Around half of Australian workers (50%) live paycheck to paycheck, according to a 2025 ADP report, while other surveys suggest figures from 30% to over 50%, depending on definitions and focus, with many struggling with debt, high living costs, and lack of emergency savings, impacting nearly two-thirds of the population to some degree, notes this 9News article.
In fact, 29% of lower-income households are living paycheck to paycheck, up from 28.6% in 2024 and 27.1% in 2023 (Exhibit 3).
While exact real-time figures vary, recent analyses suggest hundreds of thousands of Australians hold over $1 million in superannuation, though it's a minority, with estimates from around 2021 pointing to over 400,000 people, a number that has grown significantly due to investment returns, though many still don't reach this milestone. About 2.5% of the population held >$1 million in super as of mid-2021 (around 417,000 people), with forecasts indicating a larger number, while projections suggest over 10% of women and 15% of men retiring by 2060 could reach this goal, and recent studies highlight that a large majority (around 94%) of retirees don't hit $1 million.
Their median annual personal income [1] is over $20,000 higher. Nevertheless, more than one-third (36%) of credit card holders leave credit card debt unpaid at the end of each month. This equates to an estimated 2,440,000 Australians, or 11% of the Australian adult population.
A new survey found 43 per cent of Australians have less than $1000 in their bank account, putting them just inches away from breaking point. Of those with less than a grand in savings, the average account balance was $215 which is the average weekly grocery bill for NSW households according to Finder.
Yes, $600,000 can be enough to retire at 60 in Australia for many, especially if you're a single person aiming for a comfortable lifestyle, but it depends heavily on your spending, assets, and eligibility for the Age Pension. While some sources suggest $600k covers a single's comfortable retirement (around $52k-$53k/year), it's near the lower end, and couples might need closer to $700k for a similar standard, making financial planning crucial for a stress-free retirement.
This ongoing situation of living paycheck to paycheck continues to impact many lives. A separate survey underscores this, finding that 48.4% of Australians either live paycheck to paycheck or save less than 10% of their income, while one in three have recently missed a bill or credit payment [2].
The average age to pay off a mortgage in Australia has risen significantly, with estimates placing it between 60 and 65, often extending into retirement, up from around 52 in the 1980s, due to higher house prices and later first-home purchases, with many Australians now facing debt into their 60s and even 70s, making debt-free retirement a challenge.
Australians have an average of $42,246 in savings, with Boomers leading the way with an average savings of $56,300.
A wealthy retiree in Australia is generally someone with substantial assets, often defined as having over $1 million in investable assets (excluding the family home) or a total net worth exceeding that, allowing for a very comfortable lifestyle well above basic needs, potentially generating $150,000+ annual income, though "wealthy" is relative, with many considering >$1M or a significant super balance as rich.
The top ten financial mistakes most people make after retirement are:
The short answer: to retire on $80,000 a year in Australia, you'll need a super balance of roughly between $700,000 and $1.4 million. It's a broad range, and that's because everyone's circumstances are different.
According to Goldman Sachs' “Retirement Survey & Insights Report 2025,” 42% of Gen Z and millennial workers said they are living paycheck to paycheck. The report, based on a July 2025 survey of 5,102 individuals across generations, found that 58% of respondents expect to outlive their savings.
Financial stress and inflation
While living paycheck to paycheck may signify someone in the working poor category, it also may refer to people living somewhat above the poverty level, as well as those who earn middle and high incomes. In addition, those living paycheck to paycheck are said to have limited skills and earn low wages.
The $27.40 rule is a daily savings strategy that helps you save $10,000 in a year by setting aside $27.40 every day. This strategy makes saving $10,000 in a year seem much more manageable and promotes saving as a daily habit.
A good goal is to be debt-free by retirement age, either 65 or earlier if you want. If you have other goals, such as taking a sabbatical or starting a business, you should make sure that your debt isn't going to hold you back.
Yes, $600,000 can be enough to retire at 60 in Australia for many, especially if you're a single person aiming for a comfortable lifestyle, but it depends heavily on your spending, assets, and eligibility for the Age Pension. While some sources suggest $600k covers a single's comfortable retirement (around $52k-$53k/year), it's near the lower end, and couples might need closer to $700k for a similar standard, making financial planning crucial for a stress-free retirement.
But the rise in debt levels has been far more severe among older adults. For households headed by those aged 65 to 74, average debt has more than quadrupled over the last three decades, climbing from about $10,000 in 1992 to around $45,000 in 2022.
Imagine a $500,000 mortgage with a 30-year fixed interest rate of 5%. If you paid an extra $500 per month, you'd save around $153,000 over the full loan term and it would result in a full payoff after about 21 years and three months.
How much do Australians have saved? According to the Finder Consumer Sentiment Tracker data sourced between May and October 2023, the average Australian has $37,975 in savings. The numbers vary significantly between genders.
1 in 4 Americans who carry credit card balances currently owe $10,000 or more in credit card debt. Key insights from a survey of 1,447 Americans who have a credit card and do not pay their bills in full*:
Australia's 2022 tax-to-GDP ratio ranked it 29th¹ out of 38 OECD countries in terms of the tax- to-GDP ratio compared with the 2023 figures. In 2022 Australia had a tax-to-GDP ratio of 29.4%, compared with the OECD average of 33.9% in 2023 and 34.0% in 2022.