Vision 2030 and Subjective Well-Being in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Vision 2030 seeks to improve social sustainability in the Kingdom through comprehensive economic and social reforms. This study investigates whether these reforms are associated with changes in subjective well-being (SWB), commonly understood as individuals’ experienced quality of life. Using Gallup World Poll data from 2013 to 2023 on Cantril ladder scores and affect balance in Saudi Arabia, we find increases in SWB following the implementation of Vision 2030 reforms, particularly for the affective component of SWB. While positive changes in SWB are observed across the entire population, the gains in affective well-being are especially pronounced among women. Blinder–Oaxaca decompositions show that improvements are associated with enhanced community basics, followed by greater income sufficiency, improved perceptions of social life, and an increased sense of personal freedom.