The new report also reveals growing challenges for Wales. More than four in ten people in Wales (44%) report experiencing discrimination in the last 12 months, an increase of 11 percentage points since 2023. Meanwhile, confidence in the availability of good local jobs has fallen sharply, with just 17% satisfied with job opportunities in their local area, down from 30% in 2023 and below the UK average of 22%.

The index is based on a survey of 6,731 people across the UK, including 519 in Wales. The research also highlights persistent health challenges. Only 61% of people in Wales report being in good general health, compared with 67% across the UK, while around one in ten in Wales report poor mental health.

Carnegie’s UK’s index looks at social, economic, environmental and democratic aspects of wellbeing in Wales. Democratic wellbeing, which measures whether people feel they have a voice in decisions that affect their lives, remains the lowest-scoring area of wellbeing in Wales at just 39 out of 100.

Economic wellbeing in Wales remains broadly in line with the UK average overall, but satisfaction with local job opportunities has fallen sharply since 2023. However, the findings also point to some encouraging signs. While trust remains low, some measures of trust in government have improved, and more people report feeling able to influence decisions that affect their lives than in previous years.

Sarah Davidson, chief executive of Carnegie UK, said:

“The Life in the UK 2026 Index shows that overall wellbeing in Wales has remained stubbornly unchanged, while too many people continue to experience discrimination, poor health and a lack of confidence in local job opportunities. Alongside poor health and low democratic wellbeing, this highlights the need for sustained action to improve people’s day-to-day lives.

“There are, however, a few green shoots. Some measures of trust in government have improved, and more people feel able to influence decisions that affect them than in previous years. That presents an opportunity for all levels of government in Wales to further strengthen trust and place long-term wellbeing at the heart of decision-making.

“The new Welsh Government’s programme includes a welcome focus on prevention. With four years of data, Carnegie UK’s Life in the UK Index provides a valuable resource to help policymakers understand where progress is being made, where challenges remain and where action is needed most.”

Bethan Webber, chief executive of Cwmpas, said:

“We welcome this important research and its focus on wellbeing as a measure of how Wales is performing. The findings particularly highlight the need to rethink how our economy works, who benefits from the wealth it creates and who owns the assets that shape our lives. Concerns about local job opportunities and people’s limited influence over decisions underline the need to give Welsh communities greater power over their economic future.

“That means empowering communities and workers to generate wealth, own businesses and local assets, and have a meaningful say in how they are run. Co-operatives, social enterprises and community ownership offer practical ways to achieve this and are already making a significant contribution.

“Sharing wealth and ownership more widely cannot be a nice-to-have or an optional addition to economic development policy. It must be at the core of our economic agenda. Without changing how our economy creates and shares prosperity and power, we will fall short of the ambitions of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.”