Economic growth has long ceased to be the only indicator of progress. The Guidelines on Measurement of Well-being report, published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in 2025, proposes updated international approaches to measuring well-being. Its goal is to help countries create statistical systems that reflect not only production volumes or income, but also quality of life, health, social connections, and environmental safety.
The document is the result of two years of work by a working group comprising representatives of national statistical agencies and international organisations. It continues the ideas put forward in 2009 in the famous report by Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi, which first raised the thesis of the need to assess human progress “beyond GDP”.
2512819_e_pdf_web_0Measuring “beyond GDP”: how the approach to statistics is changing
Classic economic indicators, such as gross domestic product, do not show how satisfied people really are with their lives, or whether they have access to education, healthcare and a safe environment. That is why statistical agencies in many countries have begun to develop frameworks for well-being that take into account economic, social and environmental aspects simultaneously.
The UNECE report emphasises that well-being is a multidimensional concept that encompasses both objective living conditions (income, housing, health) and subjective assessments — feelings of happiness, security or social support. The authors stress that it is the combination of these dimensions that allows us to understand whether “people’s lives are really improving.”
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Basic principles of measuring well-being
The UNECE recommendations are based on three key principles that have become common to modern international approaches:
- Distinguishing between present and future well-being.
Statistics should show not only the current state of society (“here and now”), but also the resources on which future well-being depends — human, social, economic and natural capital. - Multidimensionality.
Well-being encompasses various areas of life, from material conditions to participation in public life and the state of the environment. - Combination of objective and subjective indicators.
Quantitative data (e.g., income level or life expectancy) should be supplemented by people’s assessments of their own lives and feelings of satisfaction.
What to measure: ten key areas
The UNECE proposes a set of basic measures of well-being that can be common to most countries. These include material conditions, work and leisure, housing, health, knowledge and skills, physical safety, social connections, participation in community life, environmental conditions, and subjective feelings of happiness.
For each measure, indicators are proposed that allow for assessing changes over time and making international comparisons. For example, in the area of “health,” it is recommended to take into account not only life expectancy, but also self-rated health, mental well-being, and access to medical services.
The importance of welfare distribution is emphasised separately — analysing differences between different population groups by age, gender, education or income. After all, high average indicators do not always indicate fairness or equality.
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Comprehensive indices and dashboards
Most countries choose a panel approach — presenting well-being in the form of dashboards with indicators for each dimension. This avoids the simplifications inherent in a “single happiness index.” However, some countries, such as Poland and Portugal, create composite indicators that combine different data into a single summary indicator.
The UNECE recommends caution with this approach: combining numerous parameters requires transparent weighting, and the results may depend on the methodology. However, in a visual format — through interactive panels, maps or infographics — such data becomes more understandable to the public and politicians.
How to communicate with society using statistics
One of the important sections of the report is communication of well-being. The authors emphasise that for data to have a real impact on policy, it is not enough to simply collect it; it must also be explained. Statistical agencies should create visual dashboards, information portals and open databases that help citizens, journalists and researchers use the information.
Examples from Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan demonstrate that open data and clear explanations of methodology increase trust in statistics. Such resources often combine national and international indicators and make it possible to track not only economic but also social trends.
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From statistics to politics
The report emphasises that well-being indicators should not remain purely analytical tools. They can form the basis for policies that take into account the impact of decisions on quality of life. Some countries, notably New Zealand and Italy, have already integrated well-being assessments into the budget process, analysing how public spending affects citizens’ well-being.
For this approach to be effective, it is important to ensure the participation of citizens and stakeholders, including academics, civil society organisations and businesses. Open dialogue allows for more accurate prioritisation and makes policy more transparent.
Where international statistics are heading
The UNECE emphasises that measuring well-being is a dynamic field that requires constant updating. Areas for further research include the development of indicators of digital well-being, the impact of artificial intelligence on people’s lives, and new methods of real-time data collection.
Special attention will be paid to vulnerable groups of the population — children, people with disabilities, and minorities — as well as to the development of indicators that better reflect their living conditions.
In this way, “well-being” becomes not just a statistical term, but a tool for understanding the real state of society. And although measurement methods may vary, their goal is the same: to provide an accurate answer to the question of how people live and what is needed for them to live better.
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