The Stress Map

Where we live can shape many of the pressures we face. Housing costs, employment, healthcare, commuting, crime and extreme weather can all contribute to everyday stress.

To explore how these pressures vary by location, health insurance comparison service iSelect created a Stress Index comparing European countries, US states and Australian states and territories across financial, health, lifestyle and environmental factors. Each location received a score out of 100, with a higher score indicating greater exposure to the stress factors measured.

The results show that the causes of stress are rarely down to one issue alone, with the most stressed countries and states often facing pressure across several areas at once.

The most stressed countries in Europe

The country-level comparison covers 29 European nations and reveals the which countries are the most stressed. The results show that mental wellbeing by country can vary significantly due to various factors.

1. Greece: 64.41

Greece is the most stressed country in Europe. It has a 26.4% housing cost overburden rate, unemployment rate of 7.9% and 11.5% of people reporting unmet medical needs. It also records 70.12 out of 100 for dissatisfaction with green spaces and parks in its proxy city, alongside 28 days above 35°C in 2025.

2. Cyprus: 43.96

Cyprus ranks second in the stress index and its standout factor is environmental, as the representative city recorded 102 days of at least 35°C in 2025, the highest figure in the European dataset, and a score of 67.68 for dissatisfaction with the lack of green spaces. This makes Cyprus a strong example of how climate conditions can greatly influence the Stress Index.

3. Latvia: 42.63

Latvia is the third most stressed country in Europe. Almost three in ten people (29.8%) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, while 7.6% report unmet medical needs and 8.4% report chronic depression.

The least stressed countries in Europe

Some countries perform better on the stress factors than others. iSelect has revealed which countries in Europe are the least stressed.

1. Netherlands: 20.18

The Netherlands is the least stressed European country in the Stress Index. Unemployment stands at 4.0%, while just 0.5% of people report unmet medical needs. Its proxy city recorded no days above 35°C in 2025, helping to keep environmental stress comparatively low.

2. Czechia: 21.95

Czechia is second least stressed country in Europe. It has the lowest unemployment rate among the three least stressed countries at 3.0% and only 0.3% of people report unmet medical needs. Its representative city also records a relatively low crime index of 24.68.

3. Norway: 23.86

In Europe, Norway places third as the least stressed country. Just 1.9% of people in Norway report unmet medical needs and it has one of the lowest risks of poverty and social exclusion in the index at 19%.  Norway also recorded zero days above 35°C in 2025, making it an overall pleasant place to live.

Highest stress levels across the USA

The most stressed states in the US rankings compare 49 states using measures that include poverty, income, housing costs, unemployment, health, sleep, commuting, crime, natural hazards and extreme heat.

1. Nevada: 67.02

Nevada is the highest-ranking US state for stress levels. Environmental pressure is a major factor, with a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 95.6 and 114 days reaching at least 35°C in the representative city during 2025. Housing pressure is also notable, with almost one in three (31.4%) households spending at least 35% of their income on housing.

2. Texas: 59.72

Texas follows as the second most stressed states. Health indicators stand out in Texas, including an uninsured rate of 16.7%, while its proxy city records a crime index of 62.69.

3.  Louisiana: 59.58

Louisiana is the third most stressed state in the USA, largely due to financial indicators that include an 18.7% poverty rate and median household income of USD$60,986. The state also records 19.3% of people experiencing frequent mental distress, while the proxy city has a crime index of 67.68.

The least stressed states in the USA

On the opposite end of the index is the least stressed US states, securing their positions with less housing pressure than some of the other states on the list and lower unemployment rates.

1. North Dakota: 17.32

North Dakota is the least stressed US state in the Stress index. It has a relatively low unemployment rate of 2.2% and the country’s shortest average commute at 17.5 minutes. Its representative city also recorded no days above 35°C in 2025.

2. Vermont: 19.29

Vermont ranks as the second least stressed state in the US. It records an uninsured rate of just 4.2%, while unemployment stands at 2.6%. The state’s proxy city also recorded only one day above 35°C during 2025.

3. South Dakota:19.61

South Dakota is the third least stressed US state. Its unemployment rate is just 2.08%, while the average commute is a manageable 18.5 minutes. Housing pressure is also relatively low, with just 17.8% of households spending at least 35% of their income on housing.

The most and least stressed Australian states

iSelect has looked at the factors of median income, unemployment rates, housing affordability pressure, mental health, traffic, crime rates and dissatisfaction with parks and green spaces to rank the stress scores for all eight Australian states and territories.

1. Western Australia: 58.99

Western Australia ranks as the most stressed state in Australia. Its representative city had the longest traffic time in the Australian index at 44.18 minutes, and a house price-to-income ratio of 14.7. It also had 23.1% of people report a 12-month mental disorder.

2. Queensland: 49.06

In Queensland, housing affordability is one of the more notable pressures, with a house price-to-income ratio of 17.0. Its representative city also records a traffic time index of 42.61 minutes. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (23.7%) of people report a 12-month mental disorder.

3. Victoria: 48.57

Victoria ranks third with one of the highest unemployment rate in the Australian data at 5.1%. Its proxy city also records a crime index of 44.4, and a long traffic time of 42.06 minutes.

4. Northern Territory: 46.68

Ranking third, the Northern Territory’s most significant figures are health-related, with 28.8% of people reporting a 12-month mental disorder, the highest proportion in the Australian dataset. Its proxy city also records the highest crime index at 63.18.

5. South Australia: 42.48

South Australia has a house price-to-income ratio of 15.6, while 21.6% of people report a 12-month mental disorder. The state’s representative city recorded 13 days above 35°C in 2025, the second-highest figure among the Australian states and territories in the index.

6. Tasmania: 40.20

Tasmania is the third least stressed Australian state. It has the lowest prevalence of a 12-month mental disorder in the Australian index at 19.8%, while its representative city recorded no days above 35°C during 2025.

7. New South Wales: 37.46

New South Wales is the second least stressed state in the nation. It records a 12-month mental disorder rate of 19.5%, the lowest in the Australian data, while unemployment stands at 4.2%. However, its house price-to-income ratio of 18.9 shows that less overall stress doesn’t mean that every individual pressure is low.

8. Australian Capital Territory: 32.72

The Australian Capital Territory is the least stressed location in Australia. It has the highest median personal income in the study at AUD$75,643, alongside unemployment of 4.0%. Its proxy city also records the lowest crime index at 28.49.

What are the biggest sources of stress?

Our findings show that financial stress by country or state takes different forms. Greece’s housing cost burden, Louisiana’s poverty rate, and Western Australia’s house price-to-income ratio are three examples of cost-of-living stress appearing in different ways.

Health indicators also influence the rankings. Unmet medical needs, frequent mental distress and prevalence of mental disorders can identify where health stress may be more pronounced. Commuting, sleep, green space and crime provide additional perspectives on mental wellbeing by country and state.

Environmental pressure is particularly striking in Cyprus, Nevada and Western Australia. The study also shows why examining workplace stress by country alone would only capture part of the wider picture. The places with the highest overall scores tend to experience overlapping sources of pressure rather than one isolated problem.

How can you manage everyday stress?

It can help to identify which pressures are affecting you most. For financial stress, that could mean reviewing household expenses, setting a realistic budget or checking whether regular bills and policies still suit your needs. If healthcare costs are contributing to that pressure, you can also compare health insurance to see whether your current cover remains suitable.

For work and lifestyle stress, ensure regular breaks, clearer boundaries around working hours, physical activity, good sleep habits and social connection to support day-to-day wellbeing. Small changes may also make individual sources of stress feel more manageable, particularly when several pressures are competing for your attention at once.