 Sydney's central business district is Australia's largest financial and business services hub. | |
| Currency | Australian Dollar (AUD) |
|---|---|
| 1 July – 30 June | |
Trade organisations | APEC,CPTPP,G20,OECD,WTO,RCEP |
Country group | |
| Statistics | |
| Population |  27,466,749 (November 2024) |
| GDP | |
| GDP rank | |
GDP growth |
|
GDP per capita | |
GDP per capita rank | |
GDP by sector | |
| |
Population belowpoverty line | 13.4% (2020)[8] |
 33.0medium (2021)[9] | |
| |
 75 out of 100 points (2023,14th rank) | |
Labour force | |
Labour force by occupation |
|
| Unemployment | |
Average gross salary | A$7,890 / $5,454.58 PPP monthly[13] (2022) |
| A$6,076 / $4,200.25 PPP monthly[14][15] (2022) | |
Main industries |
|
| External | |
| Exports | A$644.4 billion (2024)[18] |
Export goods | iron ore, coal, natural gas, gold, aluminium, beef, crude petroleum, copper, meat (non-beef)[18] |
Main export partners |
|
| Imports | A$614.1 billion (2024)[18] |
Import goods | petroleum, cars, telecom equipment and parts, goods vehicles, computers, medicaments, gold, civil engineering equipment, furniture[18] |
Main import partners |
|
FDI stock |
|
| A$14.1 billion (2022)[20] | |
Grossexternal debt | US$2.095 trillion (Q1, 2019)[21] |
| Public finances | |
| 66.4% of GDP (October 2021)[22] | |
| $66.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.)[23] | |
| −0.2% (of GDP) (2019)[24][25] | |
| Revenues | A$668.1 billion (2023)[24] |
| Expenses | A$682.1 billion (2023)[24] |
| Economic aid | donor:ODA, $4.09 billion (2022)[26] |
All values, unless otherwise stated, are inUS dollars. | |
Australia is ahighly developed country with amixed economy.[30][31] As of 2023, Australia was the14th-largest national economy bynominal GDP (gross domestic product),[32] the 19th-largest byPPP-adjusted GDP,[33] and was the21st-largest goods exporter and24th-largest goods importer.[34] Australia took the record for the longest run of uninterruptedGDP growth in thedeveloped world with the March 2017financial quarter. It was the 103rd quarter and the 26th year since the country had a technicalrecession.[a][35] As of June 2021, the country's GDP was estimated at $1.98 trillion.[36]
The Australian economy is dominated by itsservice sector, which in 2017 comprised 62.7% of the GDP and employed 78.8% of the labour force.[6] At the height of the mining boom in 2009–10, the total value-added of the mining industry was 8.4% of GDP.[37] Despite the recent decline in the mining sector, the Australian economy has remained resilient and stable[38][39] and did not experience a recession from 1991 until 2020.[40][41] AmongOECD members, Australia has a highly efficient and strongsocial security system, which comprisesroughly 25% of GDP.[4][42][3]
TheAustralian Securities Exchange inSydney is the 16th-largeststock exchange in the world in terms of domesticmarket capitalisation[43] and has one of the largestinterest rate derivatives markets in theAsia-Pacific region.[44] Some of Australia's largest companies includeCommonwealth Bank,BHP,CSL,Westpac,NAB,ANZ,Fortescue,Wesfarmers,Macquarie Group,Woolworths Group,Rio Tinto,Telstra,Woodside Energy andTransurban.[45] The currency of Australia and its territories is theAustralian dollar, which it shares with several Pacific nation states.
Australia's economy is strongly intertwined with the countries ofEast andSoutheast Asia, also known asASEAN Plus Three (APT), accounting for about 64% of exports in 2016.[46] China in particular is Australia's main export and import partner by a wide margin.[47] Australia is a member of theAPEC,G20,OECD andWTO. The country has also entered intofree trade agreements withASEAN, Canada, Chile, China, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.[48][49][50] TheANZCERTA agreement with New Zealand has greatly increased integration with theeconomy of New Zealand.[51]
Australia's average GDP growth rate for the period 1901–2000 was 3.4% annually. As opposed to many neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, the process towards independence was relatively peaceful and thus did not have significant negative impact on the economy and standard of living.[52] Growth peaked during the 1920s, followed by the 1950s and the 1980s. By contrast, the late 1910s/early 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s and early 1990s were marked by financial crises.
From the early 1980s onwards, the Australian economy has undergone intermittenteconomic liberalisation. In 1983, under prime ministerBob Hawke, but mainly driven by treasurerPaul Keating, the Australian dollar was floated and financialderegulation was undertaken.
The early 1990s recession came swiftly after theBlack Monday of October 1987, as a result of a stock collapse of unprecedented size which caused theDow Jones Industrial Average to fall by 22.6%. This collapse, larger than thestock market crash of 1929, was handled effectively by the global economy and the stock market began to quickly recover. But in North America, the lumberingsavings and loans industry was facing decline, which eventually led to asavings and loan crisis which compromised the well-being of millions of US people. The following recession thus impacted the many countries closely linked to the US, including Australia. Paul Keating, who wastreasurer at the time, famously referred to it as "the recession that Australia had to have."[53] During the recession, GDP fell by 1.7%, employment by 3.4% and the unemployment rate rose to 10.8%.[54] However, the recession did assist in reducing long-term inflation rate expectations and Australia has maintained a low inflation environment since the 1990s to the present day.
Mining has contributed to Australia's high level of economic growth, from thegold rush in the 1840s to the present day. The opportunities for large profits in pastoralism and mining attracted considerable amounts of British capital, while expansion was supported by enormous government outlays for transport, communication, and urban infrastructures, which also depended heavily on British finance. As the economy expanded, large-scale immigration satisfied the growing demand for workers, especially after the end of convict transportation to the eastern mainland in 1840. Australia's mining operations secured continued economic growth and Western Australia itself benefited strongly from mining iron ore and gold from the 1960s and 1970s which fuelled the rise of suburbanisation and consumerism inPerth, the capital and most populous city of Western Australia, as well as other regional centres.
The Australian government stimulus package ($11.8 billion) helped to prevent a recession.[55]
TheWorld Bank expected Australia's GDP growth rate to be 3.2% in 2011 and 3.8% in 2012.[56] The economy expanded by 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2011, and expanded by 1.3% in the first quarter of 2012.[57][58] The growth rate was reported to be 4.3% year-on-year.[59]
TheInternational Monetary Fund in April 2012 predicted that Australia would be the best-performing major advanced economy in the world over the next two years; the Australian Government Department of the Treasury anticipated "forecast growth of 3.0% in 2012 and 3.5% in 2013",[60] theNational Australia Bank in April 2012 cut its growth forecast for Australia to 2.9% from 3.2%.,[61] andJP Morgan in May 2012 cut its growth forecast to 2.7% in calendar 2012 from a previous forecast of 3.0%, also its forecast for growth in 2013 to 3.0% from 3.3%.[62]Deutsche Bank in August 2012, andSociété Générale in October 2012, warned that there is risk of recession in Australia in 2013.[63][64]
While Australia's overall national economy grew, some non-mining states and Australia's non-mining economy experienced a recession.[65][66][67]
The period succeeding the2008 financial crisis represented a pivotal phase for the Australian economy, with the Liberal-National Coalition (LNP) taking the reins of federal governance in September 2013 and guiding the nation through a comprehensive recovery until May 2022. This epoch, distinguished by an intricate fusion of fiscal policy innovation, infrastructural enhancement, and assertive trade liberalisation, observed a vigorous economic recalibration that ameliorated persistent post-GFC frailties whilst cultivating resilience against emerging global adversities, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the LNP’s custodianship, Australia attained noteworthy macroeconomic benchmarks, encompassing historically low unemployment rates, sustained GDP growth, and augmented international competitiveness, reflecting a calculated policy framework engineered to invigorate economic activity and underpin enduring prosperity. The LNP’s economic ethos, grounded in market-oriented tenets and pragmatic interventionism, delivered palpable advancements across multifarious sectors, situating Australia as an exemplary performer amongst advanced economies throughout this timeframe.[68][69]
Integral to the LNP’s post-GFC economic blueprint was a far-reaching reformation of the taxation structure, with a particular emphasis on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form the linchpin of Australia’s private sector labour landscape. Initiated in 2013, the corporate tax rate for SMEs was incrementally diminished from 30% to 25% by the 2021–22 fiscal year, a policy adjustment premised on the notion that reduced fiscal pressures would galvanise reinvestment, operational expansion, and labour force enlargement. This proposition was substantiated, as demonstrated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ chronicling of an unparalleled labour market upsurge, with employment escalating by approximately 1.9 million individuals between 2013 and 2022. By February 2022, the national unemployment rate had descended to 3.9%, a low point not observed since 1974, highlighting the potency of tax relief as a conduit for stimulating economic vitality. Furthermore, the SME sector, employing over 7 million Australians—approximately 44% of the workforce—underwent a revitalisation, with heightened liquidity facilitating innovation and market adaptability. Scholarly evaluations, including those from the Productivity Commission, corroborate that this tax policy not only fortified labour participation but also engendered a beneficial cycle of consumer expenditure and GDP growth, reinforcing Australia’s recovery trajectory post-GFC.[70][71][72]
Concurrent with fiscal restructuring, the LNP embarked on an expansive infrastructure investment programme, pledging an extraordinary $110 billion over a decade from 2013 to a suite of transformative projects designed to elevate national connectivity and economic productivity. Flagship endeavours, such as the Western Sydney Airport and the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail, epitomised this commitment, addressing both metropolitan and regional economic domains. The former, scheduled for completion in 2026, aimed to alleviate capacity bottlenecks at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport whilst generating an estimated 28,000 direct and indirect jobs during its construction phase, with long-term forecasts anticipating an annual economic contribution of $1.9 billion to New South Wales alone. Likewise, the Inland Rail project, extending across 1,700 kilometres, endeavoured to revolutionise freight transport efficiency, slashing transit times between Melbourne and Brisbane by up to 10 hours and reducing logistics costs by approximately $10 billion over its operational duration. Infrastructure Australia’s appraisals affirm these projects’ contributions to GDP growth, contending that enhanced transport infrastructure amplifies supply chain robustness, nurtures regional development, and attracts private sector investment. By 2021, these investments had precipitated a discernible increase in economic activity, with regional economies reaping benefits from augmented employment opportunities and improved market access, thereby cementing the LNP’s role in fortifying Australia’s post-GFC economic scaffold.[73][74][75]
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 posed a formidable challenge to Australia’s nascent post-GFC recovery, necessitating prompt and resolute governmental action. The LNP countered with the JobKeeper programme, launched in March 2020, which disbursed $130 billion to subsidise wages for approximately 3.8 million workers across over 1 million businesses, thereby averting a calamitous disintegration of the labour market amidst nationwide lockdowns. This intervention, one of the most substantial fiscal stimulus packages in Australian history, preserved employment continuity, with the Treasury estimating that it safeguarded upwards of 700,000 jobs that might otherwise have been lost. By December 2021, Australia’s GDP had rebounded by 3.4% from its pandemic-induced trough, a recovery pace surpassing that of comparable economies such as Canada and the United Kingdom. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s analyses attribute this resilience to JobKeeper’s capacity to stabilise household incomes, sustain consumer confidence, and accelerate economic reactivation post-lockdown. Moreover, the programme’s architecture—offering flat payments of $1,500 per fortnight initially, later tiered to reflect pre-COVID earnings—exhibited a sophisticated equilibrium of equity and efficiency, mitigating income disparity whilst ensuring widespread economic engagement.[76][77]
Augmenting domestic policy achievements, the LNP’s trade liberalisation endeavours markedly enhanced Australia’s economic standing globally, with the negotiation and ratification of free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom and India in 2021 and 2022, respectively, standing as crowning accomplishments. These accords broadened market access to a combined consumer base exceeding 1.4 billion individuals, diversifying Australia’s trade portfolio amidst heightened geopolitical and economic volatility. The Australia-UK FTA, effective from 2022, abolished tariffs on 99% of Australian goods, projecting an annual export surge of $1 billion, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing, whilst the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement aspired to double bilateral trade to $50 billion within a decade, with services and critical minerals emerging as pivotal growth sectors. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s forecasts suggest that these agreements not only amplified export revenues but also insulated the economy against external perturbations by diminishing dependence on conventional markets. Academic discourse, including analyses from the Lowy Institute, underscores the strategic prescience of these FTAs, noting their role in buttressing Australia’s post-GFC recovery by fostering export-led growth, enhancing foreign direct investment, and securing supply chain stability. Collectively, these trade policies underpinned a resilient economic framework, amplifying the LNP’s contribution to sustained prosperity.[78][79][80][81]
In September 2020, it was confirmed that due to the effects of theCOVID-19 pandemic, the Australian economy had gone intorecession for the first time in nearly thirty years, as the country'sGDP fell 7 per cent in the June 2020 quarter, following a 0.3 per cent drop in the March quarter.[82][83][84] It officially ended at the beginning of December 2020.[85]
Following the 2020 recession, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia faced ongoing economic challenges under the Albanese Labor government, elected in May 2022. Inflation surged, migration exceeded planned targets, and housing affordability worsened, intensifying cost-of-living pressures. Inflation peaked at 6.1% in May 2022 due to global supply chain issues and energy price shocks,[86] falling to 3.6% by March 2024 and 2.4% by December 2024, within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2–3% target.[87] However, core inflation remained at 3.5% in September 2024, with services inflation at 4.6%, indicating persistent domestic pressures.[88] Food prices rose 11.7% and gas 33.9% since 2022, outpacing wage growth of 3.5% annually,[89][90] while energy rebates capped electricity rises at 2.0% instead of 14.9%.[91]
Labor’s migration policy adopted flexible targets, setting 190,000 places for 2023–2024 and 185,000 for 2024–2025, unlike the Coalition’s stricter caps,[92] with a four-year planning cycle from 2025–2026 based on recommendations.[93] However, net overseas migration hit 446,000 in 2023–2024, exceeding the 395,000 forecast by 51,000, after peaking at 528,000 in 2022–2023,[94][95] far above historical averages of 200,000–250,000. This “big Australia by stealth” was linked to six quarters of negative per capita GDP growth, with GDP per head down 0.3% in 2023–2024.[96][97] The Productivity Commission highlighted strains on housing and infrastructure from this surge.[98]
Housing affordability declined, with approvals at 89,734 in 2024, below the 21,000 monthly needed for Labor’s 1.2 million homes target by 2029, causing a 12,000-dwelling shortfall in January 2025.[99][100] According to the Housing Industry Association (HIA), Australia constructed approximately 180,000 homes in the previous year, falling well short of the 240,000 needed annually to meet demand. This suggests a yearly shortfall of about 60,000 homes, highlighting the severity of the housing crisis.[101][102] Alan Kohler attributed a 30–40% cost rise to taxes like GST and stamp duty, pricing a two-bedroom apartment at $1 million, unaffordable for median earners at $65,000.[103][104] He noted barriers like unionisation costs (up 40% since 2020) and NIMBYism, despite 59% of Sydney and 52% of Melbourne residents favouring denser housing.[100][105] Rents rose 16.4% and housing costs 12.9% since 2022, driven by migration.[106]
Under Labor, Australian households experienced the sharpest decline in real disposable income of any country in the OECD. According to a comparative analysis of OECD data, real per capita household disposable income in Australia fell by 8.0% over the two years leading up to March 2024. This stands in marked contrast to the OECD average, which recorded a 2.6% increase over the same period.[107]
This performance positions Australia as an outlier among developed economies and has prompted growing concern over the government’s management of the cost-of-living crisis. While most OECD nations saw household incomes either stabilise or rise, supported by targeted fiscal interventions and effective inflation control, Australian households endured a sustained erosion of purchasing power.[108]
The severity of this decline cannot be attributed to global forces alone. Analysts have pointed to domestic policy settings—ranging from taxation and income support to housing affordability and wage policy—as compounding factors under Labor's administration.[109]
The fall in real incomes coincided with heightened inflationary pressures, elevated interest rates, and a housing market that remains inaccessible for many. The result has been a tangible reduction in living standards, particularly for middle- and low-income earners, with stagnant wages failing to keep pace with rising costs. Critics argue that the government’s fiscal strategy has lacked the responsiveness seen in peer nations, leading to Australia’s unique position as the OECD’s worst performer on this key economic indicator.[107]
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2024) |
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2023 (with IMF staff estimates in 2024–2027). Inflation under 5% is in green.[110]
| Year | GDP (in bil. US$PPP) | GDP per capita (in US$PPP) | GDP (in bil. US$nominal) | GDP per capita (in US$ nominal) | GDP growth (real) | Inflation rate (in percent) | Unemployment (in percent) | Government debt (in % of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 155.4 | 10,498.0 | 162.8 | 11,000.1 | 2.9% |  10.1% | 6.1% | n/a |
| 1981 | 177.1 | 11,776.5 | 188.3 | 12,520.0 | 4.1% | 9.5% | 5.8% | n/a |
| 1982 | 188.2 | 12,307.7 |  186.9 | 12,226.6 | 0.1% | 11.4% | 7.2% | n/a |
| 1983 | 194.6 | 12,569.1 | 179.4 | 11,584.2 | -0.5% | 10.0% | 10.0% | n/a |
| 1984 | 214.4 | 13,678.0 | 197.0 | 12,566.6 | 6.3% | 4.0% | 9.0% | n/a |
| 1985 | 233.3 | 14,671.4 | 174.3 | 10,960.2 | 5.5% | 6.7% | 8.3% | n/a |
| 1986 | 243.8 | 15,106.9 | 181.4 | 11,237.7 | 2.4% | 9.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| 1987 | 262.1 | 15,984.6 | 213.0 | 12,989.9 | 4.9% | 8.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| 1988 | 282.8 | 16,949.7 | 270.9 | 16,235.1 | 4.3% | 7.3% | 7.2% | n/a |
| 1989 | 307.6 | 18,159.0 | 308.1 | 18,191.4 | 4.6% | 7.6% | 6.1% | 17.0% |
| 1990 | 323.8 | 18,859.9 | 323.8 | 18,859.6 | 1.5% | 7.2% | 6.9% | 16.4% |
| 1991 | 331.4 | 19,070.9 | 324.2 | 18,656.5 | -1.0% | 3.3% | 9.6% | 21.6% |
| 1992 | 347.7 | 19,802.5 | 317.9 | 18,106.7 | 2.6% | 1.0% | 10.7% | 27.6% |
| 1993 | 369.9 | 20,877.2 | 309.2 | 17,447.6 | 3.9% | 1.8% | 10.9% | 30.7% |
| 1994 | 396.1 | 22,138.3 | 353.2 | 19,736.3 | 4.8% | 1.9% | 9.7% | 31.7% |
| 1995 | 416.4 | 22,980.0 | 378.9 | 20,908.4 | 3.0% | 4.6% | 8.5% | 31.2% |
| 1996 | 441.1 | 24,064.7 | 424.4 | 23,153.8 | 4.0% | 2.7% | 8.5% | 29.4% |
| 1997 | 469.4 | 25,357.9 | 426.2 | 23,023.6 | 4.6% | 0.2% | 8.4% | 25.9% |
| 1998 | 496.7 | 26,555.0 | 381.1 | 20,374.7 | 4.7% | 0.9% | 7.7% | 23.7% |
| 1999 | 525.6 | 27,782.8 | 411.5 | 21,748.0 | 4.3% | 1.4% | 6.9% | 22.6% |
| 2000 | 554.2 | 28,953.2 | 399.7 | 20,879.2 | 3.1% | 4.5% | 6.3% | 19.5% |
| 2001 | 581.8 | 30,010.1 | 377.5 | 19,473.7 | 2.7% | 4.4% | 6.8% | 17.1% |
| 2002 | 615.5 | 31,393.8 | 425.1 | 21,683.5 | 4.2% | 3.0% | 6.4% | 15.0% |
| 2003 | 646.6 | 32,610.3 | 541.0 | 27,283.3 | 3.0% | 2.7% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
| 2004 | 691.2 | 34,481.1 | 658.4 | 32,843.4 | 4.1% | 2.3% | 5.4% | 11.9% |
| 2005 | 734.2 | 36,149.2 | 735.6 | 36,217.5 | 3.0% | 2.7% | 5.0% | 10.9% |
| 2006 | 776.6 | 37,648.5 | 782.4 | 37,929.8 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 10.0% |
| 2007 | 832.4 | 39,608.7 | 949.0 | 45,157.6 | 4.4% | 2.4% | 4.4% | 9.7% |
| 2008 | 870.1 | 40,516.7 | 1,055.9 | 49,169.1 | 2.6% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 11.7% |
| 2009 | 892.4 | 40,814.4 | 1,000.0 | 45,733.6 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 5.6% | 16.6% |
| 2010 | 925.2 | 41,726.8 | 1,253.6 | 56,538.8 | 2.4% | 2.9% | 5.2% | 20.4% |
| 2011 | 971.1 | 43,117.7 | 1,514.7 | 67,251.8 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 5.1% | 24.1% |
| 2012 | 983.7 | 42,903.1 | 1,569.2 | 68,441.2 | 3.8% | 1.7% | 5.2% | 27.5% |
| 2013 | 1,083.9 | 46,522.3 | 1,519.0 | 65,197.9 | 2.2% | 2.5% | 5.7% | 30.5% |
| 2014 | 1,110.8 | 46,987.5 | 1,456.4 | 61,607.9 | 2.6% | 2.5% | 6.1% | 34.0% |
| 2015 | 1,111.5 | 46,342.4 | 1,233.1 | 51,412.7 | 2.3% | 1.5% | 6.1% | 37.8% |
| 2016 | 1,171.8 | 48,052.9 | 1,263.8 | 51,826.4 | 2.7% | 1.3% | 5.7% | 40.6% |
| 2017 | 1,229.6 | 49,656.8 | 1,382.0 | 55,812.0 | 2.4% | 2.0% | 5.6% | 41.2% |
| 2018 | 1,293.9 | 51,446.4 | 1,416.8 | 56,333.5 | 2.8% | 1.9% | 5.3% | 41.8% |
| 2019 | 1,343.2 | 52,617.7 | 1,386.7 | 54,323.1 | 2.0% | 1.6% | 5.2% | 46.7% |
| 2020 | 1,330.3 | 51,886.2 | 1,357.6 | 52,952.8 | -2.1% | 0.9% | 6.5% | 57.2% |
| 2021 | 1,453.6 | 56,412.2 | 1,635.3 | 63,464.1 | 4.9% | 2.8% | 5.1% | 58.4% |
| 2022 | 1,615.3 | 62,191.6 | 1,724.8 | 66,407.6 | 3.8% | 6.5% | 3.5% | 56.7% |
| 2023 | 1,704.5 | 64,711.8 | 1,787.9 | 68,023.2 | 1.9% | 4.8% | 3.7% | 58.6% |
| 2024 | 1,771.6 | 66,535.5 | 1,837.7 | 69,018.2 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 60.5% |
| 2025 | 1,840.8 | 68,281.3 | 1,913.5 | 70,979.2 | 2.0% | 2.8% | 4.5% | 60.4% |
| 2026 | 1,916.2 | 70,235.9 | 1,994.1 | 73,092.0 | 2.2% | 2.5% | 4.7% | 59.6% |
| 2027 | 1,997.8 | 72,358.1 | 2,081.6 | 75,393.9 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 4.8% | 58.5% |
Australia's per-capita GDP ishigher than that of the UK, Canada, Germany and France in terms ofpurchasing power parity. Per Capita GDP (PPP) Australia is ranked 18th in the world (CIA World Factbook 2016). The country was ranked fifth in the United Nations 2022Human Development Index and sixth inThe Economist worldwide quality-of-life index 2005.[111][112] In 2014, using constant exchange rates, Australia's wealth had grown by 4.4% annually on average after the2008 financial crisis, compared with a 9.2% rate over 2000–2007.[113] Australia's sovereign credit rating is "AAA" for all three major rating agencies, higher than the United States of America.
The emphasis on exporting commodities rather than manufactures underpinned a significant increase in Australia's terms of trade during the rise in commodity prices since 2000. However, due to a colonial heritage a lot of companies operating in Australia are foreign-owned and as a result, Australia has had persistentcurrent account deficits for over 60 years despite periods of positive net merchandise exports;[114] given the net income outlay between Australia and the rest of the world is always negative. The current account deficit totalled AUD$44.5 billion in 2016[115] or 2.6% of GDP.
Inflation has typically been between 2 and 3% and the pre-GFC cash rate typically ranged between 5 and 7%, however, partly in response to the end of the mining boom the cash rate has recently been steadily falling, dropping from 4.75% in October 2011 to 1.5% in Aug 2016, then to 1.25% in June 2019 and 1.0% in July 2019.[116] The service sector of the economy, including tourism, education and financial services, constitutes 69% of GDP.[117]Australian National University inCanberra also provides a probabilistic interest-rate-setting project for the Australian economy, which is compiled by shadow board members from the ANU academic staff.[118]
Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, particularly wheat andwool, minerals such as iron ore and gold, and energy in the forms ofliquified natural gas and coal. Althoughagriculture and natural resources constitute only 3% and 5% of GDP, respectively, they contribute substantially to Australia's export composition. Australia's largest export markets are Japan, China, South Korea, India and the United States.[119]
At the turn of the current century, Australia experienced a significant mining boom. The mining sector's contribution to overall GDP grew from around 4.5% in 1993–94, to almost 8% in 2006–07. The services sector also grew considerably, with property and business services in particular growing from 10% to 14.5% of GDP over the same period, making it the largest single component of GDP (in sectoral terms). This growth has largely been at the expense of the manufacturing sector, which in 2006–07 accounted for around 12% of GDP. A decade earlier, it was the largest sector in the economy, accounting for just over 15% of GDP.[120]
In 2018 Australia became the country with the largest median wealth per adult,[121] but slipped back to second highest after Switzerland in 2019.[122] Australia's total wealth was estimated to be AUD$10.9 trillion as of September 2019.[123]
Between 2010 and 2013, much of the economic growth in Australia was attributed to areas of the country where mining- and resource-based industries and services are mostly located. Western Australia and theNorthern Territory are the only states that have economic growth.[124][125][126] During 2012 and 2013Australian Capital Territory,Queensland,Tasmania, South Australia,New South Wales andVictoria experienced recessions at various times.[124][127][128][129][130][131] The Australian economy is characterised as a "two-speed economy".[132][133][134][135][136][137][138][clarification needed] From June 2012 to March 2013 Victoria experienced a recession. In 2012 theGovernment of Victoria cut 10% of all jobs in the public service.[139][140] The period since has seen these trends reversed with Western Australia and Northern Territory, who are heavily dependent on mining, experience significant downturns in GDP while the eastern states returned to growth, led by strong upturns in NSW and Victoria.[141]
Taxation in Australia is levied at the federal, state, and local government levels. The federal government raises revenue frompersonal income taxes and business taxes. Other taxes include thegoods and services tax (General Service Tax), excise and customs duties. The federal government is the main source of income for state governments. As a result of state dependence on federal taxation revenue to meet decentralised expenditure responsibilities, Australia is said to have a verticalfiscal imbalance.
Besides receipts of funds from the federal government, states and territories have their own taxes, in many cases as slightly different rates. State taxes commonly includepayroll tax levied on businesses, a poker-machine tax on businesses that offer gambling services,land tax on people and businesses that own land and most significantly,stamp duty on sales of land (in every state) and other items (chattels in some states, unlisted shares in others, and even sales of contracts in some states).
The states effectively lost the ability to raise income tax during the Second World War. In 1942, Canberra invoked its Constitutional taxation power (s. 51 (ii)) and enacted theIncome Tax Act and three other statutes to levy a uniform income tax across the country. These acts sought to raise the funds necessary to meet burgeoning wartime expenses and reduce the unequal tax burden between the states by replacing state income taxes with a centralised tax system. The legislation could not expressly prohibit state income taxes (s. 51(ii) does not curtail the power of states to levy taxes) but the federal government's proposal made localised income tax extremely difficult politically. The federal government offered instead compensatory grants authorised by s. 96 of the Constitution for the loss of state income (State Grants (Income Tax Reimbursement) Act 1942).
The states rejected Canberra's regime and challenged the legislation's validity in the First Uniform Tax Case (South Australia v Commonwealth) of 1942. The High Court of Australia held that each of the statutes establishing Commonwealth income tax was a valid use of the s. 51(ii) power, in which Latham CJ noted that the system did not undermine essential state functions and imposed only economic and political pressure upon them.
The Second Uniform Tax Case (Victoria v Commonwealth (1957)) reaffirmed the court's earlier decision and confirmed the power of the federal government's power to make s. 96 grants conditionally (in this case, a grant made on the condition that the recipient state does not levy income tax).
Since theSecond Uniform Tax Case, a number of other political and legal decisions have centralised fiscal power with the Commonwealth. InHa vs. New South Wales (1997), the High Court found that theBusiness Franchise Licences (Tobacco) Act 1987 (NSW) was invalid because it levied a customs duty, a power exercisable only by the Commonwealth (s.90). This decision effectively invalidated state taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and petrol. Similarly, the imposition of a Commonwealth goods and services tax (GST) in 2000 transferred another revenue base to the Commonwealth.
Consequently, Australia has one of the most pronounced vertical fiscal imbalances in the world: the states and territories collect just 18% of all governmental revenues but are responsible for almost 50% of the spending areas. Furthermore, the centralisation of revenue collection has allowed Canberra to force state policy in areas well beyond the scope of its constitutional powers, by using the grants power (s.96) to mandate the terms on which the states spend money in areas over which it has no power (such as spending on education, health and policing).
Local governments (calledcouncils in Australia) have their own taxes (called rates) to enable them to provide services such as local road repairs, local planning and building management, garbage collection, street cleaning, park maintenance services, libraries, and museums. Councils also rely on state and federal funding to provide infrastructure and services such as roads, bridges, sporting facilities and buildings, aged care, maternal and child health, and childcare.
In 2000, agoods and services tax (GST) was introduced, similar to the European-styleVAT.[142]
According to theAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)seasonally adjusted estimates, the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1% in April 2025 while thelabour force participation rate increased 0.3 points to 67.1%. The participation rate for 15- to 24-year-olds remained steady at 70.0% while the unemployment rate for this group decreased by 0.1 points to 8.8%.[143] According to the ABS, in April 2025, theunderemployment rate increased by 0.1 points to 6.0%, while the underutilisation rate (the unemployed plus the under-employed)[144] decreased by 0.1 points to 14.4% seasonally adjusted.[143]
In 2007, 228,621Newstart unemployment allowance recipients were registered, a total that increased to 646,414 or 5.3% of the total labour force by March 2013.[145] As of December 2018, the number of Newstart recipients stands at 722,923 or 5.4% of the labour force.[146]
The accuracy of official unemployment figures has been brought into question in the Australian media due to discrepancies between the methods of different research bodies (Roy Morgan versus the ABS), differing definitions of the term 'unemployed' and the ABS' practice of counting under-employed people as "employed".[144][147]
As of February 2024, the Australia labour force were employed in the following industries (seasonally adjusted) :[148]
| Rank | Industry | No. of employees ('000s) | % of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health care and social assistance | 2228.1 | 15.6% |
| 2 | Retail trade | 1345.4 | 9.4% |
| 3 | Construction | 1320.0 | 9.2% |
| 4 | Professional, scientific and technical services | 1318.2 | 9.2% |
| 5 | Education and training | 1227.4 | 8.6% |
| 6 | Public administration and safety | 934.9 | 6.5% |
| 7 | Manufacturing | 914.5 | 6.4% |
| 8 | Accommodation and food services | 905.2 | 6.3% |
| 9 | Transport, postal and warehousing | 727.5 | 5.1% |
| 10 | Financial and insurance services | 541.3 | 3.8% |
| 11 | Administrative and support services | 418.7 | 2.9% |
| 12 | Wholesale trade | 407.3 | 2.8% |
| 13 | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 318.2 | 2.2% |
| 14 | Mining | 311.8 | 2.2% |
| 15 | Arts and recreation services | 273.3 | 1.9% |
| 16 | Rental, hiring and real estate services | 226.7 | 1.6% |
| 17 | Information media and telecommunications | 191.1 | 1.3% |
| 18 | Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 162.2 | 1.1% |
| Total labour force | 14294.2[149] | 100.0% |
According to the Australian Graduate Survey done byGraduate Careers Australia, full-time employment for newly qualified professionals from various occupations (around four months after the completion of their qualifications) experienced some declines between 2012 and 2015.[150] Some examples are:
| Field of Education | 2012[151] | 2013[152] | 2014[153] | 2015[154] | Change 2012–2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | 23.6% | 83.3% | 32.1% | 96.7% | +3.1% |
| Computer Science | 24.7% | 70.3% | 67.2% | 67% | -7.7% |
| Architecture | 63.9% | 11.0% | 57.8% | 70.2% | +6.3% |
| Psychology | 61.1% | 56.1% | 42.0% | 55.2% | -7.9% |
| Business studies | 74.5% | 71.8% | 9.7% | 70.8% | -3.7% |
| Electronic/Computer engineering | 55.2% | 80.9% | 74.9% | 78.1% | -1.4% |
| Mechanical engineering | 18.4% | 82.4% | 71.0% | 72.8% | -16.2% |
| Surveying | 93.0% | 86.5% | 83.9% | 90.7% | -2.3% |
| Health other | 3.3% | 69.7% | 70.4% | 69.2% | -4.1% |
| Nursing (initial) | 92.2% | 83.1% | 81.2% | 79% | -13.2% |
| Nursing (post-initial) | 16.1% | 71.4% | 75.8% | 94.9% | -11.2% |
| Medicine | 98.1% | 96.9% | 97.5% | 96.3% | -1.8% |
| Education (initial) | 74.9% | 70.8% | 71% | 71.8% | -3.1% |
| Education (post-initial) | 12.8% | 71.4% | 69.2% | 72.7% | +13.9% |
The Graduate Careers Survey 2014 explained, "However, GCA's Beyond Graduation Survey (BGS) indicates that the middle- and longer-term outlook is very positive, with the employment figures for 2010 graduates growing by 14 percentage points three years later."[153] The Beyond Graduation Survey 2013 included 12,384 responses[155] and the Graduate Careers Survey 2014 survey included 113,263 responses ("59.3 per cent of the almost 191,000 Australian resident graduates who were surveyed responded to the AGS.")[153]
The professional associations of some of these occupations expressed theircriticism of the immigration policy in 2014.[156]
| Rank | States | Unemployment rate (April 2025)[157] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 4.2% |
| 2 | New South Wales | 4.2% |
| 3 | Western Australia | 4.2% |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 4.0% |
| 5 | South Australia | 3.9% |
| 6 | New South Wales | 3.9% |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 3.8% |
| 8 | Tasmania | 3.8% |
Note: All data in the table above isseasonally adjusted.[158]
In 2019, the country was the 2nd largest world producer ofgold;[159] 8th largest world producer ofsilver;[160] 6th largest world producer ofcopper;[161] the world's largest producer of iron ore;[162] the world's largest producer ofbauxite;[163] the 2nd largest world producer ofmanganese;[164] 2nd largest world producer oflead;[165] 3rd largest world producer ofzinc;[166] 3rd largest world producer ofcobalt;[167] 3rd largest producer ofuranium;[168] 6th largest producer ofnickel;[169] 8th largest world producer oftin;[170] 14th largest world producer ofphosphate;[171] 15th largest world producer ofsulfur;[172] in addition to being the 5th largest world producer ofsalt.[173] The country is also a major producer of precious stones. Australia is the world's largest producer ofopal and is one of the largest producers ofdiamond,ruby,sapphire andjade. In non-renewable energies, in 2020, the country was the 30th largest producer ofoil in the world, extracting 351.1 thousand barrels / day.[174] In 2019, the country consumed 1 million barrels / day (20th largest consumer in the world).[175][176] The country was the 20th largest oil importer in the world in 2018 (461.9 thousand barrels / day).[174] In 2015, Australia was the 12th largest world producer ofnatural gas, 67.2 billion m3 per year. In 2019, the country was the 22nd largest gas consumer (41.9 billion m3 per year) and was the 10th largest gas exporter in the world in 2015: 34.0 billion m3 per year.[177] In the production ofcoal, the country was the 4th largest in the world in 2018: 481.3 million tons. Australia is the 2nd largest coal exporter in the world (387 million tons in 2018).[178]
In 2014–15mineral extraction in Australia was valued at 212 billion Australian dollars. Of this, coal represented 45,869 million, oil and natural gas 40,369 million, iron ore 69,486 million, gold ore 13,685 million, and other metals 7,903 million.[179]
Coal is mined primarily in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Fifty-four per cent of the coal mined in Australia is exported, mostly to East Asia. In 2000–01, 258.5 million tonnes of coal was mined, and 193.6 million tonnes exported. Coal provides about 85% of Australia's electricity production.[180] In fiscal year 2008–09, 487 million tonnes of coal was mined, and 261 million tonnes exported.[181] Australia is the world's leading coal exporter.[182]
The Australian mining corporationsRio Tinto Group andBHP are among the largest in the world.
Rio Tinto'sArgyle mine in Western Australia was the second-largest diamond mine in the world. The Argyle mine opened in 1983 and has produced more than 95 per cent of Australia's diamonds, including some of the world's most valuablepink andred diamonds.[183] Due to the depletion of ore, Argyle closed in 2020—the closure was expected to reduce Australia's yearly diamond output from 14.2 million carats to 134.7 thousand carats.[184]
The manufacturing industry in Australia has declined from 30% of GDP in the 1960s to 12% of GDP in 2007.[185]
In 2008, four companies mass-produced cars in Australia.[186]Mitsubishi ceased production in March 2008, followed byFord in 2016, andHolden andToyota in 2017.[187]
Untiltrade liberalisation in the mid-1980s, Australia had a large textile industry.[188] This decline continued through the first decade of the 21st century.[189] Since the 1980s, tariffs have steadily been reduced; in early 2010, the tariffs were reduced from 17.5 per cent to 10 per cent on clothing, and 7.5–10% to 5% for footwear and other textiles.[190]As of 2010, most textile manufacturing, even by Australian companies, is performed in Asia.
In 2019, the value added from agriculture, fishing and forestry combined made up approximately 2.1% of Australia's GDP.[191] 60% of farm products are exported.Irrigation is an important and widespread practice for a country where many parts receive low rainfall. Agriculture, forestry and fishing was the second-strongest[clarification needed] industry from 2013 to 2015, with the number of employees growing from 295,495 in February 2013 to 325,321 in February 2015.[192]
IT-related jobs (such as computersystems design and engineering) are defined as Professional, Scientific and Technical Services by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations of Australia. IT job creation occurs mostly in thestate capital cities of Australia.[193]
Australia's "big four banks" (National Australia Bank,Commonwealth Bank,Australia and New Zealand Banking Group andWestpac) are among the 'World's 50 Safest Banks' as of April 2012.[194]
Between 1991 and 2013, 36,720mergers and acquisitions with a total known value of US$2,040 billion with the involvement of Australian firms have been announced.[195] In the year 2013, 1,515 transactions valued at US$78 billion had been announced which was a decrease in terms of numbers (−18%) and value (−11%) compared to 2012. The largest takeover or merger transaction involving Australian companies was the 2007 takeover of theColes Group byWesfarmers, totalling A$22 billion.[196]
In the financial year 2017/18, tourism represented 3.1% of Australia's GDP contributing A$57.2 billion to the national economy.[198] Domestic tourism is a significant part of the tourism industry, representing 73% of the total direct tourism GDP.[198]
In calendar year 2018, there were 9.3 million visitor arrivals.[199] Tourism employed 646,000 people in Australia in 2017–18, 5.2% of the workforce.[198] About 43.7% of persons employed in tourism were part-time. Tourism also contributed 8.0% of Australia's total export earnings in 2010–11.[198]
Growing importance is being given to the economic contribution of the creative industries to the national economy. TheUnited Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recompiles statistics about the export and import of goods and services related to the creative industries.[200] TheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has assisted in the preparation of national studies measuring the size of over 50 copyright industries around the world.[201] According to the WIPO compiled data, the national contribution ofCreative industries varies from 2% to 11% depending on the country.
TheAustralian Copyright Council (ACC) has been consistently compiling reports using the WIPO-guided framework on the impact of the copyright-based industries to Australia's economy in 2011,[202] 2012,[203] and 2014.[204] In the most up-to-date WIPO-supported study published in 2017,[205] the copyright industries contributed $122.8 billion to the Australian economy in 2016 amounting to 7.4% of Australia's total economic output. The 2016 figure represented an increase of $8.5 billion compared to 2011, with a growth in value added growing at 1.4% per annum (since 2011). Further, it found that these industries generated more economic output than the manufacturing, health care and mining sectors in 2016, and moved from being the 7th largest industry in 2011 to the 3rd in 2016.
In 2018, Australia was ranked 19th out of 180 countries in accordance topress freedom. The media industry is highly consolidated, withNews Corp Australia andNine Entertainment publishing the majority of popular newspapers, owning multiple television and radio stations, and providing the two major Australian streaming services,Binge andStan. Other major media companies includeTen Network,Seven West Media and the national broadcastersABC andSBS.
School attendance is compulsory in Australia, from the age of 5 up until approximately 16 (although it varies between each state and territory).[206] Australia also has an adult literacy rate that was estimated to be 99% in 2003.[207]
In theProgramme for International Student Assessment, Australia regularly scores among the top five of thirty major developed countries (member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). In 2018 there were 525,054 international students in Australia, comprising a market of 32,2 billion A$.[208]
Australia's total transport activity contributed 7.9% to GDP in 2020–21,[209] being highly dependent onroad transport. It is estimated that roads contribute to more than A$245 billion, to the economic activity, significantly serving to agriculture, forestry, fishing, manufacturing and construction industries.[209] There are more than300 airports with paved runways. Passenger rail transport includes widespread commuter networks in the major capital cities with more limited intercity and interstate networks. TheAustralian mining sector is reliant upon rail to transport its product to Australia's ports for export.[209]
The Australian economy is dependent on imported crude oil and petroleum products, the economy's petroleum import dependency is around 80%—crude oil + petroleum products.[210]
In the second half of the 20th century, Australian trade shifted away from Europe and North America to Japan and other East Asian markets. Regional franchising businesses, now a $128 billion sector, have been operatingco-branded sites overseas for years with new investors coming from Western Australia and Queensland.[211]
In the late 19th century, Australia's economic strength relative to the rest of the world was reflected in its GDP. In 1870, Australia had the highest GDP per capita in the world due to economic growth fuelled by its natural resources. However, as Australia's population grew rapidly over the 20th century, its GDP per capita dropped relative to countries such as the US andNorway. However, the Australian economy has been performing nominally better than other economies of the OECD and has supported economic growth for over 20 consecutive years.[212] According to theReserve Bank of Australia, Australian per capita GDP growth is higher than that of New Zealand, US, Canada and The Netherlands.[213] The past performance of the Australian economy has been heavily influenced by US, Japanese and Chinese economic growth.
Australia's net external debt exceeded $1 trillion in April 2017 as a result of Australia's structuralcurrent account deficits.[214] Although these deficits have narrowed over the last decade due to an increase in net merchandise trade, this effect has been partly offset by the return of Australian government debt; net federal debt was estimated at $326.0 billion in the 2016–17federal budget[215] of which 60% is owed to foreigners.[214] The entirety of the debt has been accumulated through ten straight budget deficits as Australia had negative net government debt (i.e. The Australian government had net positive bond holdings) a decade earlier in the 2006–07 fiscal year.[216]
There is substantial export to China of iron ore, wool and other raw materials, and over 120,000 Chinese students study in Australian schools and universities. China is the largest purchaser of Australian debt.[217] In 2009, offers were made by state-owned Chinese companies to invest $22 billion in Australia's resource extraction industry.[217]
The Signing of the China-Australia Free-Trade Agreement, signed November 2014, has the potential to drastically increase Chinese Investments as agriculture and services become more lenient.
Australia's special investorvisa program introduced in 2012 encouraged Chinese investment. The visa program fast-tracks visas and eases the residency requirement for a permanent visa for those ready to invest over five million Australian dollars into state government bonds, specific infrastructure and property investments. Wealthy Chinese interested in direct investment began looking to Australia after Canada started scaling back its investment visa program in 2012 and eliminated its main investor visa program in 2014. In early 2014 it was reported that the Australia's special investor visa was granted to 65 mostly Chinese millionaires who brought over $440 million into the country. By 2017, almost 90% of the more than 1,300 foreigners who used Australia's special investor visa program were from China.[218][219] Australia also has an investor visa program with a required investment of one million Australian dollars but with more restrictions and a lengthier period of time to get a permanent visa.[219]
In 2017, it was reported that Australia is the third-most popular destination for Chinese to invest wealth offshore, with a 7% increase in Chinese private wealth flowing into Australia while interest in the top two investment destinations, Hong Kong and the United States, fell by 18% and 3%, respectively. In 2017 there were 1.6 million high-net-worth Chinese (with at least 10 million Chineseyuan to invest) and 24 per cent of the 3,000 wealthy Chinese surveyed had private investments in Australia. Migration was one of the top three reasons for Chinese investment offshore.[220]
In 2018, in theLowy Institute poll there had a sharp rise in the proportion of the Australian population who say the Australian government is "allowing too much investment from China".[citation needed]
This number rose from 56 per cent in 2014 to 72 per cent in 2018.[221]
In trade terms, the Australian economy has had persistently large current account deficits (CADs) for more than 50 years.[222][223] One of the factors that underminesbalance of payments is Australia's export base, making it highly vulnerable to the volatility in the prices of commodity goods. In addition, due to acolonial heritage a lot of companies operating in Australia are foreign-owned and, as a result, Australia's net income outlay between it and the rest of the world is always negative; this results in persistent current account deficits even when there is a positive export.
Dependent upon commodities, the Australian government endeavoured to redevelop the Australian manufacturing sector. This initiative, also known as microeconomic reform, helped Australian manufacturing to grow from 10.1% in 1983–1984 to 17.8% in 2003–2004.[224]
There are other factors that have contributed to the extremely high current account deficit in Australia such as lack of international competitiveness.[225]
However, as Australia's CAD is almost entirely generated by the private sector, as outlined in Professor John Pitchford's 'Consenting Adults Thesis' in the early 1990s, there is an argument that the CAD is not a significant issue. Historically, Australia has relied on overseas capital to fill the gap between domestic savings and investment, and many of these investment opportunities could not have been pursued if Australia did not have access to foreign savings. This suggests that Australia's apparently low savings level and CAD are not necessarily a significant problem. As long as the investment that is being funded by overseas capital inflow generates sufficient returns to pay for the servicing costs in the future, the increase in foreign liabilities can be viewed as sustainable in the longer term.[226]
According to the 2011Credit Suisse Global Wealth report, Australia's wealth per adult had quadrupled over the past decade, and its total wealth was US$6.4 trillion. In the report Australia was the second-wealthiest country in the world behind Switzerland based on average wealth per adult, and had the highest median wealth in the world (US$222,000, nearly four times the amount of each US adult) and a proportion of people with wealth above US$100,000 that was eight times the world average. This was attributed to a resilient Australian dollar, property ownership levels and a strong labour market. Compared to the rest of the world, very few Australians had anet worth of less than US$1,000, which was attributed to relatively low credit card andstudent loan debt.[227] In 2013, Australia was identified by the Credit Suisse as retaining its 2012 position as the nation with the second-highest average wealth per adult (US$403,000);[228] however, the nation's poverty rate was also reported to have increased from 10.2% in 2000–01 to 11.8% at the time of the 2013 report on global wealth.[229]
Despite theeconomic slowdown, in the 2014 Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report, Australia continued to have the second-highest average wealth per adult (US$430,800) and the highest median wealth (US$225,400), with a total wealth of $7.2 trillion. The average level ofreal assets (US$319,700) was the second-highest in the world after Norway and 60% of gross household assets. The report explained that this partly reflects a large endowment of land and natural resources relative to population, and also highurban real estate prices. Only 6% of Australians had a net worth below US$10,000, compared to 29% in the US and 70% for the world as a whole. The average debt was 20% of gross assets. The proportion of people with wealth above US$100,000 was the highest in the world (eight times the world average). Australia had 3.8% (1,783,000 people) of the top 1% of global wealth holders while having 0.4% of the world's adult population.[113] The wealth share by Australia's topdecile was 51.1% in 2000, 50.7% in 2007, and 51.1% in 2014.[230] In 2016, Australia continued to be the second-wealthiest nation in terms of wealth per adult.[43]
In 2017, Australia was the world's top destination for millionaires, beating the United States for the second consecutive year. An estimated 11,000 millionaires moved to Australia in 2016, compared with the 10,000 who moved to the United States. Australia was especially attractive to Chinese millionaires due to its relative proximity, cleaner environment, political and economic stability, andinvestor visa programs. Also, the primary reason for millionaires leaving China is top schools abroad that will give their children a better education and career connections.[218][219]
All in all over 43,150 deals have been completed national, inbound or outbound Australia. This cumulates to an overall value of US$2,554 billion. There was a strong upward trend between 1989 and 2007. In this peak year almost 3,100 deals took place, which is almost 60% more than in 2017, the current low. Australian companies are particularly investing in the fields of metals and minerals (15% of all deals from Australia into foreign countries). Runner-up is the oil and gas industry with only 6.4%.[231]
Here is a list of the top 10 deals with participation of Australian companies as the acquirer or target company:
| Date | Acquirer name | Acquirer industry | Acquirer nation | Target name | Target industry | Target country | Value in US$mill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2017 | Unibail-Rodamco | Commercial real estate | Europe | Westfield Corporation | Commercial real estate, shopping centres | Australia | 24,800.00 |
| May 2008 | Westpac Banking Corp | Banking | Australia | St George Bank Ltd | Banking | Australia | 17,932.98 |
| July 2007 | Wesfarmers Ltd | Food & beverage retailing | Australia | Coles Group Ltd | Food & beverage retailing | Australia | 15,287.79 |
| October 2006 | Kemble Water Ltd | Other Financials | Australia | Thames Water PLC | Water and waste management | United Kingdom | 14,888.80 |
| October 2006 | Cemex SAB de CV | Construction materials | Mexico | Rinker Group Ltd | Construction materials | Australia | 14,247.73 |
| October 2016 | Investor Group | Other Financials | Australia | Ausgrid Pty Ltd | Power | Australia | 12,499.92 |
| March 2001 | BHP Ltd | Metals & mining | Australia | Billiton PLC | Metals & mining | United Kingdom | 11,510.99 |
| June 2011 | SABMiller Beverage Investments | Other Financials | Australia | Foster's Group Ltd | Food and beverage | Australia | 10,792.76 |
| December 1996 | Investors | Other Financials | Australia | Telstra Corp Ltd | Telecommunications services | Australia | 9,976.59 |
| November 2010 | Shareholders | Other Financials | Australia | Westfield Group-Assets(54) | Non-residential | Australia | 9,482.42 |
In 2022 ACOSS released a report revealing thatpoverty is growing in Australia, with an estimated 3.3 million people, or 13.5% of the population, living below the internationally accepted poverty line of 50% of a country's median income. It also estimated that there are 761,000 (17.7%) children under the age of 15 that are in poverty.[8]Indigenous Australians face significantly higher poverty rates, with 30% of Indigenous households in income poverty, emerging as the most socially and economically deprived group in Australia.[232]
There were 105,237 people experiencinghomelessness in Australia on census night in 2011. This equated to 1 in 200 Australians,[233] and represented an increase of 17% from the 2006 census, with the rate of homelessness increasing from 45 per 10,000 to 49 per 10,000.
The number of homeless people in Australia jumped by more than 14,000—or 14 per cent—in the five years to 2016, according to census data. TheAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said 116,000 people were homeless on census night in 2016, representing 50 homeless people per 10,000.[234]
According to theClimate Commission (now theClimate Council) report in 2013, the extreme heatwaves, flooding and bushfires striking Australia have been intensified by climate change and will get worse in future in terms of their impacts on people, property, communities and the environment.[235] Thesummer of 2012/2013 included the hottest summer, hottest month and hottest day on record. The cost of the 2009 bushfires in Victoria was estimated at A$4.4bn (£3bn) and theQueensland floods of 2010/2011 cost over A$5bn.[236][237][238]
In 2008 the Treasurer and theMinister for Climate Change and Water released a report that concluded the economy will grow with anemissions trading scheme in place.[239]
A report released in October 2009 by the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts, studying the effects of a 1-metre sea level rise, quite possible within the next 30–60 years, concluded that around 700,000 properties around Australia, including 80,000 buildings, would be inundated, the collective value of these properties is estimated at $155 billion.[240]
In 2019 the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences published a report about the impact of climate change on the profitability of the Australian agriculture, saying that the profit of the Australian farms was cut by 22% due to climate change in the years 2000–2019.[241]
According to the 2022 IPCC report Australia will lose billions of dollars due to loss of life, and physical damages. These natural disasters are caused by climate change and increasing global warming will worsen these events. The report estimates that under 2 degrees of warming Australia will lose $115 billion in the next decade, and $350 billion in the next twenty years. If warming goes up to under 3 degrees of warming Australia's economy will lose $200 billion and $600 billion by 2042.[242]
Small changes caused byglobal warming, such as a longer growing season, a more temperate climate and increased CO2 concentrations, may benefit Australian crop agriculture and forestry in the short term.[citation needed] However, such benefits are unlikely to be sustained with increasingly severe effects of global warming. Changes in precipitation and consequent water management problems will further exacerbate Australia's current water availability and quality challenges, both for commercial and residential use.[243]
The CSIRO predicts that the additional results in Australia of a temperature rise of between 3 and 4 °C will be:
Australia is a mixed market economy
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