Society at a Glance 2016
OECD Social Indicators
This is the eighth edition of Society at a Glance, the biennial OECD overview of social indicators. This report addresses the growing demand for quantitative evidence on social well-being and its trends. It updates some indicators included in the previous editions published since 2001 and introduces several new ones, with 25 indicators in total. It includes data for the 35 OECD member countries and where available data for key partners (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa); other G20 countries (Argentina and Saudi Arabia) are also included. The report features a special chapter on the NEET challenge and what can be done for jobless and disengaged youth. It also provides a guide to help readers in understanding the structure of OECD social indicators. All indicators are available as a web book and an e-book on OECD iLibrary.
Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction is determined not only by economic development, but also by people’s diverse experiences and living conditions. People in Switzerland and Denmark are most satisfied with their lives (). The measured level in these countries was 2.5 steps higher than in Greece or Portugal, the countries at the bottom of the 11-step ladder in 2014/15. Indeed life satisfaction deteriorated during the crisis, particularly in European Mediterranean countries. Countries which experienced the greatest deterioration in incomes and labour-market prospects are more likely to have low levels of subjective well-being.
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