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Economic issues, such as standard of living, rising prices, and low wages, top the list of concerns for adults, with 23% identifying these as their primary worry.
This percentage is more than twice as high as the next major concerns, which include employment, political issues, and safety.
In contrast, a mere 3% of people are mainly concerned about fundamental needs like food and shelter. Notably, seven out of the ten countries where these basic concerns are predominant are located in sub-Saharan Africa.
Interestingly, Australia ranks third on the list of countries where basic needs are a major concern, joined by Ireland and Canada, both of which are high-income nations grappling with housing crises.
The report highlights, “All three countries are experiencing well-documented housing challenges, with younger adults most likely to view affording basic necessities as the nation’s most pressing problem.”
“All three countries face well-documented housing crises, with younger adults most likely to say that affording basic needs is the country’s biggest problem,” the report stated.
“The scale of dissatisfaction with housing in these three countries shows how people’s struggles to afford basic needs like housing may colour their perceptions of the national economy, even in prosperous nations.”
The research found Australians’ satisfaction with the availability of good and affordable housing has significantly dropped over the decade to 2025, falling from just under 50 per cent to 25 per cent.
It comes as data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics today showed living costs rose for all household types in the 12 months to the December quarter due to the rising cost of housing, food and non-alcoholic drinks.
“Rises in annual living costs ranged from 2.3 per cent to 4.2 per cent in the December 2025 quarter, depending on the expenditure patterns of the different household types,” ABS head of price statistics Michelle Marquardt said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has defended the government’s spending levels and cost-of-living measures, saying temporary factors like the energy rebate and rising travel costs and persistent factors like housing were to blame.
“I take responsibility for all aspects of my job, including my part in the fight against inflation, but more than that, we’re taking action,” he told reporters yesterday.
“We know that Australians are under pressure.”
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