World Jul 19, 2026 · 1 min read

Australia’s life dissatisfaction levels double as ‘wellbeing poverty’ reaches new highs

ABS data show one in 10 people are not satisfied with life – but community cohesion and trust lift happiness scoresGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNearly 2.2 million Australians 15 years and older are living below the wellbeing poverty line, with the share of people report...

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The Guardian
by Patrick Commins Economics editor
Australia’s life dissatisfaction levels double as ‘wellbeing poverty’ reaches new highs

ABS data show one in 10 people are not satisfied with life – but community cohesion and trust lift happiness scores

Nearly 2.2 million Australians 15 years and older are living below the wellbeing poverty line, with the share of people reporting very low life satisfaction doubling over the past decade.

In 2025, 9.7%, or about one in 10 Australians, rated their general satisfaction with life at four or below out of 10, according to Guardian Australia’s analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’s (ABS) general social survey.

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This article was originally published by The Guardian and written by Patrick Commins Economics editor.

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