GeoRealityMatch
A scenic aerial view of Canberra highlighting Telstra Tower and surrounding landscape under a blue sky.A peaceful lake view with distant hills and a tree in Canberra during sunset.

Australia

Oceania · Australia and New Zealand

Very high safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high. Living costs are high.

ExpatCombines very high development and very high safety.
vs United Statesvs Canadavs Japan
Safety

20th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.602lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#20 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.9per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
52.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$64,120national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
33.7New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.2years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 78% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 19% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$71,934 PPP$65,130Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $36,659 a person, $34,890 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2007, $41,128 a person, $36,708 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2008, $49,811 a person, $37,616 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2009, $42,955 a person, $40,434 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2010, $52,314 a person, $39,504 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2011, $62,799 a person, $42,153 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $68,301 a person, $43,007 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2013, $68,477 a person, $46,123 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2014, $62,817 a person, $47,109 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2015, $56,970 a person, $46,465 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2016, $50,084 a person, $47,446 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $54,118 a person, $48,565 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $57,410 a person, $50,371 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2019, $55,195 a person, $52,886 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2020, $51,983 a person, $54,184 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2021, $60,759 a person, $58,327 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2022, $65,170 a person, $66,103 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2023, $65,058 a person, $72,273 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2024, $64,610 a person, $72,118 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2025, $65,130 a person, $71,934 at PPP, inflation 2.9%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $36,659 a person, $34,890 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2007, $41,128 a person, $36,708 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2008, $49,811 a person, $37,616 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2009, $42,955 a person, $40,434 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2010, $52,314 a person, $39,504 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2011, $62,799 a person, $42,153 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $68,301 a person, $43,007 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2013, $68,477 a person, $46,123 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2014, $62,817 a person, $47,109 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2015, $56,970 a person, $46,465 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2016, $50,084 a person, $47,446 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $54,118 a person, $48,565 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $57,410 a person, $50,371 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2019, $55,195 a person, $52,886 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2020, $51,983 a person, $54,184 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2021, $60,759 a person, $58,327 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2022, $65,170 a person, $66,103 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2023, $65,058 a person, $72,273 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2024, $64,610 a person, $72,118 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2025, $65,130 a person, $71,934 at PPP, inflation 2.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
83.1years, at birthVery high
#16 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
89WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
6.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
4.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
157 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
Native EnglishEF English Proficiency Index scoreNativeEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet157 MbpsVery fast
Mobile119 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A peaceful lake view with distant hills and a tree in Canberra during sunset.
How it changed

Australia's Human Development Index

0.958Very high human development

7th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 1st of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #5Germany0.959
  2. #5Sweden0.959
  3. #7Australia0.958
  4. #8Netherlands0.955
  5. #10Belgium0.951
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.867 in 1990 to 0.958 in 2023.

0.800.901.000.95819902000201020231990: 0.8671991: 0.8681992: 0.8681993: 0.8721994: 0.8731995: 0.8821996: 0.8841997: 0.8871998: 0.8911999: 0.8932000: 0.8972001: 0.9002002: 0.9022003: 0.9062004: 0.9102005: 0.9142006: 0.9172007: 0.9192008: 0.9242009: 0.9272010: 0.9292011: 0.9332012: 0.9382013: 0.9352014: 0.9372015: 0.9382016: 0.9392017: 0.9402018: 0.9452019: 0.9472020: 0.9502021: 0.9542022: 0.9522023: 0.9580.800.901.0019902000201020231990: 0.8671991: 0.8681992: 0.8681993: 0.8721994: 0.8731995: 0.8821996: 0.8841997: 0.8871998: 0.8911999: 0.8932000: 0.8972001: 0.9002002: 0.9022003: 0.9062004: 0.9102005: 0.9142006: 0.9172007: 0.9192008: 0.9242009: 0.9272010: 0.9292011: 0.9332012: 0.9382013: 0.9352014: 0.9372015: 0.9382016: 0.9392017: 0.9402018: 0.9452019: 0.9472020: 0.9502021: 0.9542022: 0.9522023: 0.958

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
83 years2024at birthUp 2.2 years from 80.8 years in 2005
Internet users
96%2024of people onlineUp 30 points from 66% in 2006
Urban population
88%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 86% in 2006
Births per woman
1.482024births per womanDown 0.33 from 1.81 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
12%2021of energy usedUp 6 points from 7% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 5 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
14.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 4.9 t from 19 t in 2005
Forest area
17%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

High wages and an outdoor lifestyle, with a strong immigration program and expensive city housing. The case for living here is peace, high incomes and long lives. The case against is a high cost of living.

About Australia

Australia is a continent-sized country where the majority of life clusters along a spectacular coastline, while the vast, ancient interior, the Outback, stretches in almost incomprehensible silence. The culture is outdoors-oriented, relaxed, and genuinely multicultural, with world-class cities, extraordinary wildlife, and a strong café culture that takes its coffee seriously. Those who dislike heat, long distances, or nature in its more unfiltered form may struggle, but most visitors find it addictive.

Practical facts

  • CapitalCanberra
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD)
  • Area7,692,020 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theleft
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Compare Australia

Side by side

vs United Statesvs Canadavs Japanvs New Zealandvs Singaporevs United Kingdomvs Chinavs Indiavs South KoreaCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Australia's Human Development Index?

Australia's Human Development Index is 0.958 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #7 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Australia safe?

Australia scores 1.60 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #20 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Australia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Australia at 67.9 (New York = 100); that is #125 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Australia?

Life expectancy at birth in Australia is 83.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #16 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Australia?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Australia at 189.6, ranked #12 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.