Tasmania is consistently identified as Australia's poorest state, facing challenges like lower incomes, less work hours, and poorer health/education outcomes compared to other states, despite periods of economic growth. While the Northern Territory shows deep poverty in certain Aboriginal households, Tasmania generally has the lowest overall economic metrics per capita, often alongside South Australia, but Tasmania typically lags further behind the national average.
The worst performing states are Tasmania, with incomes 26% below the national income and wealth average, as well as South Australia which is 19% below the average household income and 20% below the national net wealth.
List Of the US States With the Highest Poverty Rates Mississippi (19.58%) West Virginia (17.10%) Arkansas (16.08%) New Mexico (18.55%) Louisiana (18.65%) Kentucky (16.61%) Alabama (15.98%) Oklahoma (15.27%) South Carolina (14.68%) Tennessee (14.62%) North Carolina (13.98%) Georgia (14.28%)
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.
Poverty in the Northern Territory - the Facts The Northern Territory has the deepest rates of poverty in Australia. The deepest poverty levels in Australia are found in the NT, where nearly 45 per cent of all Aboriginal households are living below the poverty line.
Western Australia tops economic rankings as NT surges: CommSec State of the States. Queensland climbs to second as South Australia, Northern Territory show strongest momentum. Western Australia (WA) leads overall for the fifth consecutive quarter, topping four indicators.
South Sudan is widely considered the poorest country in the world in 2025-2026, consistently ranking first due to extremely low GDP per capita and a high percentage (over 80%) of its population living in extreme poverty, driven by prolonged civil conflict, displacement, and disruption of its agricultural economy. Other nations frequently cited as among the poorest include Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Yemen, also suffering from conflict and instability.
Firstly, the unhappiest city in Australia is Darwin. About 23. 4% of the population here is experiencing anxiety.
Poverty rates were highest in non-urban areas in the smallest States and Territories, including 52,000 people outside the capital in Tasmania, 57,000 people outside the capital in South Australia, and 28,000 people in the Northern Territory.
1. Sydney, Australia. Sydney, often known as Australia's financial hub, consistently tops the list of the wealthiest cities in the region.
🇺🇸 GDP of U.S. states ranked in 2023 🇺🇸 1️⃣ California - $3.5 trillion 2️⃣ Texas - $2.1 trillion 3️⃣ New York - $1.9 trillion 4️⃣ Florida - $1.3 trillion 5️⃣ Illinois - $973 billion 6️⃣ Pennsylvania - $874 billion 7️⃣ Ohio - $765 billion 8️⃣ Georgia - $713 billion 9️⃣ New Jersey - $700 billion 1️⃣0️⃣ Washington - $696 ...
In contrast, states such as Mississippi and West Virginia are typically recognized as having lower median incomes, which can result in more affordable housing options but may also reflect limited economic opportunities.
Tennant Creek is consistently ranked as one of the most disadvantaged and dangerous towns in Australia. In 2017, the estimated homicide rate in Tennant Creek per 100,000 people was 59.6, which was over 11 times as high as the same statistic for the United States as a whole.
Victoria currently has the highest total state debt in Australia in nominal terms, with projections showing it surpassing $194 billion, making it the most indebted state by absolute value and per capita, though the Northern Territory has the highest debt per person when population size is considered. Debt levels in Victoria are driven by significant infrastructure spending and past pandemic-related costs, leading to concerns about its financial position.
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
What are the poorest suburbs in Australia? According to the ATO's latest figures, the lowest-earning suburbs in Australia are Callaghan and Newcastle University, which are located in the city of Newcastle in New South Wales. See the full list of postcodes below.
While specific data varies by report, Sydney generally has the highest total number of people experiencing homelessness, particularly in its inner-city and surrounding suburbs like Canterbury, Strathfield, and Fairfield, though Brisbane and the Northern Territory (like East Arnhem) also show very high rates relative to their populations. Homelessness is concentrated in major cities but also prevalent in outer suburbs, driven by housing affordability issues.
A low income in Australia varies, but generally involves earning below the median (around $1,425/week in Aug 2025) or below specific government thresholds, like the $948/week ($24,95/hr) National Minimum Wage (as of July 2025) for full-time work, with lower thresholds applying for benefits like the Low Income Health Care Card (around $800/week for singles). For tax purposes, incomes under $37,500-$45,000 might qualify for offsets, while affordable housing eligibility depends heavily on household size, with singles needing under $52,100 annually for low-cost options.
While several towns vie for the title, Picton (NSW) and Kapunda (SA) are frequently cited as Australia's spookiest, with Picton known for its haunted Mushroom Tunnel and Kapunda for its notorious North Kapunda Hotel and mining history, both featuring numerous ghost stories and paranormal claims. Other contenders include Beechworth (VIC) for its asylum and gaol, and eerie spots like Tasmania's Queenstown, noted for its unsettling atmosphere.
Chewing open-mouthed (including chewing gum), slurping loudly, burping and talking with a full mouth are considered very rude. If you do any of these things accidentally, say "pardon me" or "excuse me." It is considered bad manners to pick one's teeth with the fingers or a toothpick in public.
The survey declared that Bendigo is Australia's swearing capital with an average of 21 swears per day, tut tut, followed by Toowoomba (18) and the Gold Coast (17). As usual, we were beaten by bloody Newcastle with 16 daily naughty words, along with Brisbane and Rockhampton.
The richest country by GDP (PPP) per capita is often cited as Singapore, followed closely by Luxembourg, depending on the specific report and year, with Singapore leading in 2025 estimates with around $156,000-$157,000 per person, while Luxembourg is a strong contender just below that, highlighting small, finance-heavy economies as wealthiest per person.