Yes, Australia is experiencing significant drying trends, especially in the south, with climate change causing warmer, drier conditions, longer droughts, and shifting rainfall patterns, leading to water stress in many regions, affecting agriculture and ecosystems despite some northern rainfall increases. Southern areas see decreased cool-season rain and increased drought intensity, while the north experiences some increased wet-season rain, making Australia increasingly water-stressed overall.
Much of the land experiencing increasing drought in recent decades is over key agricultural areas and near major population centres. These trends show that droughts are increasingly applying more pressure to farmers, population centres and water resources, highlighting the rising impacts of Australian droughts.
Australia in 2050 will likely be hotter, with more extreme weather like intense heatwaves, bushfires, and floods, impacting over 1.5 million people in vulnerable coastal areas due to rising sea levels, while also experiencing significant population growth to nearly 38 million and deeper integration of technology in daily life, transforming cities, homes, and work. Major environmental challenges include severe threats to coral reefs from warming and acidifying oceans, increased bushfire risk, and changes to plant life, necessitating major adaptation in infrastructure and lifestyles.
The top 10 issues Australians say are the most concerning
In early 2025, flash droughts struck Australia in waves: January in parts of South Australia. February along the SA-Victoria border and western Tasmania.
The survey also asked respondents which state or territory will be the safest place to live as the climate changes. Tasmania is the clear winner, with two in five Australians (41 per cent) choosing it, with other states falling well behind.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued the long-range forecast for the 2025 summer season, and it shows summer days and nights are likely to be warmer than average across most of Australia. Nationally, summer rainfall is likely to be below average for parts of the west and inland parts of the east.
"The economy is past the low point in growth. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been picking up nicely … so in our forecast we get into the 'low twos' (2 per cent) for 2026 for Australian GDP growth."
Australia's current National Terrorism Threat Level is PROBABLE.
Dangerous wildlife. Various dangerous animals go hand in hand with Australia's diverse landscapes and warm climate. Although you might never come across them, the country is home to numerous venomous spiders, snakes and marine creatures.
Australia is unlikely to become entirely uninhabitable soon, but climate change is making large areas, especially in the north, extremely hot and potentially unlivable under higher warming scenarios (around 3°C), straining infrastructure, impacting agriculture, and displacing vulnerable populations, while coastal areas face rising sea levels and severe erosion, making parts of cities and towns uninsurable and at risk. The primary threats are extreme heatwaves, bushfires, droughts, floods, and sea-level rise, disproportionately affecting regional, Indigenous, and disadvantaged communities, forcing significant adaptation and threatening the nation's food security.
Emerging markets (E7) could grow around twice as fast as advanced economies (G7) on average. As a result, six of the seven largest economies in the world are projected to be emerging economies in 2050 led by China (1st), India (2nd) and Indonesia (4th)
By 2050, Melbourne is projected to be Australia's biggest city, surpassing Sydney, with forecasts suggesting its population could reach around 8 to 9 million people, driven by significant migration and natural growth, while Sydney's growth is expected to be slower. This rapid expansion will place considerable strain on Melbourne's infrastructure, leading to increased congestion, housing demand, and cost of living pressures, prompting city planning initiatives like Plan Melbourne to manage the growth sustainably.
Key findings : The quality of the Australian way of life is collapsing. The Australian Way of Life Scoreboard, which measures the quality of the Australian way of life, has declined by 28.5% since 2000. 23 of 25 measures relevant to the Australian way of life have declined since 2000.
The climate of Australia is the second driest of any continent, after Antarctica. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), 80% of the land receives less than 600 mm (24 in) of rainfall annually and 50% has even less than 300 mm (12 in).
Yes Australia and New Zealand both are aligned with the West and will probably be active participants, but their geographic isolation makes any invasion incredibly difficult and any attacks would probably be limited to missile attacks on military facilities, particularly against US interests in those countries.
Australia's largest terrestrial (land) predator is the Dingo, an apex canine that plays a crucial role in controlling herbivore populations like kangaroos and managing ecosystem health, despite occasional debates about its native status. While saltwater crocodiles are Australia's largest reptiles and apex predators in aquatic environments, the dingo holds the top spot as the biggest land-based carnivore, preying on various mammals, birds, and reptiles, and even scavenging.
Australia's biggest rival depends on the sport, but internationally, England (The Ashes in cricket) and New Zealand (Bledisloe Cup in rugby) are historic rivals, while India has emerged as a fierce modern cricket rival, and domestically, Queensland vs. New South Wales (State of Origin) is arguably the most intense rivalry. The rivalry with England in cricket is deeply cultural and historic, fueled by colonial roots, while the India rivalry is known for sheer intensity in cricket.
If we only look at full time workers, the middle income was around $83,000 a year in 2024. For part time worker, more likely to women, the middle was closer to $40,000 a year. If you earn more than $180,000 a year, you earn more than 95 out of 100 workers in Australia, 95% of workers earn less than that.
The United States is #1 in the world's economy by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025, with China as the second-largest and Germany third, according to data from organizations like the IMF. The U.S. leads due to its diverse industries, technological innovation, and strong financial system, with its dollar serving as a dominant global reserve currency.
Australia isn't in a full-blown financial crisis but faces significant challenges, including a cost-of-living squeeze, rising household debt, slowing productivity, and concerns about long-term growth, leading to financial pressure for many citizens despite overall economic size and past growth streaks. While large-scale wealth exists, issues like high housing costs, inflation, and stagnant real wages are straining household budgets, creating a perception of economic hardship even if official recession figures aren't met.
No, Australia is not 90% white; while a large majority identify with European ancestry (around 76-80% in recent years), a significant and growing portion identifies as Asian, African, Middle Eastern, or Indigenous, making it a highly multicultural nation with diverse ethnic backgrounds, not overwhelmingly white. Recent census data shows European ancestry (English, Irish, etc.) makes up a large chunk, but Asian ancestries are also substantial, with over 17% Asian population and around 3.8% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, per the 2021 census data from Wikipedia.
In 2024-25, Australia's Net Overseas Migration (NOM) was around 305,000 - 306,000, a decrease from the previous year, with around 185,000 permanent migration places filled, prioritizing skilled workers, while forecasts for 2025-26 kept the permanent program at 185,000 places, indicating a shift back towards pre-pandemic levels after a post-COVID surge, though total migration figures remain significant.
While several places get extremely hot, Onslow in Western Australia shares the record for Australia's highest temperature ever recorded (50.7°C in 2022), and Marble Bar, also in WA, is famous as "Australia's Hottest Town" for its record-breaking 160 consecutive days over 37.7°C (100°F) in 1923-24. The Pilbara region, where these towns are located, consistently experiences Australia's most extreme heat.