About the WHO-5

The WHO-5 Well-Being Index was developed by the WHO’s Regional Office for Europe in 1998 and has been validated across dozens of countries and conditions. Five positively worded questions about the last two weeks make it one of the shortest and least intrusive measures in use.

What is a good WHO-5 score?

The raw score of 0 to 25 is multiplied by four to give 0 to 100. Fifty or below suggests poor well-being and is the WHO’s cue to look closer; 28 or below is often used as a depression screen.

Why are the questions all positive?

The WHO-5 asks how often you have felt cheerful, calm, active, rested, and interested. Asking about well-being rather than symptoms makes it gentle to repeat weekly and useful for people who aren’t ill.

WHO-5 Well-Being Index, Psychiatric Research Unit, WHO Collaborating Centre in Mental Health, Hillerød, Denmark. Free to use. Page reviewed by Michael RoBards, LCSW, September 2026.