FOCUS: How happy really are people in Guernsey with their lot?

Guernsey likes to think of itself as one of the best places to live in the world… but how does that stack up when islanders are actually asked?

New official data gives a detailed snapshot of life in the Bailiwick, from how satisfied people feel with their lives to how safe they feel after dark, how healthy they are, and how Guernsey compares with other countries and regions.

The findings come from the Guernsey Annual Better Life Indicators Report 2024, published by the States’ Data and Analysis team, which adapts the OECD’s international wellbeing framework to measure quality of life on the island.

Express breaks down what the numbers really say about life in Guernsey…

Life satisfaction? Solid, but not sky-high…

When asked to rate their overall life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, Guernsey respondents gave an average score of 6.7.

That figure comes from the Guernsey and Alderney Wellbeing Survey 2023, which surveyed more than 2,300 people and uses a methodology comparable with the OECD’s international data.

On that basis, Guernsey sits below countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Canada and New Zealand, but above places including France, Spain, Italy and Greece. In regional comparisons, Guernsey ranked 12th out of 13 UK regions for life satisfaction.

Healthy lives… and long ones

One area where Guernsey performs strongly is health.

• 73.2% of people rated their health as ‘good’ or ‘very good’, compared with an OECD average of 67.5%
• That places Guernsey 11th out of 34 OECD countries for self-reported health

Life expectancy is also notably high. Using the latest rolling average data, Guernsey’s life expectancy at birth is 83.6 years, ranking it 5th out of 39 countries in international comparisons.

However, 23.4% of adults were classed as living with obesity, and 9.1% reported being smokers – both tracked as indicators of future health outcomes.

Work is plentiful, while unemployment is rare

Guernsey continues to stand out for employment.

• The employment rate for people aged 25 to 64 is 79.3%
• Long-term unemployment stands at just 0.41%
• Overall unemployment in 2024 was 0.8%

Median earnings have also risen steadily, reaching £42,672 in 2024, though the report notes these figures include part-time workers and are not directly comparable with OECD full-time earnings data.

Housing’s where pressure shows

Housing is one of the clearest pressure points in the data.

Guernsey households now spend 30.5% of their disposable income on housing, which is high compared with many OECD countries.

While overcrowding is relatively low – 5.9% of households were classed as overcrowded in 2023 – the cost of housing places Guernsey among the highest spenders internationally when measured as a share of income.

Middling scores for work-life balance

When asked about work-life balance, leisure time and workplace flexibility:

• Average satisfaction scores ranged from 6.1 to 6.5 out of 10
• Around 44% of respondents rated their work-life balance between 8 and 10
• Nearly 20% rated it between 0 and 3

These figures come from the 2023 Wellbeing Survey, as Guernsey does not currently calculate the OECD’s standard work-life balance measures.

How connected and safe do people feel?

Guernsey scores well for safety, but feelings of social support are more mixed.

• 84% of respondents said they had people they could rely on in times of trouble
• This is lower than many OECD countries, although the report notes slight differences in question wording

Meanwhile, 74.6% of adults said they felt very or fairly safe walking alone after dark – broadly in line with the OECD average of 75%.

In regional OECD comparisons, Guernsey ranked joint 1st internationally for low homicide rate, reflecting both economic engagement and safety.

…but we are very engaged at the ballot box

Voter turnout remains a relative strength.

• 72% of eligible voters took part in Guernsey’s 2025 election
• That placed Guernsey 16th out of 39 countries in international comparisons and 1st among UK regions

The report notes differences in how electoral rolls operate across jurisdictions, but still uses turnout as a useful indicator of civic engagement.

Energy under the spotlight

Guernsey also performs well on several indicators linked to future wellbeing:

• 31% of total energy supply comes from renewable sources
• 68% municipal recycling rate, high by OECD standards
• Greenhouse gas emissions were 4.4 tonnes per capita in 2023, helped by imported renewable electricity

So… how happy are Guerns?

The data paints a nuanced picture.

Guernsey performs strongly on health, safety, employment and longevity, but scores more modestly on life satisfaction, housing affordability and social connection when compared internationally.

As the report itself notes, these indicators are designed to track long-term trends rather than provide a simple league table… but, together, they offer one of the clearest statistical snapshots yet of how life in Guernsey is really experienced. You can read it in full here… and read Express’s analysis of last year’s report here.