INEGI: Difficulty paying basic living needs affects life satisfaction

In Mexico, the greater the difficulty in covering household expenses, the lower life satisfaction becomes, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), which presented the results of the 2025 National Survey on Self-Reported Well-Being (ENBIARE).

The ENBIARE—which gathers information on life satisfaction, daily moods, and life purpose among the population aged 18 and older in the country—revealed that 19% of people who have difficulty or great difficulty covering regular household expenses report having little or no life satisfaction.

Specifically, among those who reported having difficulty or great difficulty covering their household’s regular expenses, two out of five said they were completely satisfied with life; 36.8% were moderately satisfied; 14.2% were somewhat satisfied; and 4.8% said they were not at all satisfied.

Meanwhile, among those who reported that it was easy or very easy to cover their regular household expenses, seven out of 10 people reported being completely satisfied with life.

INEGI revealed that in 2025, people in Mexico rated their satisfaction with their current life at an average of 8.62 on a scale of zero to 10. In 2021, the most recent edition of the ENBIARE, the average current life satisfaction score was lower (8.45) than in 2025.

According to the ENBIARE, people in the country who speak an indigenous language and those with a disability reported lower average current life satisfaction scores than the national population—8.33 and 7.99, respectively.

Perceptions of health status are closely linked to life satisfaction and mood, the Institute stated.

Thus, 26.8% of people in Mexico with signs of depression report little or no life satisfaction. Meanwhile, 36.3% of adults in the country show signs of depression.