Australia

Australia

Australasia

Oceania
82
Overall score
Excellent overall · 97% data coverage
Language
English
Currency
AUD
Citizenship
4 years (PR + 12 months)
Personal tax
0–45% + Medicare levy
Cost of living
AUD 2,800 / mo (single)
Overall scoring rubric
90
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
96Residence12%
77Citizenship and passport5%
74
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
75Salary and work12%
73Buying power13%
71
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
50Taxes7%
82Business8%
83Investment5%
89
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
88Quality of life18%
92Education7%
90
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
87Freedom6%
93Rule of law7%

Safety (85) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Healthcare (91) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Environment (98) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Rights and institutions (90) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
82

High wages, world-class lifestyle and a transparent skilled-migration points system make Australia a top English-speaking destination, though it's far from everywhere and recently closed its investor visa.

Pros

  • High salaries & quality of life
  • Clear skilled points system
  • Strong universities & passport

Cons

  • Significant Investor Visa closed (2024)
  • Geographically isolated; high housing costs
  • Capital-gains tax at marginal rates

Best for

Skilled workersStudents seeking PRFamilies relocating

Score profile

Access
Residence
96
Citizenship
71
Passport
94
Earning power
Salary & work
75
Buying power
73
Cost of living
34
Economy
80
Business and wealth
Taxes
50
Personal tax
18
Corporate tax
29
Business
82
Investment
83
Wealth building
67
Daily life
Safety
85
Healthcare
91
Environment
98
Infrastructure
87
Education
92
HDI
96
Rights and institutions
Freedom
87
Rule of law
93

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Excellent
96
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock30.4% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality1.72 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
Skilled Independent (189)Skilled Nominated (190)Employer-sponsored (482/186)Student → Graduate (485)
StudentStudent visa; up to 48 hrs/fortnight during term.
WorkSkills in Demand (482) via sponsor; points-tested skilled visas.
Self-employedNo dedicated startup visa nationally; some state/business streams.
PermanentPR via points-tested or employer-sponsored streams.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Good
71
Years required4 years lawful residence incl. 12 months as a permanent resident
Dual allowedtrue
LanguageEnglish + citizenship test
Residence4 years residence with PR for the final year; absence limits apply
NotesPermanent residence is usually reached first via the skilled points (SkillSelect) system.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Excellent
94

Passport-index style mobility for the Australia passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

186 / 198
Mobility
#9
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free120
  • On arrival40
  • eTA26
  • Visa required12

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
75
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$114,539 PPP (2024)
Unemployment4.1% (2025)
Participation66.5% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$3,756 · $3,324 PPP (2021)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Tech salary (estimate)AUD 120,000–170,000 (senior dev)
FreelanceStrong contracting; high day rates in mining/finance/tech
Job marketSydney & Melbourne tech hubs; skills shortages aid migrants.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
73
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$69,930 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$34,970 PPP (2024)
Price level95 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality33.8 Gini (2020)
Inflation2.9% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Limited
34

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level95 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentAUD 2,000–3,200 (1BR Sydney)
MonthlyAUD 2,800
CitiesSydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth
Economy
Economic strength
Excellent
80
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$1.8T (2025)
GDP / person$65,130 (2025)
GNI / person$69,930 PPP (2025)
GDP growth1.4% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation2.9% / yr (2025)
Unemployment4.1% (2025)
Output per worker$114,539 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture2.3% of GDP (2025)
Industry23.9% of GDP (2025)
Services67.5% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
MiningFinancial servicesAgricultureEducationTourismHealthcare
Top exports
Iron oreCoalNatural gasGoldEducation services
TypeHigh-income, resources- and services-led
Key sectorsMining & resources, Banking & superannuation, International education
SummaryA resource-rich high-income economy: a leading minerals and gas exporter with strong finance and education.
CurrencyAustralian dollar (commodity-linked)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Moderate
50
Personal0–45% + 2% Medicare levy
Corporate25% (base-rate entities) / 30%
Capital gainsTaxed at marginal rate; 50% discount on assets held > 12 months
DividendsMarginal rate with franking (imputation) credits
Exit taxYes: deemed disposal of certain assets on ceasing residency
Foreign cosCFC rules apply
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Low
18
Personal0–45% + 2% Medicare levy
FreelanceSole trader with ABN; GST registration above AUD 75k
Capital gainsTaxed at marginal rate; 50% discount on assets held > 12 months
DividendsMarginal rate with franking (imputation) credits
Exit taxYes: deemed disposal of certain assets on ceasing residency
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Low
29
Corporate25% (base-rate entities) / 30%
Capital gainsTaxed at marginal rate; 50% discount on assets held > 12 months
DividendsMarginal rate with franking (imputation) credits
Foreign cosCFC rules apply
Business
Business friendliness
Excellent
82
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality1.72 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness1.81 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Yes: foreign ownership permitted (FIRB approval for some assets)
Local co.Pty Ltd; requires at least one resident director
FreelanceSole trader with ABN; GST registration above AUD 75k
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Excellent
83
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap114% of GDP (2025)
Private credit134% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsMarginal rate with 50% long-term discount; super is tax-advantaged
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxNone
BrokersGood: CommSec, Stake, Interactive Brokers
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Good
67
How this score is calculated

How favourable Australia is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Good
75
Business
Excellent
82
Investment
Excellent
83
Tax friendliness
Moderate
50
Cost of living
Limited
34

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Excellent
85
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate0.9 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption1.85 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability0.79 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Excellent
91
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy83.1 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality3.6 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians4.09 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds3.82 per 1,000 (2016)
Health spending$7,691 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemUniversal public (Medicare) + private
InsuranceMedicare for citizens/PR; visa holders need OVHC/private cover
Avg costPrivate hospital cover ~AUD 100–200 / mo
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
98
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure6.4 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress4.7% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Excellent
87
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use96.1% (2024)
Internet resilience75 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed83 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed73 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses4.7% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality4.10 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity24,583 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Excellent
92
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling20.7 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment108% gross (2024)
Education spending5.1% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

TuitionAUD 20,000–45,000 / yr (international)
Public uniDomestic CSP places subsidised; international full-fee
LanguagesEnglish
Student workUp to 48 hrs/fortnight in term; unlimited in breaks
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
96
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.958 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy83.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling20.7 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$58,277 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Excellent
87
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World95 / 100 (Free)
Freedom on the Net75 / 100 (Free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Excellent
93
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile93 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.