Quality of life satisfaction rises to 84.9% in Cayman Islands, survey finds

Overall satisfaction with quality of life in the Cayman Islands increased to 84.9% in spring 2026, up 0.9 percentage points from fall 2025, according to the latest Quality of Life Survey released by the Economics and Statistics Office (ESO).

The findings, published on November 10, show improvements across several areas, including employment, household finances, health and wellness, public safety and social connections.

However, Caymanians continued to report slightly lower satisfaction levels than the overall resident population, with their quality of life rating reaching 83.6%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points over the previous six months.

The survey found that health and wellness remained a major contributor to overall quality of life, with satisfaction reaching 85.3%. Improvements were recorded in mental wellness and healthcare waiting times, although waiting times remained the lowest-rated element in the category.

Employment and job quality recorded one of the largest improvements, rising 1.6 percentage points to 85.1%.

According to the report, the increase reflected reduced underemployment and a growing proportion of residents who felt their income exceeded their standard of living.

Material living conditions also improved, reaching 87.3%, supported by reductions in household overcrowding, overdue bills and disconnections from essential household services.

Satisfaction with economic and physical safety climbed to 88.6%, reflecting improvements in financial security, lower poverty and food insecurity, and a stronger sense of personal safety.

Meanwhile, satisfaction with leisure and social life rose slightly to 82.1%, with residents reporting stronger social support networks, improved neighborhood connections and greater community cohesion.

The natural and living environment remained the lowest-rated major category, despite improving to 77%. The report linked the increase to progress in economic and social development, including infrastructure, access to capital and human capital development.

East End residents report highest satisfaction

The survey also revealed differences in quality of life satisfaction across the Cayman Islands' districts.

East End recorded the highest overall satisfaction rating at 89.3%, followed by West Bay at 87.6% and North Side at 86.5%.

George Town residents reported satisfaction of 85.3%, while Bodden Town recorded 84%.

The Sister Islands, comprising Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, registered the lowest overall satisfaction rating at 82.1%.

Despite improvements in several areas, residents across the districts identified persistent challenges, including healthcare waiting times, inadequate road infrastructure, traffic congestion and limited access to green spaces and walkable communities.

Other concerns included support for small businesses and entrepreneurship, housing overcrowding, environmental management and access to education and lifelong learning opportunities.

Caymanians report lower satisfaction than overall population

The report highlighted a consistent gap between the satisfaction levels of Caymanians and those of the wider resident population.

Caymanians recorded a health and wellness satisfaction rating of 83.9%, compared with 85.3% among all residents. They also expressed greater dissatisfaction with waiting times in the public healthcare system.

In employment and income, Caymanians reported satisfaction of 83.2%, compared with 85.1% overall, although the report noted improvements associated with higher employment and income gains.

Satisfaction with material living conditions stood at 85.9% among Caymanians, compared with 87.3% for the wider population.

Economic and physical safety satisfaction reached 87.8% among Caymanians, slightly below the overall rating of 88.6%.

The survey also found that Caymanians reported lower levels of loneliness than the wider population. Approximately 19.9% of Caymanians experienced loneliness, compared with 23% of residents overall.

In the leisure and social category, Caymanians recorded satisfaction of 81.8%, compared with 82.1% across the population.

The largest areas of concern included the natural and living environment, where Caymanians reported satisfaction of 75.7%, compared with 77% overall.

The report indicated that Caymanians expressed stronger dissatisfaction with environmental protection, infrastructure development, human capital development and economic opportunities.

Despite these differences, the survey found that both Caymanians and the wider resident population experienced improvements in quality of life during the six-month period.

The full Spring 2026 Quality of Life Survey Report is available through the Cayman Islands Economics and Statistics Office at www.eso.ky