Qualityoflife

Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional concept that refers to the general well-being of individuals and societies. It encompasses material living standards as well as non-material factors such as health, safety, education, social relations, personal freedom, environment, and subjective satisfaction with life.

Common domains include income and wealth, health and functioning, education, housing, employment, environment and sustainability, social connections, crime and safety, governance and political participation, work-life balance, and access to services. Subjective well-being—people’s own evaluation of their life satisfaction and happiness—is often included alongside objective indicators.

QoL is measured through various indexes and surveys. Examples include the OECD Better Life Index, the Human Development Index, and national or regional quality-of-life surveys. Some frameworks emphasize happiness or well-being rankings, while others use composite indicators that combine multiple dimensions with weights. Data limitations and cultural differences affect comparability.

Applications include policy analysis, urban planning, and social programs. QoL research informs decisions about housing, transportation, health care, education, and environmental regulation. Critics caution that QoL metrics can reflect cultural biases, may overemphasize subjective judgments, and risk instrumentalizing well-being in place of other goals.

History and scope: The QoL concept emerged from welfare economics and the social indicators movement in the late 20th century, and has since evolved to integrate subjective indicators. It is related to but distinct from GDP or economic growth, and is frequently used to assess progress beyond standard economic measures.