There isn't one single "most Australian" state, as it depends on what defines "Australian" (population, culture, iconic symbols), but New South Wales (NSW) is often considered the heart due to Sydney's iconic status and being the most populous, while the Northern Territory (NT) offers the quintessential "outback" and Aboriginal culture, and Queensland represents tropical landscapes and large regional areas, each embodying different facets of Australia.
The state with the highest number of Australians is California, with 20,226 residents identifying as Australian. However, in terms of percentage of the population, the top three states are Utah (0.0748%), Washington (0.0628%), and Nevada (0.0584%).
Australia is one of the most urbanised nations, with 90 percent of the population living in just 0.22 per cent of the country's land area and 87 percent living within 50 kilometres of the coast.
Western Australia (WA) is generally considered Australia's richest state, consistently topping economic performance rankings due to its strong mining sector, high exports (especially iron ore), and significant economic growth, leading in metrics like Gross State Product (GSP) per capita and overall economic strength.
10 wealthiest states in the U.S.
It's official! Adelaide is the happiest city in Australia, and one of the happiest in the world! 🙌 We ranked #29 globally in the Happy City Index across six categories - environment, economy, mobility, citizen wellbeing, health and governance.
Yes, $100k (AUD) is generally a very good salary in Australia, placing you above the median income and offering financial stability, though it's becoming tighter in expensive cities like Sydney due to high living costs and housing prices, making lifestyle comfort dependent on location and dependents. While it's a strong income, it's closer to the median ($90k) than the high-earning average ($108k), meaning it provides comfort but not necessarily luxury, especially with rising costs.
Western Australia (WA) is consistently the fastest-growing state in Australia, leading in population growth due to strong net overseas and interstate migration, with recent data showing it added the most people and had the highest growth rate among states, surpassing 3 million people in 2024. Other growing areas include Victoria and Queensland, driven by migration, while the Northern Territory also shows recent growth.
Sydney is generally considered Australia's richest city, often topping lists for high-net-worth individuals, property values, and its strong financial sector, though Melbourne consistently ranks close behind, with both cities featuring in global wealth reports alongside Perth and Brisbane. Sydney leads in overall wealth indicators and is Australia's financial hub, while expensive suburbs are found across these major cities, including some in Western Australia and Victoria.
NSW has the highest population of any state in Australia, with 8,153,000 residents as of 30 June 2022. Nearly a third of all Australians live in NSW, with most living in the Greater Sydney region.
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.
While preferences change from time to time, most American expats live and work in Sydney, Melbourne, and areas near the Gold Coast.
New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria provide greater business, financial, and information technology opportunities. Western Australia (WA) and Queensland (QLD) excel in mining, engineering, and healthcare. South Australia (SA) is becoming more welcoming to skilled migrants through its regional migration streams.
High-paying jobs in Australia without a degree often involve skilled trades (electrician, plumber), technology (ethical hacker, ICT Manager), management (Construction Manager, HR Manager, Sales Manager), and specialized roles (Air Traffic Controller, Pilot, Drillers/Miners), relying on certificates, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training for high earning potential.
How to avoid paying higher-rate tax
A single adult earning less than $80,000 per year cannot afford to live comfortably in a single U.S. state, a new report found. The report, released by SmartAsset on June 4, also revealed that families of four must earn more than $200,000 to live comfortably in nearly every state.
There's no single "most beautiful" town, but Richmond, Tasmania, often tops lists for its historic Georgian architecture and colonial bridge, while Noosa, Queensland, and Byron Bay, NSW, are famous for stunning beaches and vibrant vibes, and coastal towns like Esperance, WA, and Port Fairy, VIC, are celebrated for breathtaking natural beauty, making your choice depend on whether you prefer history, coast, or countryside charm**.
Low crime rates for your peace of mind
Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100.
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.
As of 2024, there are 756 billionaires living in 43 of the 50 US states or Washington, D.C. The only states with no billionaire residents are Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and West Virginia.
1. Mississippi: Poverty rate – 19.5% 2. Louisiana: Poverty rate – 17.9% 3. West Virginia: Poverty rate – 16.8% 4.
In terms of mean wealth, the average Australian adult had US$550,110 in 2021 after seeing an annual increase of US$66,350 in their net worth. This put Australia at number four in the world, after Switzerland, the United States and Hong Kong.