The IBE reflects the evolution of the population's well-being based on the behaviour of ten synthetic indices, which reflect the analysis of material living conditions and quality of life.

“As of 2017, the evolution of quality of life has stagnated and material living conditions have always grown, with the exception of 2020”, said INE in the Highlight published online today.

According to the same source, the Material Living Conditions Index grew between 2013 and 2022, having only decreased in 2020.

“In the period 2004-2022, eight of the ten domains that make up the IBE showed positive evolution. Education, knowledge and skills and Personal security were those that showed the most favourable evolution”, according to INE.

“Preliminary data for 2022 points to an increase in the IBE compared to the previous year, maintaining a period of continuous growth from 2012 onwards, only interrupted in 2020. This year, greatly marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a decrease of 1.8 percentage points compared to the previous year, still lower than that seen in 2012 (2.2)”, stated the institute.

The IBE in Portugal evolved almost always positively between 2004 and 2022, having reduced in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2020. “In that period, the IBE evolved from 25.0 to 46.9, mainly as a result of the progress made in Material Conditions of Life”, reads the information provided by INE.