People are leaving Australia primarily due to the severe cost of living crisis, especially housing affordability (high rents/prices) and stagnant wages, making home ownership and financial stability difficult, particularly for young people. Other reasons include a desire for better work-life balance, concerns about high taxes, perceived lack of opportunities in some regions, and a feeling that the country's overall system or direction no longer serves them, leading to searches for a simpler life or better prospects elsewhere.
The Exit Generation. A survey of Australians aged 18–35 by Home in Place has revealed the rise of The Exit Generation – young people locked out of home ownership, delaying families and independence, and increasingly considering leaving Australia altogether in search of affordable housing.
Australia's largest terrestrial predator is the Dingo, a native canine that acts as an apex predator, managing herbivore populations and benefiting ecosystem health, though the marine saltwater crocodile is the continent's largest overall reptile predator, while the extinct Thylacoleo carnifex (marsupial lion) was Australia's largest-ever mammalian predator.
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.
Cons:
The top 10 issues Australians say are the most concerning
Yes. Australia offers excellent education, safe communities, and a strong emphasis on outdoor living. Families enjoy access to parks, sports facilities, and cultural opportunities, making it an ideal environment to raise children.
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.
Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
Storms and floods are frequent in Australia even in urban areas. Pay attention to the Australian Bureau of Metrology warnings. A red warning mean that you need to be prepared for evacuation. Avoid driving in flood warning areas.
A horse. Between 2001 and 2021, horses were responsible for 222 deaths across Australia — nearly one-third of all animal-related fatalities, according to the National Coronial Information System (NCIS). Most of these incidents involved falls during riding or handling, not aggression. The surprises don't stop there.
Understanding Australia's Megafauna
Australia was once home to a diverse range of large animals, known as megafauna. These included giant marsupials, enormous reptiles, and massive flightless birds. Some notable examples were: Procoptodon goliah: A giant kangaroo.
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.
Stopping immigration in Australia would cause severe negative economic impacts, including significant labor and skills shortages (especially in healthcare, aged care, and trades), slower economic growth, reduced government revenue, a rapidly aging population, and negative effects on sectors like education and tourism, ultimately worsening public service pressures and potentially increasing housing costs despite initial theories otherwise. While some hoped for housing relief, most analysis suggests it would hurt the overall economy and budget.
Yes, $100k is generally considered a strong salary in Australia, placing you above the average (which hovers around $90k-$108k for full-time, but median is lower) and allowing for a comfortable life, though its impact depends heavily on location (major city vs. regional) and personal expenses like housing and dependents, as high living costs in cities like Sydney can stretch this income further than in regional areas.
Finland is the world's happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report, offering retirees (and others) peace, safety, and balance. You can collect U.S. Social Security benefits while living in Finland.
Our round-up of the best countries to live in the world
Australia has a high standard of living supported by an educated workforce and a high level of innovation. The quality of education, healthcare, transport, infrastructure and government services in Australia are all above international averages.
Cons of Living in Australia
Finance experts believe that Australia is well on its way to being cashless, and that the change could come as soon as 2030.
However, life expectancy at birth will be almost 90 by then. Australia will be bigger, older, denser and even more multicultural in 20 years time! Some 'Aussie Dreams' will have disappeared such as the 'quarter acre block' and along with it the Hills Hoist garden shed and enough space for a game of backyard cricket.
The top 10 highest-paying professions in Australia for 2025
The World Happiness Report ranked Australia 11th and New Zealand 12th in the world, lagging behind Israel, Mexico and Nordic countries. Believing in the kindness of others is more closely tied to happiness than previously thought, according to the latest findings.
Yes, Australia has a universal healthcare system called Medicare, which provides free or low-cost access to most essential health and hospital services for citizens and permanent residents, funded by a tax (the Medicare levy). While basic public hospital care and doctor visits are largely covered, services like dental, ambulance, and some optical care aren't included, requiring private insurance for full coverage.