Oceania
Living in Australia
Photo: Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at dusk · Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr), CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A huge, mostly dry continent with most people in a few coastal cities, a warm climate and a large skilled-migration programme. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate14° to 23°CColdest and warmest month averages, Sydney · 2020
Average temperature18.7°CSydney (whole country 22.1°C) · 2020
Price level94%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,969Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$71,900GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment4.1%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides0.9Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy83.1 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air6 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest17%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers88%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue23.6%Of GDP · 2022
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: English. English is an official language.
- Public transport: Moderate: good in the main cities, a car helps elsewhere.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Canberra.
Moving to Australia
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
- Australia student visa guide
- Australia tourist / visit visa guide
- Australia work visa guide
- Study in Australia
- Scholarships in Australia
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 71,934.4 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 4.09 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 0.85 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.78 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 1.75 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.05 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 6,980.39 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 23.56 % of GDP | 2022 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 87.72 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 17.37 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 6.41 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.94 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,969.1 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 22.1 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 18.7 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 14 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 22.9 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 887 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Sydney are 2001–2020 averages.
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