Victoria 3 is the latest grand strategy title from Paradox Interactive, following in the footsteps of both the developer's most recent game Crusader Kings 3 and its own 2010 predecessor Victoria 2. Victoria 3 is a game of industry, technology, and development, covering the height of the Industrial Revolution that ushered in the modern age.
As new factories spring up and new industries are discovered, the player will see their chosen Nation's Gross Domestic Product soar. However, raising GDP isn't the only measure of success in Victoria 3, nor is it the clearest one. Plenty of Nations in the game have strong GDPs, but are plagued with internal and social problems. Instead of profit, players might want to measure their success as a leader through the Standard of Living score.
What is Standard of Living in Victoria 3?
The Standard of Living score is a representation of the quality of life experienced by the upper strata, the middle strata, and the lower strata of a Nation. These are the upper class, the middle class, and the poorest Pops in Victoria 3 respectively. These individual scores then combine to make the Nation's overall Standard of Living score.
Ranging from Starving to Opulent, from struggling to buy necessities to having an excess of luxury goods, the Standard of Living score is massively important to the happiness of the Nation's Pops in Victoria 3. When the Standard of Living rises, more Pops will become Loyalists, and protect the government from its critics. Conversely, if the Standard of Living falls, Pops are more likely to become Radicals, and attempt to bring down their government.
In addition to loyalty, Standard of Living also has a major effect on the birth/death rate of an expanding Nation in Victoria 3. Pops with plentiful food, clothing, and services will live longer lives, and be able to raise larger families. On the other hand, starving citizens will be unable to feed their children or themselves, and will die younger as a result.
How to Raise Standard of Living in Victoria 3
Wealth is the largest factor in increasing the Standard of Living in Victoria 3. Each Pop in a Nation builds Wealth whenever their weekly income exceeds their weekly expenses, and loses it when the opposite is true. The higher a Pop's Wealth in Victoria 3, the higher their Standard of Living, as they can afford to buy the commodities they need or desire. Higher wages, lower taxes, and cheaper goods are all ways to increase the Wealth of a Nation's Pops.
As well as Wealth, Pops also need to meet their Needs to increase their Standard of Living. Each strata has its own Needs, ranging from simple food and clothing for the lowest, to luxury goods like porcelain or fine art for the highest. To raise the Standard of Living, players should make sure their Pops have access to a wide range of goods, as well as ensuring that those goods aren't overpriced.
Checking the market tab will reveal whether the consumption of a good outweighs its production, driving up prices and making that good inaccessible to lower strata. Victoria 3's Trade routes and new buildings can balance out this equation, introducing a surplus that will lower prices and raise the Standard of Living throughout the Nation.
Victoria 3 is currently available on PC.