Wellbeing of Wales 2026 - Main points

Summary of main points from the Wellbeing of Wales report 2026.

• Wales's economy has grown over the long term, but productivity remains lower than the UK average.
• Employment remains high and unemployment remains relatively low.
• Earnings have increased in recent years, although many people continue to experience poverty.
• Children and working-age adults remain more likely to live in poverty than pensioners.
• More people are achieving qualifications than in the past.
• Young people are more likely to be in education, employment or training than a decade ago.
• Educational outcomes have generally improved over the long term, although inequalities remain.

• Some indicators show progress, but further improvement is needed to meet national milestones.
• Biodiversity continues to decline and Wales remains one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
• Water quality has generally improved, although many rivers and water bodies still do not meet environmental standards.
• Air quality has improved substantially since the 1970s but continues to affect health and nature.
• Wales remains a world leader in recycling and has reduced waste not recycled.
• Wales continues to use natural resources faster than they can be replenished.
• Renewable energy capacity has increased considerably over the long term, although growth has slowed in recent years.
• Natural Resources Wales concludes that biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution continue to reduce the resilience of ecosystems.

• Progress towards a healthier Wales remains limited, with a number of indicators worsening.
• Life expectancy has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
• Healthy life expectancy continues to fall and inequalities have widened.
• The gap in healthy life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas is continuing to increase.
• The proportion of babies born with a low birth weight is at its highest recorded level.
• Healthy behaviours among adults have improved slightly in recent years but remain below national ambitions.
• Healthy behaviours among young people have improved since 2017.
• Adult mental wellbeing has remained broadly stable.
• Mental wellbeing among young people has declined and inequalities have widened.
• Housing conditions have improved over the long term.

• Progress is mixed, with improvements in some areas but persistent inequalities across many measures.
• The gender pay gap has narrowed considerably over the long term, although women still earn less than men on average.
• Ethnicity and disability pay gaps remain volatile, making it difficult to assess longer-term trends.
• Employment gaps between disabled and non-disabled people, and between ethnic groups, have narrowed.
• Around 1 in 5 people continue to live in relative income poverty.
• Children remain the group most likely to live in poverty.
• People in households containing a disabled person and those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds are more likely to experience poverty.
• Older people generally report higher wellbeing and lower loneliness than younger people.
• Disabled people are less likely to be employed, more likely to experience poverty, and report lower wellbeing.
• Women continue to report lower feelings of safety than men.

• Community cohesion remains higher than before the pandemic but has declined from the peak seen during and immediately after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Satisfaction with local areas and feelings of influence over local decisions have returned to levels seen before the pandemic.
• Around two-thirds of people feel safe after dark, with men reporting higher levels of safety than women.
• Volunteering has increased and continues to exceed the national milestone.
• Levels of loneliness have remained broadly stable.
• Most people are satisfied with access to local services, although satisfaction is lower in rural areas.
• More households have been successfully prevented from becoming homeless than in the previous year.
• Fewer people are living in temporary accommodation and there has been a fall in the number of people rough sleeping.
• Crime victimisation has continued to fall and recorded crime has decreased overall.
• Many people believe crime has increased nationally despite falling victimisation rates.
• Police recorded hate crime increased in the latest year.

• Progress is mixed across culture, heritage, sport and the Welsh language.
• Adult engagement in arts, culture and heritage remains high and broadly stable.
• Children's attendance at arts events has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
• Participation in arts activities among children has been broadly stable in recent years.
• More museums and archive services are meeting accreditation standards.
• Adult participation in sport has increased over the long term, despite a recent fall.
• Children's participation in sport remains below previous levels.
• The number and percentage of Welsh speakers recorded in the Census has fallen and remains below the national milestone trajectory.
• The percentage of people using Welsh every day has remained broadly stable.
• The condition of listed buildings has improved slightly.
• The condition of scheduled monuments has declined over the long term, although it has stabilised in recent years.

• Progress towards a globally responsible Wales has been gradual but sustained.
• Greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall and Wales has a national milestone to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
• Territorial greenhouse gas emissions fell by 9% in 2024 and are now 44% lower than the baseline year.
• Emissions linked to the goods and services consumed in Wales have also fallen over the long term.
• Wales's global footprint has reduced over time but remains higher than a sustainable level.
• Provisional data from a new national travel survey show that around 1 in 5 journeys in Wales are made by walking, wheeling or cycling.
• Large numbers of learners continue to take part in global citizenship qualifications and projects.