UK named the unhappiest country for children. What's behind Europe's decline in youth well-being?

Europe, particularly the EU, is regarded as one of the most prosperous regions in the world. Yet, despite this prosperity, many young people within its borders are facing a growing decline in well-being, with increasing concerns about mental health.

Last month, the Children’s Society, a UK-based charity, released a report looking into the well-being of young people in the UK and how they compare to those in Europe. 

The 2024 Good Childhood Report found that, on average, 16.6 per cent of European youth are dissatisfied with their lives, which is equivalent to about one in six across the continent. 

The Netherlands had the lowest rate, with only 6.7 per cent of 15-year-olds reporting not being satisfied with their lives.  

Similarly, Nordic countries Finland and Denmark also ranked well, with only 10.8 per cent and 11.3 per cent reporting low life satisfaction respectively.

On the other hand, the UK reported the highest level of low life satisfaction among young people, with 25.2 per cent indicating dissatisfaction, followed closely by Poland (24.4 per cent) and Malta (23.6 per cent).

"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," Jack O’Neill, policy and public affairs manager at The Children’s Society, told Euronews Health.

The report used data from various sources to analyse youth life satisfaction, including the UK Longitudinal Household Survey, The Children’s Society’s annual survey, and the OECD Programme for International Student