picture of resilience — but limited progress

Overall, the 2024/25 figures suggest a population that is resilient but not significantly improving.

While many people in Northern Ireland report positive wellbeing, the persistence of anxiety, loneliness, and inequality points to deeper challenges that remain unresolved.

The data reinforces a clear message: improving wellbeing is not just about individual mindset — but about health, opportunity, and the conditions people live in every day.

The full report can be accessed here.

At a glance

Northern Ireland’s overall wellbeing levels remain stable compared to last year