A significant driver of poverty and homelessness in Australia is the rising cost of housing – as it becomes increasingly difficult to make ends meet, many families are facing financial instability and vulnerability. As of March 2023, the median national rent in Australia is $565 a week, a 13% increase since last year.
New research from the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling and based on 2021 census data also found at least 100,000 more people had slipped into poverty since 2016.
Poverty is unequally distributed by region
However, under the SPM, the West had the highest poverty rate in 2021, at 8.9 percent. Overall, for the SPM each region revealed a decrease in poverty between 2020 and 2021.
Five causes of poverty
Poverty is not just caused by individual circumstances but by major inequalities built into the structure of Australian society. Some of the main causes of this inequality and poverty are access to work and income, education, housing, health and services.
Quarter 2022
Inclusive of housing costs, the poverty line is $1,148.15 per week for a family comprising two adults, one of whom is working, and two dependent children.
1. Nearly three million Australians live in poverty. Alarmingly, over 3.3 million Australians are living in poverty, facing significant disadvantages and challenges in their day-to-day lives2.
Australia poverty rate for 2018 was 1.00%, a 0% increase from 2016. Australia poverty rate for 2016 was 1.00%, a 0% increase from 2014. Australia poverty rate for 2014 was 1.00%, a 0% increase from 2010. Australia poverty rate for 2010 was 1.00%, a 0.3% increase from 2008.
Mungallala Methodist Church was built in 1964. It has now closed. In 2016, the Australian Taxation Office listed Mungallala as having the lowest mean taxable income by postcode, making it the poorest town in Australia, which led the ABC to do a documentary on the town for their online "storyhunters" program.
Increase wages – especially the minimum wage, to reduce inequality and leaving low-income earners behind. Rebuild employment services, to truly help disadvantaged job seekers, especially those who are long-term unemployed to find work.
The United Nations Social Policy and Development Division identifies “inequalities in income distribution and access to productive resources, basic social services, opportunities” and more as a cause for poverty. Groups like women, religious minorities, and racial minorities are the most vulnerable.
1 in 6 children in Australia (16.6% or 761,000) are growing up in poverty which continues to be higher than the rate for adults (12.7%).
Iceland. Iceland stands at the top of countries with the lowest poverty rates with a poverty rate of 4.9% in 2021.
Unemployment was a key generator of poverty – about half of all Australians aged 15 years and over who were unemployed lived in poverty. Poverty increased among the unemployed in the late 1990s.
Australia's Gini has increased seven percentage points over the past 40 years, the report observed. “On this measure, inequality levels are as high as they have been since 1950, in the aftermath of World War II,” the report notes.
Who is most affected? Poverty rates are disproportionately higher among most non-White populations. Compared to 8.2% of White Americans living in poverty, 26.8% of American Indian and Alaska Natives, 19.5% of Blacks, 17% of Hispanics and 8.1% of Asians are currently living in poverty.
What are the richest suburbs in Australia? The highest-earning suburbs in Australia are Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove in Western Australia, based on the ATO's latest taxation figures.
The most advantaged Australians are overwhelmingly living by the water in Sydney, Perth, and Darwin. The most advantaged Australians are overwhelmingly living by the water in Sydney, Perth, and Darwin.
With 126,900 millionaires, Sydney made it to number 10 with the report noting especially strong growth in wealth in the Harbour City over the past 20 years, making it Australia's wealthiest city. It's also predicted to reach the top 5 wealthiest cities in the world by 2040.
Poverty was highest among younger and older people in 2019-20, but COVID income supports did much to reduce it among children and young people. The average rate of poverty in 2019-20 was 17% among children, 14% among young people 15-24 years of age, 12% among people aged 25-64 years, and 14% among older people.
The 10 most disadvantaged LGAs in order are: Woorabinda (Queensland), Cherbourg (Qld), Belyuen (NT), West Daly (NT), Yarrabah (Qld), Kowanyama (Qld), Wujal Wujal (Qld), East Arnhem (NT), Doomadgee (Qld) and Central Desert (NT).
The average yearly salary in Australia is 90,800 AUD (USD 60,355). Let's go through a few key indicators of the average earnings in Australia so you can fully understand salary statistics and trends in the country.
Renters, single parents, women, students, the unemployed and people with a disability are the Australians most at risk of poverty, a new study has found. The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) partnered with the University of NSW to examine which groups were at risk of poverty in their lifetimes.
The average female salary in Australia is $78,881 per year or $40.45 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $67,039 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $156,000 per year.