Wellbeing of Wales 2026 - Foreword

This is the tenth Wellbeing of Wales report published under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (The Act).

The Act provides the framework for assessing Wales's progress towards the 7 wellbeing goals. These reports provide a long-term picture of social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being in Wales. They show where progress is being made and where further action may be needed.

The value of this report lies not only in measuring change from one year to the next, but in tracking longer-term trends. Many aspects of wellbeing change gradually, and some of the most important challenges facing Wales can only be understood by looking at evidence over many years.

Findings from this year's report

The overall picture remains one of mixed and gradual progress. As in previous years, many aspects of wellbeing change slowly, and the report highlights both long-term improvements and persistent challenges.

There are encouraging signs in several areas. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall, Wales remains a world leader in recycling. Adult participation in sport remains higher than a decade ago.  The gender pay gap has narrowed considerably over the longer term.

However, significant challenges remain. Healthy life expectancy continues to fall. Health inequalities are widening. Biodiversity continues to decline. Many people continue to experience poverty. In addition, young people’s mental wellbeing is worsening.

The report highlights both progress and persistence in relation to inequalities. Some long-standing gaps, including employment gaps between certain groups, have narrowed over time. However, substantial inequalities remain across health, poverty, safety and wellbeing.

This year's report

For the first time, this year’s report uses data from the new Wales National Travel Survey to measure the national indicator on walking, cycling and public transport. The data currently covers the first 6 months of the survey.

There are fewer updates in some areas of this year's report. Several indicators rely on data sources that are not updated annually, and some measures do not have new data available this year. As a result, some sections focus on the most recent evidence available rather than changes observed over the last year.

This reflects an important feature of measuring wellbeing. Progress is often gradual, and understanding the direction of travel requires a long-term perspective rather than a focus on short-term fluctuations.

I hope this report continues to provide useful evidence for policymakers, public services, researchers and citizens as we work towards the 7 wellbeing goals.

Stephanie Howarth
Chief Statistician