Life satisfaction drops as financial stress rises: 7 ways Australians felt and connected in 2025

Life satisfaction drops as financial stress rises, according to 2025 ABS data. Credit: Alena Darmel

The ABS data summarises ways Australians felt and connected in 2025, revealing a decline in national wellbeing and social cohesion as Australians navigate a tightening cost-of-living crisis.

Life satisfaction scores fell to 7.1 out of 10, staying below pre-pandemic levels.
One in four households now faces significant financial stress and cashflow issues.
Weekly face-to-face social connections have failed to return to 2019 benchmarks.

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