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Australia · quality of life dashboard

As at 12 October 2026 · official data unless labelled

How are Australians living?

Eight sections drawn from the OECD's How's Life? well-being indicators, which measure the same things the same way in every member country, plus Australia's own housing figures. Most are surveyed once a year or less, so each is judged against the OECD median rather than its own history. Australia is better than the median on 5 of 8 headline readings. Open any number for the trend and the country comparison.

Household incomeA$72,268▲ 2.3%2024Employment rate80.4%▲ 0.17 pts2025Housing affordability80.8%▲ 0.17 pts2024Life expectancy83 years▼ 0.2 years2023Maths487 pts▼ 4 pts2022Feeling safe65.8%unchanged2025Life satisfaction7.2 / 10▼ 0.3 points2020Having a say46.5%▲ 14.43 pts2023

Income & wealth

Do households have enough, and how evenly is it shared?3 of 4 under pressureHousehold income2024A$72,268Better than the OECD median▲ 2.3%US$50,629 at purchasing power parityOECD median A$62,119

What's driving it

Povertyvs OECD median 11.2%12.6%▲ 0.2 ptsInequalityvs OECD median 5.04×5.56×▼ 0.04Financial insecurityvs OECD median 37.4%39.4%▼ 3.9 ptsMedian wealthvs OECD median A$315,837A$571,218▲ 0.3%

Work & earnings

Can people find work, and does it pay and treat them well?1 of 5 under pressureEmployment rate202580.4%Better than the OECD median▲ 0.17 ptsOECD median 80.3%

What's driving it

Long-term unemployedvs OECD median 1.09%0.92%▲ 0.08 ptsYouth not in work or studyvs OECD median 10%8.51%▲ 1.02 ptsGender pay gapvs OECD median 11%10.7%▼ 1.09 ptsLong hoursvs OECD median 3.99%9.68%▼ 0.5 ptsEarningsvs OECD median A$86,248A$100,969▲ 0.4%

Housing

Can people afford a decent home?2 of 3 under pressureHousing affordability202480.8%At the OECD median▲ 0.17 ptsOECD median 80.8%

What's driving it

Overburdenedvs OECD median 18.4%13.8%▼ 0.57 ptsMortgage burdenvs 10-year average 8.27%9.4%unchangedRent growthvs 10-year average 2.51%3.56%▼ 0.18 pts

Health

Are Australians living long, healthy lives?1 of 2 under pressureLife expectancy202383 yearsBetter than the OECD median▼ 0.2 yearsOECD median 81.9 years

What's driving it

Good healthvs OECD median 67.9%85%▼ 0.2 ptsDeaths of despairvs OECD median 22.1 per 100,00022.2/100k▲ 0.5/100k

Knowledge & skills

Are young Australians learning what they need?0 of 2 under pressureMaths2022487 pointsBetter than the OECD median▼ 4 pointsOECD median 479 points

What's driving it

Readingvs OECD median 479 points498 pts▼ 5 ptsSciencevs OECD median 491 points507 pts▲ 4 pts

Safety

Do people feel, and are they, safe?2 of 2 under pressureFeeling safe202565.8%Worse than the OECD medianunchangedOECD median 74.7%

What's driving it

Homicidesvs OECD median 0.7 per 100,0000.9/100kunchangedRoad deathsvs OECD median 4.3 per 100,0004.8/100k▲ 0.1/100k

Life satisfaction & connection

How do people feel about their lives, and do they have support?2 of 2 under pressureLife satisfaction20207.2 / 10Worse than the OECD median▼ 0.3 pointsOECD median 7.4 / 10

What's driving it

Negative feelingsvs OECD median 12.5%14.9%unchangedSocial supportvs OECD median 90.5%89.7%unchanged

Civic life & environment

Do people have a voice, and a healthy environment to live in?1 of 3 under pressureHaving a say202346.5%Better than the OECD median▲ 14.43 ptsOECD median 28.9%

What's driving it

Voter turnoutvs OECD median 71.1%90.7%▲ 0.93 ptsAir pollutionvs OECD median 99.7%99%▼ 0.24 ptsExtreme heatvs OECD median 0%11.2%▲ 6.09 pts

On target or better than usualWorse than usualOutside the target bandA level, neither better nor worseBars show how far each reading sits from its benchmark: left of centre below it, right above it. Dates differ by measure: each tile shows the latest year available. See also the sentiment & polls dashboard.