Free self-tests · 2 min · 5 questions
Life Satisfaction Test (Satisfaction With Life Scale)
This life satisfaction test uses the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), created by Ed Diener, Robert A. Emmons, Randy J. Larsen and Sharon Griffin in 1985. It asks five questions about how you judge your life as a whole, by your own standards rather than anyone else's.
It takes about a minute. Answer how you honestly feel, not how you think you should feel. Everything is scored in your browser and nothing is stored or sent. The result is a prompt for reflection, not a diagnosis.
Free, no sign-up. Your progress is saved only in this browser on this device, so you can stop and come back later. Nothing is sent to anyone.
Below are five statements that you may agree or disagree with. Using the 1 - 7 scale below, indicate your agreement with each item. Please be open and honest in your responding.
Your results
This is a self-report questionnaire, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional can assess you properly.
Talk it through: book a session
The PDF is created on your device. Your saved answers stay in this browser until you start again or clear them.
What your score means
Your score is the total of your five answers, from 5 to 35. The bands and their labels come from the scale's own scoring guide (31 to 35 extremely satisfied, down to 5 to 9 extremely dissatisfied), with 20 as the neutral midpoint.
Life satisfaction is a judgement, not a mood. It reflects how your life compares with the standards you hold for it, which is why two people in similar circumstances can score very differently. A recent event can shift it for a while, and it usually moves back over time.
For people living abroad, the gap between the life you imagined and the one you're living can be sharp: a career on hold, friendships that haven't formed yet, family far away. If that sounds familiar, you might find the pages on expat loneliness or the trailing spouse experience helpful, or try the expat wellbeing check-in.
Counselling can offer space to work out what your own standards actually are, and which ones you've borrowed from others. You can read more about online therapy for expats or book a session.
Scale credit: Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985), Journal of Personality Assessment.
How the SWLS score works
5 questions, scored by adding up your answers. These are the score ranges this page uses to describe your result. Where the questionnaire's authors publish official cut-offs, the ranges follow them; the sources are listed below.
| Score | Range |
|---|---|
| Extremely satisfied | 31 to 35 |
| Satisfied | 26 to 30 |
| Slightly satisfied | 21 to 25 |
| Neutral | 20 to 20 |
| Slightly dissatisfied | 15 to 19 |
| Dissatisfied | 10 to 14 |
| Extremely dissatisfied | 5 to 9 |
About this questionnaire
Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) by Ed Diener, Robert A. Emmons, Randy J. Larsen, Sharon Griffin (1985).
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Used in line with the published terms of use.
Questions people ask
What does the Satisfaction With Life Scale measure?
It measures your overall, considered judgement of how satisfied you are with your life, using your own standards. It doesn't measure moods or emotions directly, and it doesn't ask about particular areas such as work or relationships. That's why it's so short: five statements that ask you to step back and look at the whole.
What's an average score?
According to Diener's own interpretation guide, the average life satisfaction score in economically developed nations falls in the 20 to 24 range, where most people are generally satisfied but would like some improvement in certain areas. Averages vary between countries and groups, so treat this as a rough reference point.
Are my answers stored anywhere?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser. Your answers and score aren't saved on a server, sent to me, or shared with anyone. If you close or refresh the page they're gone, so note your score if you'd like to compare it with a later attempt.
Who created the scale?
The Satisfaction With Life Scale was published in 1985 by Ed Diener, Robert A. Emmons, Randy J. Larsen and Sharon Griffin in the Journal of Personality Assessment. Diener spent his career researching happiness and subjective wellbeing. The authors allow professionals to use the scale freely as long as they are credited.