WHO-5
WHO-5 Well-Being Index
A short positively-worded index of emotional well-being.
5
2 min
adult
0–25
About the WHO-5
The WHO-5 Well-Being Index is a five-item measure of subjective psychological well-being developed by the World Health Organization. Unlike most screens, every item is positively worded, so the WHO-5 captures the presence of well-being rather than the absence of symptoms.
Respondents rate how they have felt over the past two weeks on a 0–5 scale, giving a raw score of 0–25. The raw score is conventionally multiplied by four to produce a 0–100 percentage, where higher scores mean better well-being. A percentage of 50 or below (raw ≤12) is a recognised screening threshold for depression.
What it measures
- Positive mood — feeling cheerful and in good spirits
- Vitality — feeling calm, relaxed, active, and rested
- General interest — daily life filled with things that interest you
WHO-5 questions
- 1
I have felt cheerful and in good spirits
- 2
I have felt calm and relaxed
- 3
I have felt active and vigorous
- 4
I woke up feeling fresh and rested
- 5
My daily life has been filled with things that interest me
Items reproduced from a documented, freely usable source. Item wording is preserved exactly as published.
Scoring & interpretation
| Range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–12 | Poor well-being | Raw ≤12 (percentage ≤50). Screen for depression — administer a depression-specific instrument. |
| 13–17 | Reduced well-being | Below typical population range; monitor. |
| 18–25 | Typical | Within typical well-being range. |
Higher scores indicate better functioning / well-being.
Clinical applications
- Screening for depression and low mood (a low score prompts a depression-specific measure)
- Monitoring well-being and recovery, including in physical-health and chronic-disease care
- Well-being outcomes in research and quality-of-life studies
Strengths & considerations
- Higher scores are better — the WHO-5 is reverse-polarity compared to symptom scales.
- A low WHO-5 is a prompt to assess depression directly, not a diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good WHO-5 score?
On the 0–100 percentage scale, higher is better. A score of 50 or below (raw 12 or below) is a screening threshold suggesting depression should be assessed.
How is the WHO-5 scored?
Sum the five items (0–25 raw) and multiply by four to get a 0–100 well-being percentage. Higher scores indicate better emotional well-being.
Source & references
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