‘Tale of two Scotlands’ as survey reveals areas with highest life satisfaction

Mid Dunbartonshire ranks as the highest constituency in the UK for life satisfaction, according to a survey on feelings of “belonging”.

However areas of Glasgow also rank among the highest in the UK for feelings of loneliness, with the results described as a “tale of two Scotlands”.

The 2026 Belonging Barometer, which is a nationally representative survey of 10,001 UK adults conducted by Opinium, analysed a number of social trends – broken down by UK Parliament constituency.

The data, compiled for the Belonging Forum, showed Scotland was broadly in line with or slightly above the UK overall when it comes to social connection.

However, the figures revealed significant disparities in Scotland’s constituencies.

Mid Dunbartonshire was the highest in the UK for life satisfaction, with 74.6% of residents saying they are satisfied with their lives.

East Renfrewshire followed closely behind at 74.5%.

These areas also had the strongest familiarity with their neighbours – at 61% and 62% respectively, compared to 51% of Scotland nationally.

Other parts of Scotland, including post-industrial and urban areas, had very different figures in the Belonging Barometer.

In Glasgow North, 47.6% said they do not feel strongly connected to their neighbours, with Dundee close behind at 47.4%.

The survey also covered feelings of loneliness, with 29% of people in Scotland saying they feel this way often or always.

This rose to 37% in Glasgow North and 35% in Glasgow North East, among the highest such figures in the UK.

Kim Samuel, founder of the Belonging Forum, said: “Scotland stands out for having both some of the strongest and weakest outcomes for belonging in the UK.

“Places like Mid Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire show what is possible when strong communities, local amenities and quality of life come together.

“But the data also highlights real challenges in parts of urban Scotland, where people are more likely to feel lonely, less connected to those around them, and less safe in their daily lives.

“This paints a tale of two Scotlands – one where belonging is strong and thriving, and another where too many people feel disconnected from those around them.

“The priority now must be to close that gap by investing in safer neighbourhoods, stronger local networks and the shared spaces that bring people together.”

Other patterns of behaviour were revealed by the survey.

Edinburgh West ranked among the top areas in the UK for spending time in pubs and bars (38% vs 29% of the population).

Meanwhile, Orkney and Shetland lead the country for walking and hiking – with 44.3% citing it as a hobby compared to 35% of the UK population.

Published: 09/05/2026 by Radio NewsHub