Quality of life · Civic life & environment
As at 13 October 2026 · official data unless labelled
People who feel they have a say in what government does
46.5%Better than the OECD median▲ 14.43 pts2023vs OECD median 28.9%
What the numbers are telling us
The share of people who feel they have a say in what government does was 46.5% in 2023, up 14.43 pts on the previous reading (32%).
Across 30 OECD countries (2023), Australia ranks 2nd best of 30 on having a say, above the median of 28.9%.
Why it matters
Political efficacy: whether people believe government listens to them.
What it should be
There is no official target, so Australia is judged against comparable countries: higher than the OECD median is better. The OECD median is 28.9%.
Having a say: the last 2 readings
People who feel they have a say in what government does, 2021 to 2023
Australia ranks 2nd best of 30 OECD countries
Having a say, 2023; OECD median 28.9%
Switzerland58.17
Australia46.46
Mexico45.46
Denmark44.27
New Zealand43.6
Canada40.26
Netherlands39
Korea38.65
Ireland36.35
Norway34.8
Spain30.98
Sweden29.92
Every figure on this page is calculated from the stored official series (OECD, How's Life? Current well-being (OECD WISE)); the summary is written from the numbers, not edited by hand.