Demographic distribution of community attitudes towards "poverty is a problem that can be solved with the right systems and policies"
This chart shows the demographic distribution of responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality surveys to the phrase Poverty is a problem that can be solved with the right systems and policies. By age: Agreement was largely consistent across age groups (75–78%). By gender: Women (78%) and men (74%) had similar levels of agreement. By income: Differences by income quintile were small (74–77%). By income support payment: People in the lowest income quintile who received JobSeeker, carer, or age pension payments agreed more (81–83%) than those who were receiving disability or parenting payments (72–74%). By employment status: People who were not employed agreed most (80%) and people who were not in the labour force agreed least (73%). By income type: People receiving government income support payments agreed most (79%) and people with investment or other main income sources agreed least (71%). By housing tenure: Tenants in private housing agreed…
Community attitudes towards "government policies have caused some people to experience poverty"
This chart shows the responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey to the statement Government policies have caused some people to be poor 2025: 60% of people in Australia agreed that government policies have caused some people in Australia to be poor.2023: 62% of people in Australia agreed that government policies have caused some people in Australia to be poor.
Demographic distribution of community attitudes towards "government policies have caused some people to experience poverty"
This chart shows the demographic distribution of responses in our Community attitudes towards poverty and inequality survey to the statement Government policies have caused some people to be poor By age: Agreement with this statement was largely consistent across age groups (56–61%). By gender: Women (60%) and men (58%) had similar levels of agreement. By income: Agreement differed by income level, ranging from 63% of people in the lowest income quintile to 51% in the highest income quintile. By income support payment: People in the lowest income quintile who were receiving disability, JobSeeker, carer, or parenting payments agreed more (66–69%) than those receiving the age pension (58%). By employment status: People who were not in the labour force agreed most (67%) and people who had retired agreed least (51%). By income source: People who were self-employed agreed most (77%) and people with investment or other main income sources agreed least (49%). By housing status: Tenants…
Average annual change in disposable income during COVID-19
This chart shows how income inequality declined sharply in year one of the Covid recovery (2020-21) but was restored to its previous level in year two (2021-22). [infogram id="_/GVjE476awTwerirKWLuM" prefix="4FW" format="interactive" title="2023 Average annual change in disposable income lockdowns and recovery"] It shows that, in year one (2020-21), inequality declined. The average income of the lowest 20% grew by 5.2% after inflation, compared with 3% for the middle 20% and 2.4% for the highest 20%. In year two (2021-22) this pattern was reversed. The average income of the lowest 20% fell by 3.5%, compared with a fall of 0.5% for the middle 20% and a fall of 0.1% for the highest 20%. When we compare average growth in incomes for the two-year recovery period from 2019-20 to 2021-22, these effects largely cancel each other out leaving little change in income inequality overall. The income of the lowest 20% grew by an average of 0.8% per year, compared with 1.3% per year for the middle…
Average changes in hours worked and household incomes during COVID-19
This chart shows the changes in incomes and work hours during first years of the COVID-19 pandemic. [infogram id="_/1dV8AA0plBuj2h9mh8zu" prefix="4Jg" format="interactive" title="2023 average changes in hours worked and household incomes"] It shows that, during ‘year one’ of recovery (2020-21), average household after-tax incomes grew by an extraordinary 3.1% after inflation, much faster than average income growth since the Global Financial Crisis. This occurred despite strict COVID lockdowns and the economic uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, which reduced average paid working hours per capita by 0.5% compared to hours worked in 2019-20. During ‘year two’ (2021-22), these trends were reversed. Average household incomes declined by 0.7% after inflation despite the reduced severity of lockdowns and a solid 2.4% increase in overall paid working hours per capita.
Comparison of poverty trend and SDG target path
This chart shows the percentage of people in poverty between 1999-20 to 2019-20 and compares this with the percentage of people in poverty if we were following the target set out in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, of which Australia is a signatory. The Sustainable Development Goal on poverty includes: "By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions" (note that this chart uses 50% of median income in lieu of an accepted national definition of poverty in Australia).
Number of people in poverty by location in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/tw4PW9yJQ4Q9Uq1pKcBY" prefix="1I3" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Number of people by location"] Poverty was somewhat higher (at 2,232,000 people) among people living in capital cities than among those living outside them (1,087,000 people). Poverty rates were highest in non-urban areas in the smallest States and Territories, including 52,000 people outside the capital in Tasmania, 57,000 people outside the capital in South Australia, and 28,000 people in the Northern Territory. The greatest reductions in poverty in the fourth quarter of 2019-20 occurred outside the capital in Victoria (by 125,000 people), in Brisbane (by 196,000 people), in Hobart (by 13,000 people), and in the Australian Capital Territory (by 21,000 people).
Rate of poverty by location in 2019-20, and change in poverty
[infogram id="_/5GfA0S3T6IFyDRu0GTCb" prefix="vSp" format="interactive" title="2019-20_Poverty rates by location"] Poverty was somewhat higher (at 13.4%) among people living in capital cities than among those living outside them (13.3%). Two thirds (67%) of people in poverty lived in capital cities, which is broadly equivalent to the population share living in those cities. Poverty rates were highest in non-urban areas in the smallest States and Territories, including 17.7% outside the capital in Tasmania, 17.4% outside the capital in South Australia, and 15.8% in the Northern Territory. The greatest reductions in poverty in the fourth quarter of 2019-20 occurred outside the capital in Victoria (by 8.9%), in Brisbane (by 7.4%), in Hobart (by 5.5%), and in the Australian Capital Territory (by 4.8%).