The University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre Annual Report 2025 is more than an academic summary, it’s a glimpse into a future where wellbeing science shapes how we live, work, and lead.

In just six years, the Centre has become the world’s leading hub for evidence-based wellbeing research. It’s home to the World Happiness Report, the World Wellbeing Movement, and pioneering studies revealing how happiness connects to productivity, gender equity, and even artificial intelligence.

This year’s report feels like a manifesto for a happier, more sustainable world. The findings are bold, practical, and transformative from AI models that can predict wellbeing more accurately than people, to a deeper understanding of gender gaps in mental health, to Oxford’s mission to embed wellbeing at the heart of business education.

Key Insights from the 2025 Report

1. Wellbeing Science Goes Mainstream

Oxford’s new MBA elective, The Science of Wellbeing in Business, was oversubscribed from the start, proving future leaders want to integrate wellbeing into the way they manage people and make decisions.

2. Workplace Wellbeing = Performance

Research with Indeed shows that companies scoring higher on employee wellbeing consistently outperform the stock market. The message is clear: wellbeing isn’t “nice to have”, it’s a core business advantage.

3. AI Predicts Happiness Better Than Humans

Machine learning models outperformed traditional economic methods in predicting wellbeing trends. This opens up new possibilities for measuring and improving life satisfaction at scale.

4. The Gender Wellbeing Gap Widens

Despite social progress, women now report lower mental health and more negative emotions than men. It’s a troubling trend that calls for urgent, gender-aware approaches to wellbeing policy.

5. Policy with Purpose

The revival of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Wellbeing Economics marks a renewed commitment to placing wellbeing data at the heart of national decision making with Oxford researchers leading the way.

Redefining Success

The Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre is changing how we define progress. The true measure of success is no longer GDP, it’s how well people actually live and feel.

As the report shows, the wellbeing revolution isn’t theoretical. It’s happening now; in classrooms, boardrooms, and government halls, and it’s reshaping the future for all of us.