The UK has been named the unhappiest country for children in Europe in 2024, with young people there reporting the lowest levels of life satisfaction across the continent. Despite Europe’s overall prosperity, children in several countries, including the UK, face growing mental health challenges and concerns over well-being.
According to the 2024 Good Childhood Report by The Children’s Society, 25.2% of young people in the UK expressed dissatisfaction with their lives, the highest rate in Europe. This is compared to countries like the Netherlands, where only 6.7% of 15-year-olds reported similar feelings, and Nordic countries like Finland and Denmark, where the rates were even lower, at 10.8% and 11.3%, respectively.
“The findings from The Good Childhood Report 2024 are alarming and illustrate an unacceptable picture of children’s wellbeing in the UK. It clearly shows that young people in the UK are experiencing lower well-being and life satisfaction compared to their peers across Europe, and that the well-being of young people is also in decline,” said Jack O’Neill, policy and public affairs manager at The Children’s Society.
The report, which utilized data from multiple sources including the UK Longitudinal Household Survey and the OECD’s PISA, highlights that the UK’s performance is notably worse than other European countries in specific areas impacting children’s well-being. One significant issue is the widening life satisfaction gap between advantaged and disadvantaged youth, pointing to the effects of socio-economic inequality on well-being.
The report also uncovered that the UK ranked fourth in food deprivation, with 11% of 15-year-olds skipping meals due to financial constraints. Furthermore, 41% of families reported being unable to afford holidays or extracurricular activities for their children, while 50% of children said a lack of money kept them from socializing or going on school trips.
“Two in five children and young people surveyed were worried about rising prices, showing that concerns over making ends meet are filtering down to young people and increasing their worry and concern,” O’Neill said.
In addition to financial struggles, children in the UK expressed significant concerns about crime, online safety, and environmental issues. School-related factors were also a major concern, with 14.3% of young people dissatisfied with their school experience. Safety issues, bullying, and a lack of a sense of belonging were cited as key contributors to the low satisfaction rates. Notably, the UK had the second-highest rate of bullying in Europe.
These challenges paint a troubling picture of children’s well-being in the UK and underscore the urgent need for action to address the growing disparity in youth satisfaction.
