Atlas on Quality of Life in Slovenia

Atlas on Quality of Life in Slovenia analyses quality of life through dimensions, domains, and subdomains as defined in the ESPON QoL–Quality of Life Measurements and Methodology project (Sessa et al., 2020). To do this, we first collected appropriate indicators and data for all the Slovenian territorial levels (national, NUTS 2 or cohesion regions, NUTS 3 or statistical regions, and LAU 2 or municipalities). Altogether we collected eighty-four indicators for all the territorial levels, and the most representative ones for respective subdomains were included in the Dashboard, a tool that helps decisionmakers calculate the territorial quality of life for their regions. Based on the forty indicators included, the Dashboard for the policymakers automatically provided composite indexes at the level of subdomains, domains, and dimensions, as well as the final territorial quality of life index. The calculations were made for the NUTS 3 level (twelve statistical regions) and LAU 2 level (212 municipalities) in Slovenia. For both territorial levels, maps were prepared, showing composite indexes and indicators used for calculating composite indexes at the subdomain level. To place quality of life in Slovenia in a European context, we also prepared maps at the European level with close-ups for Slovenia and the NUTS 2 regions bordering Slovenia. Due to the different indicators used and the respective differences in the timespan of the data, the European maps are not directly comparable to the Slovenian ones, although the Slovenian ones can be compared because they present the most recent data calculated at different territorial levels.

In the end, subdomains, domains, and dimensions were described, using available datasets and studies.

Irrespective of the territorial level (NUTS 3 or LAU 2), the results show higher quality of life in western Slovenia, which is a phenomenon also emphasized by numerous development studies in the past. This division between eastern and western Slovenia can also be observed from the European perspective; however, due to the use of different indicators and datasets, the rankings among the regions are different. The western part of the country is thus among the European regions where the quality of life is above the European average, whereas the quality of life in the eastern part of Slovenia could be described as below average. The highest territorial quality of life in Slovenia is in the Gorenjska and Osrednjeslovenska regions, whereas the Zasavska and Pomurska regions have the lowest quality of life.

The use of forty different indicators makes possible in-depth insight into the specific features of a particular region or municipality, defining its strengths and weaknesses and thus areas to improve or build on. In this regard, the dashboard and the atlas can serve as valuable tools for decisionmakers in directing the development of a particular municipality or region, and it can support spatial and regional development policies at the national level aiming to ensure cohesion of the national territory.