Did you know?
| indicator | value | unit |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24.9 | mil. |
| Visitors per year | 6.1 | mil. |
| Renewable energy | 4.6 | % |
How’s Life?
Australia performs well in many dimensions of well-being relative to other countries in the Better Life Index. Australia outperforms the average in income, jobs, education, health, environmental quality, social connections, civic engagement and life satisfaction. These assessments are based on available selected data.
Money, while it cannot buy happiness, is an important means to achieving higher living standards. In Australia, the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 37 433 a year, more than the OECD average of USD 30 490 a year.
In terms of employment, about 73% of people aged 15 to 64 in Australia have a paid job, above the OECD employment average of 66%. Some 77% of men are in paid work, compared with 69% of women. In Australia, 13% of employees work very long hours in paid work, above the OECD average of 10%, with 19% of men working very long hours in paid work compared with 6% of women.
Good education and skills are important requisites for finding a job. In Australia, 84% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, higher than the OECD average of 79%. In Australia, completion does not vary between men and women. In terms of the quality of the education system, the average student scored 499 in reading literacy, maths and science in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). This score is higher than the OECD average of 488. On average in Australia, girls outperformed boys by 8 points, above the average OECD gap of 5 points.
In terms of health, life expectancy at birth in Australia is around 83 years, two years higher than the OECD average of 81 years. Life expectancy for women is 85 years, compared with 81 for men. The level of atmospheric PM2.5 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs – is 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter, below the OECD average of 14 micrograms per cubic meter. In Australia, 92% of people say they are satisfied with the quality of their water, higher than the OECD average of 84%.
Concerning the public sphere, there is a strong sense of community and high levels of civic participation in Australia, where 93% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need, more than the OECD average of 91%. Voter turnout, a measure of citizens' participation in the political process, was 92% during recent elections, much higher than the OECD average of 69%. This reflects the practice of compulsory voting in Australia. Social and economic status can affect voting rates; voter turnout for the top 20% of the population is an estimated 96% and for the bottom 20% it is an estimated 90%.
When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Australians gave it a 7.1 grade on average, higher than the OECD average of 6.7.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
Topics
OECD in Action
OECD Economic Surveys Australia
OECD’s periodic surveys of the Australian economy. Each edition surveys the major challenges faced by the country, evaluates the short-term outlook, and makes specific policy recommendations. Special chapters take a more detailed look at specific challenges. Extensive statistical information is included in charts and graphs.
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Australia in Detail
Housing – Australia expand
Key Findings
Living in satisfactory housing conditions is one of the most important aspects of people's lives. Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family. All of these elements help make a house a home. And of course there is the question of whether people can afford adequate housing.
Housing costs take up a large share of the household budget and represent the largest single expenditure for many individuals and families, by the time you add up elements such as rent, gas, electricity, water, furniture or repairs. In Australia, households on average spend over 19% of their gross adjusted disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, broadly in line with the OECD average of 20%.
In addition to housing costs it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average number of rooms shared per person and whether households have access to basic facilities. The number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relations with others and children's development. In addition, dense living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In Australia, the average home contains more than the OECD average of 1.7 rooms per person. In terms of basic facilities, the percentage of dwellings in Australia that contain private access to an indoor flushing toilet, is more than the OECD average of 97%.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-beingIndicators
Income – Australia expand
Key Findings
While money may not buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards and thus greater well-being. Higher economic wealth may also improve access to quality education, health care and housing.
Household net adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each year after taxes and transfers. It represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services. In Australia, the average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 37 433 a year, higher than the OECD average of USD 30 490.
Household net wealth is the total value of a household's financial and non-financial worth, such as money or shares held in bank accounts, the principal residence, other real estate properties, vehicles, valuables and other non-financial assets (e.g other consumer durables).. In Australia, the average household net wealth is estimated at USD 528 768, higher than the OECD average of USD 323 960.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Increasing the family income of adolescents
Australia provides supplementary support for families with school-age children. A means-tested Family Benefit helps low-income families make ends meet while encouraging the attendance of their children at school. The benefit targets families with children between the ages of 13 and 15. By increasing the household income, the benefit decreases the need for school-age children to leave school and get a job. By keeping kids in school to complete their studies, the benefit can also help improve their future employment prospects.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-beingIndicators
Jobs – Australia expand
Key Findings
Having a job brings many important benefits, including: providing a source of income, improving social inclusion, fulfilling one's own aspirations, building self-esteem and developing skills and competencies. In Australia, 73% of the working-age population aged 15 to 64 has a paid job. This figure is higher than the OECD employment average of 66%.
Unemployed persons are defined as those who are not currently working but are willing to do so and are actively searching for work. Long-term unemployment can have a large negative effect on feelings of well-being and self-worth, and result in a loss of skills, further reducing employability. In Australia, the percentage of the labour force that has been unemployed for a year or longer is currently at 1%, lower than the OECD average of 1.3%.
The wages and other monetary benefits that come with employment are an important aspect of job quality. Australians earn USD 55 206 per year on average, more than the OECD average of USD 49 165.
Another essential factor of employment quality is job security, in terms of expected loss of earnings when someone becomes unemployed. This includes how likely you are to lose your job, how long you are likely to remain unemployed and how much financial assistance you can expect from government. Workers facing a high risk of job loss are more vulnerable, especially in countries with smaller social safety nets. In Australia, workers face an expected 3.1% loss of earnings if they become unemployed, lower than the OECD average of 5.1%.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Helping youth transition from school to work
Australia's targeted support programmes help youth from disadvantaged communities successfully transition from school to work.
The Beacon Foundation operates a three-year programme that brings schools, community and businesses together to prepare young people for work. Beacon's 2013 annual report found that retention, employment and participation rates in the 132 schools they operated were above the national average. Over 98% of participating students were fully engaged in work, education or training nine months after completing year 10 – 11.6% higher than the national average for 16 to 17 year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programme also provides a one-day Work Readiness programme for schoolchildren between 7 and 12 years old.
BoysTown is a national youth service that collaborates with mental health services, schools, and technical and further education (TAFE) and employment service providers to develop school-to-work programmes. These programmes engage or re-engage young people by offering individual case management; psychological assessments; training in literacy and numeracy, employment, job seeking, interpersonal and basic life skills. A 2004-2012 evaluation of the programme in Queensland found that 50% of participants entered employment, 20% resumed education, and 20% commenced accredited training.
Choices not Chances
Redbank Plains State High School in southwest Australia, about 30 kilometres from Brisbane, is in a low socio-economic area with a large incidence of recent migrants from the Pacific Islands and New Zealand and a relatively high level of unemployment. In 2011, the school embarked on a concerted effort to transform its performance with the help of state and federal funding. A key part of this effort was recognising that a significant proportion of students would prefer to go straight to work after leaving high school.
Redbank Plains introduced a school-to-work programme called "Choices not Chances" to help a culturally diverse school population through senior school years to sustainable employment. A specific focus is to change and challenge a culture of local unemployment through community partnerships and intensive support for students, families and the wider community.
Through the programme, the students increase their knowledge of various industries and develop the skills and habits required to work in them. Local business leaders address students at assemblies and visits are organised to give students a first-hand insight into the world of work. In their final year at school, students have the opportunity to gain direct experience through work experience placements.
A spin-off of the school’s strong focus on transition to work was jobs for parents of Redbank Plains pupils. Through its connection with the school, a local bus company with a persistent recruitment problem discovered that unemployed parents of students at the school would be an ideal source of bus drivers.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-being OECD Job Quality DatabaseIndicators
Community – Australia expand
Key Findings
Humans are social creatures. The frequency of our contact with others and the quality of our personal relationships are thus crucial determinants of our well-being. A strong social network, or community, can provide emotional support during both good and bad times as well as provide access to jobs, services and other material opportunities. In Australia, 93% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need, more than the OECD average of 91%. A weak social network can result in limited economic opportunities, a lack of contact with others, and eventually, feelings of isolation. Socially isolated individuals face difficulties integrating into society as a contributing member and fulfilling personal aspirations.
Better Policies For Better Lives
Services for vulnerable families
Over the last decade, the Australian government has made specific funds available to improve collaboration between service providers, community members, NGOs, businesses and all levels of government in the delivery of services to vulnerable families. The Family Support Programme was established to increase the provision of early intervention, prevention and targeted support for vulnerable families. This followed a previous programme that aimed to facilitate and encourage collaboration at all levels to enable communities to tackle their own issues at a local level. These funds aim to help co-ordinate efforts across community services, education, health and other sectors.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-being OECD Insights: Human CapitalIndicators
Education – Australia expand
Key Findings
A well-educated and well-trained population is essential for a country's social and economic well-being. Education plays a key role in providing individuals with the knowledge, skills and competences needed to participate effectively in society and in the economy. Having a good education greatly improves the likelihood of finding a job and earning enough money.
Australians can expect to go through 20.4 years of education between the ages of 5 and 39, more than the OECD average of 18 years and the highest level in the OECD.
Graduating from upper secondary education has become increasingly important in all countries, as the skills needed in the labour market are becoming more knowledge-based. High-school graduation rates therefore provide a good indication of whether a country is preparing its students to meet the minimum requirements of the job market. In Australia, 84% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, higher than the OECD average of 79%.
But graduation rates, while important, speak little to the quality of education received. The OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reviews the extent to which students have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in modern societies. In 2018, PISA focused on examining students' reading ability, skills in maths and level in sciences, as research shows that these skills are more reliable predictors of economic and social well-being than the number of years spent in school.
The average student in Australia scored 499 in reading literacy, maths and sciences, above the OECD average of 488. The best-performing school systems manage to provide high-quality education to all students.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Improving mental health and well-being of students
KidsMatter encourages partnerships between education, early childhood, and health and community sectors to improve children's mental health and well-being.
KidsMatter Early Childhood is run in preschools, kindergartens and long day care services. This programme supports early childhood education and care practice and connects educators, children, families, management, and community and health professionals.
KidsMatter Primary uses a whole-school approach to develop and implement evidence-based mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention strategies. The framework consists of four key areas: positive school community; social and emotional learning for students; parenting support and education; and early intervention for students experiencing mental health difficulties.
Initially piloted in 101 schools in 2007-08, KidsMatter has been expanded after an evaluation found a general improvement in student mental health and well-being, including optimism, coping skills, and behaviours. Teacher capacity and knowledge were also enhanced, providing greater support for children and their families.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-beingIndicators
Environment – Australia expand
Key Findings
The quality of our local living environment has a direct impact on our health and well-being. Outdoor air pollution is one important environmental issue that directly affects the quality of people's lives. Despite national and international interventions and decreases in major pollutant emissions, the health impacts of urban air pollution continue to worsen, with air pollution set to become the top environmental cause of premature mortality globally by 2050. Air pollution in urban centres, often caused by transport and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in the long-term. Children and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable.
PM2.5 – tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung – is monitored in OECD countries because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy. In Australia, PM2.5 levels are 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter, lower than the OECD of 14 micrograms per cubic meter and lower than the annual guideline limit of 10 micrograms per cubic meter set by the World Health Organization.
Access to clean water is fundamental to human well-being. Despite significant progress in OECD countries in reducing water pollution, improvements in freshwater quality are not always easy to discern. In Australia, 92% of people say they are satisfied with water quality, higher than the OECD average of 84%.
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Better Policies for Better Lives
Reducing agricultural emissions
The government has made considerable efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the agricultural sector. The Emissions Reduction Fund operates across the economy, also covering the agricultural sector. The Fund incentivises companies to adopt smarter practices to cut the amount of greenhouse gases they create and credits companies for emissions reductions. Companies with projects capable of achieving maximum abatement at the lowest cost receive funding after a bidding process. Successful bidders then enter contracts with the government outlining the quantity and price of the carbon credits. Funding is not provided to the companies until after the abatement is delivered to ensure compliance with the agreement.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-being OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050Indicators
Governance – Australia expand
Key Findings
Trust in government is essential for social cohesion and well-being. High voter turnout is a measure of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data are available, voter turnout in Australia was nearly 92% of those registered; this figure is one of the highest in the OECD area where average voter turnout is 69%, and reflects the practice of compulsory voting in Australia.
Broader public engagement in the decision-making process is also important for holding the government to account and maintaining confidence in public institutions. The formal process for public engagement in developing laws and regulations is one way to measure the extent to which people can become involved in government decisions on key issues that affect their lives. In Australia, the level of stakeholder engagement in developing regulations is 2.7 (on a scale between 0 and 4); higher than the OECD average of 2.1.
For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Online tools for civic engagement
YourSAy is an online consultation hub that involves South Australians in policy making. People use this tool to participate in discussions and vote in polls to impact government decisions. Local champions reach out to the public, particularly disengaged citizens, to show how the tool can impact everyday life.
Launched in 2010, YourSAy is one of the largest community consultation programmes in Australia. More than 42 000 people have joined the online community, exceeding its original target of 10 000 users.
YourSAy is a useful feedback tool for the government. For example, the Ministry of Education has incorporated feedback from online consultations in their policies. Consultation feedback is also expected to influence the state’s Strategic Plan for development. The government of South Australia is also exploring the potential of social media in advancing public engagement by opening up discussions on different platforms.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-being Regulatory Policy Outlook: AustraliaIndicators
Health – Australia expand
Key Findings
Most OECD countries have enjoyed large gains in life expectancy over the past decades, thanks to improvements in living conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical care. Life expectancy at birth in Australia stands at 83 years, two years above the OECD average of 81 years. Higher life expectancy is generally associated with higher health care spending per person, although many other factors (such as living standards, lifestyles, education and environmental factors have an impact on life expectancy).
When asked, "How is your health in general?" around 85% of people in Australia said they were in good health, more than the OECD average of 68%. Despite the subjective nature of this question, answers have also been found to be a good predictor of people's future health care use. Gender, age and social status may affect answers to this question.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Mental health services for youth
Mental health problems are more likely to occur in adolescence than later in life. Australia has initiated a number of youth-focused mental health programmes to reach this demographic.
Headspace centres provide mental health and well-being support to young people between 12 and 25 years old. These centres function as integrated service hubs where youth can access social workers, psychologists, drug and alcohol workers, job counsellors and health professionals. Anyone can walk in to ask for help and most services are provided for free. A recent study found that one-third of Headspace clients are not in education, training or employment and that over half presented very high levels of psychological distress. It is not yet clear which services are the most used, however the programme shows potential for preventing school dropouts. Around 100 centres are open across Australia.
Orygen Youth Health offers vocational services in parallel to health services to young people suffering from first-episode psychoses, mood disorders or personality disorders. Participants can attend a Psychosocial Recovery Programme, as well as a Group Programme, to help re-integrate them in school, training or employment. Early results show that this integrated approach is more effective than health intervention alone, with 85% of clients moving to education or employment, compared to 29% in the control group.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-beingIndicators
Life Satisfaction – Australia expand
Key Findings
Happiness or subjective well-being can be measured in terms of life satisfaction, the presence of positive experiences and feelings, and the absence of negative experiences and feelings. Such measures, while subjective, are a useful complement to objective data to compare the quality of life across countries.
Life satisfaction measures how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current feelings. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Australians on average gave it a 7.1 grade, higher than the OECD average of 6.7.
Better Policies for Better Lives
Measuring child well-being
The Australian government prioritises child health and well-being. The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) measures children's development or well-being as they enter school. The five areas examined are physical health and well-being; social competence; emotional maturity; language and cognitive skills; and communication skills and general knowledge. Teachers gather the results of the census and aggregate it to the group level. This lets people see how local children compare relative to other children in their community and across the country. After a successful pilot in 60 communities in 2009, the programme was expanded to the national level.
Data collection can also be used to help adapt to changing student needs. Tasmania's Launching into Learning initiative uses the results from the Early Development Instrument to help teachers design their activities around trouble learning areas. These teachers are trained in advance to better understand the data and develop appropriate learning activities. Evaluations show that children participating regularly in Launching into Learning perform better than their peers in mathematics.
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How's Life?: Measuring Well-beingIndicators
Safety – Australia expand
Key Findings
Personal security is a core element for the well-being of individuals. Do you feel safe out walking, alone at night, for example? In Australia, about 67% of people say that they feel safe walking alone at night, less than the OECD average of 74%.
The homicide rate (the number of murders per 100 000 inhabitants) is a more reliable measure of a country's safety level because, unlike other crimes, murders are usually always reported to the police. According to the latest OECD data, Australia's homicide rate is 0.9, lower than the OECD average of 2.6.
Indicators
Work-Life Balance – Australia expand
Key Findings
Finding a suitable balance between work and life is a challenge for all workers, especially working parents. The ability to successfully combine work, family commitments and personal life is important for the well-being of all members in a household. Governments can help to address the issue by encouraging supportive and flexible working practices, making it easier for parents to strike a better balance between work and home life.
An important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardise safety and increase stress. In Australia, about 13% of employees work very long hours in paid work, above the OECD average of 10%.
The more people work, the less time they have to spend on other activities, such as personal care or leisure. The amount and quality of leisure time is important for people's overall well-being, and can bring additional physical and mental health benefits. In Australia, full-time workers devote 60% of their day on average, or 14.4 hours, to personal care (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure (socialising with friends and family, hobbies, games, computer and television use, etc.) – less than the OECD average of 15 hours.