Assessing the quality of life in Central and Eastern Europe: a comparative analysis

The aim of this article is to assess the quality of life (QoL) in Central and Eastern Europe through a comparative analysis that identifies key determinants of well-being and evaluates their relative importance across countries. The study situates the assessment within the unique historical and socio-economic transformation of the region, from centrally planned economies to market-oriented systems and subsequent integration into the European Union. Using 42 indicators grouped into thematic domains, material living conditions, health, education, labour activity, safety, governance, and the environment, the research applies descriptive statistics and the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method to construct a composite QoL index and rank eleven countries according to their performance. The findings reveal substantial disparities, with Estonia and Lithuania achieving the highest QoL scores, while Romania and Bulgaria lag behind. The results highlight the decisive influence of income levels, healthcare accessibility, educational attainment, and environmental quality on overall well-being. The paper concludes with evidence-based policy implications, emphasising investment in education, healthcare systems, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental protection as essential pathways to more balanced and inclusive development across the region.