We’ve all heard about how Australia is doing economically, especially amid the recent unemployment rate scare, but the Annual Unity Wellbeing Index is here to tell us how Australians feel about their own lives and the nation.
For 25 years, the study has measured two wellbeing indices: the personal wellbeing index and the national wellbeing index.
Personal Wellbeing measures people’s satisfaction across seven areas of personal life, including standard of living, personal relationships and health. On the other hand, National Wellbeing measures six aspects of life in Australia, including the economy, government and the environment.
Using survey data combined with Census insights, researchers ranked 148 of Australia’s 150 federal electorates from lowest to highest in terms of personal wellbeing. Some of the top performers included Bean (ACT), Berowra (NSW), Kooyong (VIC), Mayo (SA) and Moore (WA).
Meanwhile, the lowest-scoring electorates included Sydney (NSW), Melbourne (VIC), Blair (QLD), and Spence (SA).
Personal wellbeing: still steady, but divided
Personal wellbeing remained steady in 2025 compared to last year, but there is a strong divide.
Rural electorates reported higher personal wellbeing, with high relationship satisfaction and lower satisfaction with health. Capital city electorates were the opposite, reporting high health satisfaction and low relationship satisfaction.
Most electorates in the top 10 per cent and lowest 10 per cent for personal wellbeing were in metropolitan areas.
Electorates with typically older populations and higher incomes had the highest personal wellbeing. In contrast, electorates with younger residents and higher rates of unemployment and renting had the lowest.
National wellbeing: a post-election lift
National wellbeing improved overall in 2025, with satisfaction rising in five of the six areas measured. Researchers say this could reflect a “post-election honeymoon period” following the government’s re-election and long-awaited interest rate cuts.
Capital city electorates reported much higher satisfaction with national life than regional or rural areas. These electorates also tended to have higher employment rates and a larger proportion of residents born overseas or speaking a language other than English.
Researchers suggest this may point to the affluence and diversity of metropolitan areas, or to socioeconomically secure migrants who view life in Australia as better than their lives elsewhere.
Again, just like personal wellbeing, national wellbeing was highest in electorates with older populations living on higher incomes. Those with the lowest personal wellbeing tended to have younger residents and higher rates of unemployment and renting. (suprise, surprise.)
So… how can we actually feel better?
It’s actually possible to close these wellbeing gaps; we just need some action at both the national and state levels. That means improving income support, access to healthcare, and opportunities for community participation and meaningful work.
“Wellbeing inequities are not inevitable and reducing these gaps is in everyone’s interest,” said Dr Kate Lycett, the lead researcher of the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index.
“If we want a more equitable and sustainable society, then we need to prioritise people over profits and embed wellbeing across policy, business and community decisions,” she added.
Well it sounds like I might ditch my phone, schedule my self care time and go be part of my community.
The post New Report Ranks Electorates Based On Wellbeing, See How Your City Stacks Up appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
