Ranking of Ukrainian regions: Local Well-Being Index

From challenge to solution

“We sociologists often ask people about general issues concerning the state, about something global. But people assess the state of affairs in the country not only from the news. Doesn't my mood depend on the level of safety in the city, cultural life, and literally the mood of the people around me?"

After one such discussion, the Rating Lab research team decided that something had to be done. It would be good to show the level of local well-being in Ukraine, and even better to obtain data for different regions and monitor the situation regularly.

Now, at the end of each year, Rating Lab determines the Local Well-Being Index (LWBI), ranks regions, and highlights areas with the best and worst results.

Methodology

The Local Well-Being Index is developed by Rating Lab research laboratory. Respondents in 22 regions and Kyiv. The index consists of five components: emotional perception, civil security, education and healthcare, orderliness, and economic opportunities.

In 2024, we added another topic to the survey: migration attitudes among the population.

The team conducts this survey annually and analyses the data over time. For example, at the end of 2024, Rating Lab surveyed more than 9,600 Ukrainians.

The team did this using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing) method based on Rating Group's special technology.

Respondents received an anonymous online questionnaire via messengers/social networks and filled it out themselves on the Rating Online platform.

Self-completion is convenient for the respondent and increases the likelihood of honest answers.

Insights

Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Volyn regions rank highest in terms of local well-being.

Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Kirovohrad regions rank lowest.

The overall local well-being index has declined compared to 2023: from 0.08 to -0.01 on a scale from +3 to -3. This indicates not only local problems in the regions, but also a general trend of declining quality of life in Ukraine.

The emotional perception of cities and villages is deteriorating – the psychological comfort of residents is declining.

The economic index remains negative, but there are signs of improvement. It is likely that some regions continue to lose economic opportunities, while most have adapted to the current economic conditions and are not experiencing drastic changes.

Migration sentiments are intensifying. The main risk group is young men who have the resources to leave but face legal restrictions.

The worse the assessments of local well-being, opportunities for self-realisation and, accordingly, future prospects, the greater the migration sentiments.