Poverty lines by family type
This table shows poverty lines by family type in dollars per week, including social security payments.
Percentage of all people in poverty from 1999 - 2019
This graph shows the percentage of all people in Australia in poverty from 1999 - 2019. The poverty line used is 50% of median income, taking account of housing costs. The lower (dark blue) line shows poverty rates measured using the pre-2007 ABS income definition, while the higher (red) line is based on the post 2007 income definition. The light blue line shows the quarterly changes in poverty rates during the 2019-20 period, when the impacts of COVID-19 lifted the poverty rate from 13.2% in the September quarter of 2019 to 14.6% in the March quarter of 2020, and the extra coronavirus income support payments introduced meant it fell to 12% - a 17 year low - in the June quarter of 2020.
Poverty rates in OECD countries
Although the Organisation for Economic and Social Development (OECD) uses the 50% median income poverty line, differences in research methodology mean that the results are close to but not identical to those reported in this website for Australia. 2021 or latest data This graph shows poverty rates among the Organisation for Economic and Social Development (OECD) countries in 2021 (or latest data), using the 50% median income poverty line. The OECD’s estimate for the overall rate of poverty in Australia according to this graph is 12.6% (compared with our estimate for 2019-20 of 13.4%). This makes Australia’s poverty rate the 15th highest among the 38 OECD countries. 2017-18 This graph shows poverty rates among the Organisation for Economic and Social Development (OECD) countries in 2016, using the 50% median income poverty line. The OECD’s estimate for the overall rate of poverty in Australia according to this graph is 12.1% (compared with our estimate for 2017-18 of 13.6%). This…
Average wealth per adult in 2020
According to Credit Suisse’s Global Wealth Report, the average wealth of Australian households was $628,000 per adult in 2020, the fourth highest in the world behind Switzerland, the United States and Hong Kong (North America as shown on the graph refers to the region, as does Asia-Pacific and Europe).
Average wealth of households by age, as a percentage of the average wealth of all (%)
This graph shows that wealth inequality has increased across generations since 2003, especially in the distribution of owner-occupied housing. As a proportion of the average value of owner-occupied homes held across all age groups: • The average value held in households with a reference person under 35 years fell from 31% in 2003 to 26% in 2021; • That of those aged 35-44 years fell from 82% in 2003 to 69%; • That of those aged 64 years rose from 140% in 2003 to 144%.
Wealth inequality (Gini coefficient)
This graph shows trends in a summary measure of inequality, the ‘Gini coefficient’. The Gini varies across a range from zero (equal wealth) to one (where all wealth is held by a single household). It rose sharply from 0.573 in 2003 to 0.624 in 2018; and then declined slightly to 0.613 by 2021, close to the level reached around 2016.
Share of wealth held by households ranked by wealth (% in 2021)
Consistent with the findings of our Inequality in Australia 2020 report, wealth is still very unequally distributed in 2021-22. * The highest 10% of households by wealth has an average of $6.1 million or 46% of all wealth. *The next 30% have an average of $1.7 million or 38% of all wealth. * That leaves the majority – the lower 60% - with $376,000 or just 17% of all wealth.
Share of all wealth held by 131 billionaires compared with low-wealth groups (%)
The 131 billionaires comprised 0.001% of the population yet held 2.9% of all household wealth in 2021, a decline from 3% in 2020. This graph shows that they held more wealth among them than the lower 20% of households ranked by wealth (who held 0.7% of all wealth) and somewhat less than the second-lowest 20% (with 4.7%). This suggests that 131 individuals held almost as much wealth between them as the 2.8 million households in the lowest 30% ranked by wealth.
Shares of overall wealth held by the lowest 40%, middle 50% and highest 10% around 2018 (%)
Source: OECD (2021) Inequalities in household wealth and financial insecurity of households, OECD Policy Insight. Note: Households are ranked according to wealth.
The level of wealth inequality in Australia around 2018 (before the pandemic) was somewhat below the average among 28 wealthy nations surveyed by the OECD. The highest 10% of households ranked by wealth held approximately 45% of all wealth in Australia compared with an OECD average of approximately 50%.
The high level of home ownership and housing wealth in Australia is a major reason for this.
Household wealth per capita (2019 dollars)
While the COVID recession in March 2020 at first reduced household wealth through declines in share and housing prices, a combination of lockdowns, public income support, and low interest rates dramatically lifted household saving and wealth from mid-2020 through to December 2021. The largest contributor to this increase in wealth was a sharp rise in housing prices, as shown on this graph.