Household Income and Wealth, Australia

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Key information from the Survey of Income and Housing 2017-18 including distribution of income and wealth by various household characteristics

Reference period
2017-18 financial year
Released
12/07/2019

Key findings

Table 1a - Household income economic wellbeing indicators(a), Australia, 2007–08 to 2017–18

 YearChange
Economic Indicators – Income   2007–08 to 2017–182015–16 to 2017–18
 2007–082015–162017–18Difference%Difference%
Gini coefficient for equivalised disposable household income(b)(c)0.3360.3230.328-0.008-2.40.0051.5
Gini coefficient for gross household income(c)0.4380.4340.4390.0010.20.0051.2
Mean weekly equivalised disposable household income(b)$1,018$1,046$1,062(d)$444.3$161.5
Mean weekly gross household income$2,061$2,187$2,242(d)$1818.8$552.5
Median weekly equivalised disposable household income(b)$860$885$899(d)$394.5$141.6
Median weekly gross household income$1,607$1,676$1,701(d)$945.8$251.5

a. In 2017–18 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index
b. Equivalised Disposable Household Income estimates are adjusted by equivalence factors to standardise them for variations in household size and composition, while taking into account the economies of scale that arise from the sharing of dwellings
c. The Gini coefficient is the internationally accepted summary measure of inequality. Gini coefficient values range between 0 and 1. Values closer to 0 represent higher equality and values closer to 1 represent higher inequality
d. The difference between periods is statistically significant
 

Table 1b - Household wealth economic wellbeing indicators(a), Australia, 2005–06(b) to 2017–18

 YearChange
Economic Indicators – Wealth   2005–06 to 2017–182015–16 to 2017–18
 2005–06(b)2015–162017–18Difference%Difference%
Gini coefficient for household net worth(c)(d)0.5930.6050.621(g)0.0284.70.0162.6
Mean household net worth(c)$748,900$963,800$1,022,200(g)$273,30036.5$58,4006.1
Median household net worth(c)$452,100$546,500$558,900(g)$106,80023.6$12,4002.3
Mean total financial assets(e)$275,900$392,700$427,700(g)$151,80055.0$35,0008.9
Mean total non-financial assets(f)$596,000$749,100$778,800(g)$182,80030.7$29,7004.0
Mean total liabilities$123,000$174,900$183,900(g)$60,90049.5$9,0005.2
Proportions of households with debt72.273.672.80.6pts..0.8pts..
Proportions of households with debt 3 or more times income23.427.228.4(g)5.0pts..1.2pts..

.. not applicable
a. In 2017–18 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index
b. Comprehensive wealth data was not collected in 2007–08, comparison to 2005–06 have been provided instead
c. Household net worth is the value of all the assets owned by a household less the value of all its liabilities
d. The Gini coefficient is the internationally accepted summary measure of inequality. Gini coefficient values range between 0 and 1. Values closer to 0 represent higher equality and values closer to 1 represent higher inequality
e. Includes, for example, accounts held with financial institutions (including offset accounts), ownership of an incorporated business, shares, debentures and bonds, trusts, superannuation funds, and loans to other persons
f. Includes, for example, residential and non-residential property, household contents and vehicles
g. The difference between periods is statistically significant
 

  • In 2017–18, the average equivalised disposable household income was $1,062 per week. This was not significantly different from the average in 2015–16 ($1,046 per week), but was compared to a decade ago ($1,018 per week in 2007–08).
  • The average net worth for all Australian households in 2017–18 was $1.0 million, up slightly from $963,800 in 2015–16 (not significant), but an increase of 37% compared with 2005–06 ($748,900). Rising property values are the main contributor to this increase. Total average property values have increased to $680,900 in 2017–18 from $649,800 in 2015–16.
  • Close to three in four (73%) households were in debt in 2017–18. Of these households, 28% were servicing a total debt that was three or more times their annualised disposable income. Similar levels of debt were reported in 2015–16 (74% and 27% respectively).
  1. Survey of Income and Housing data was collected in labelled years
  2. In 2017–18 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index
  3. In 2007–08 there was a change in income standards, see Methodology page for more information
  4. Equivalised disposable household income estimates are adjusted by equivalence factors to standardise them for variations in household size and composition, while taking into account the economies of scale that arise from the sharing of dwellings

Source: ABS Survey of Income and Housing, various years

  1. In 2017–18 dollars
  2. Comprehensive wealth data was not collected in 2007–08

Source: ABS Survey of Income and Housing, various years

Introduction

The 2017–18 cycle of the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH) collected information about income, wealth and housing from residents in private dwellings in Australia (excluding very remote areas).

The SIH provides:

  • Estimates of the distribution of income and wealth across the population.
  • Detailed information about housing and tenure.
     

Various other characteristics of households and residents (e.g. employment, industry and occupation, family makeup, disability status, education and childcare use) give these key indicators a rich context to help understand the living standards and economic wellbeing of Australians.

The Excel data cubes (available from the Data downloads section) contains the key indicators for the various subpopulations and by a range of household and person characteristics, and by state and territory.

About the Survey of Income and Housing

The SIH was conducted annually from 1994–95 to 1997–98, and then in 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2002–03. From 2003–04 SIH has been conducted every two years and is integrated with the Household Expenditure Survey (HES) every six years.

  • SIH/HES: 2003–04, 2009–10, 2015–16.
  • SIH only: 2005–06, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18.
     

The 2017–18 SIH collected information from a sample of 14,060 households over the period July 2017 to June 2018.

Key concepts

Economic wellbeing is largely determined by a person's command over economic resources. Income and wealth are the economic resources that households use to support their consumption of goods and services. This publication provides indicators of the level and distribution of household income and household wealth.

The definitions used to measure the economic wellbeing of people can have a significant impact on the results. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) follows international best practice and standards for producing statistics relating to household economic resources.

This section provides definitions for the key concepts in this release. Further information on these concepts is provided in the Glossary and Explanatory notes of the Methodology, as well as the User Guide.

Income

Household income consists of all current receipts, whether monetary or in kind, that are received by the household or by individual members of the household, and which are available for, or intended to support, current consumption.

Income includes receipts from:

  • employee income (whether from an employer or own incorporated enterprise), including wages and salaries, salary sacrificed income, non-cash benefits, bonuses and termination payments
  • government pensions and allowances (includes pensions and allowances from Commonwealth and State and Territory governments as well as pensions from overseas)
  • profit/loss from own unincorporated business (including partnerships)
  • net investment income (interest earned, rent, dividends, royalties)
  • private transfers (e.g. superannuation, workers' compensation, income from annuities, child support, and financial support received from family members not living in the same household)


Gross income is the sum of the income from all these sources before income tax, the Medicare levy and the Medicare levy surcharge are deducted. Disposable income is the net income after these deductions.

Some limits have been placed on superannuation and other lump sum payments for inclusion in income, where the amounts received exceeds what is likely to be used to support current consumption (e.g. termination and workers’ compensation lump sum payments).

While income is usually received by individuals, it is normally shared between partners in a couple relationship and with dependent children. To a lesser degree, there may be sharing with other members of the household. Even when there is no transfer of income between members of a household, or provision of free or cheap accommodation, household members are still likely to benefit from the economies of scale that arise from the sharing of dwellings. The income measures shown in this publication therefore relate to household income, rather than personal income. 

Wealth (net worth)

Household wealth (or net worth) is the value of all the assets owned by a household less the value of all its liabilities. 

Assets include:

  • non-financial assets, such as dwellings and their contents, land, and vehicles
  • own incorporated and unincorporated businesses
  • other financial assets such as bank accounts, shares, superannuation accounts, and the outstanding value of loans made to other households or businesses
     

Liabilities are primarily the value of loans outstanding including:

  • mortgages
  • investment loans
  • credit card debt
  • borrowings from other households
  • other personal and study loans
     

Equivalisation

As household size increases, consumption needs also increase but there are economies of scale. An equivalence scale is used to adjust household incomes to take account of the economies that flow from sharing resources and enable more meaningful comparisons between different types of households.

Equivalising factors are calculated based on the size and composition of the household, recognising that children typically have fewer needs than adults. The ABS uses the OECD-modified equivalence scale which assigns a value of 1 to the household head, 0.5 to each additional person 15 years or older and 0.3 to each child under 15 years.

For a lone person household, equivalised income is equal to actual income. For households comprising more than one person, it is the estimated income that a lone person household would need to enjoy the same standard of living as the household in question.

Table 1 shows that a couple household with one child would need $1,800 weekly disposable income to have the same equivalised disposable household income as a lone person household with a disposable income of $1,000.

Table 1 - Examples of equivalised income

Household compositionEquivalising factor (x)Disposable income (y)Equivalised disposable income (y/x)
 no.$$
Lone person1.01 0001 000
Couple only(1 + 0.5) = 1.51 5001 000
Couple with one child under 15 years(1 + 0.5 + 0.3) = 1.81 8001 000
Group household with three adults(1 + 0.5 + 0.5) = 2.02 0001 000

Equivalence scales are mainly used for household income, but can also be used for household wealth.

Fact sheets

The Household Economic Wellbeing Fact Sheet Series published in Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia, 2011–12 is available in the Data downloads section of this release. It provides a broad overview of the key concepts and data sources for measuring household economic wellbeing. The Household Economic Wellbeing fact sheet series currently comprises:

  • Fact sheet 1. What is household economic wellbeing?
  • Fact sheet 2. Understanding measures of income and wealth
  • Fact sheet 3. Low economic resource households
  • Fact sheet 4. Key data sources
  • Fact sheet 5. Changes over time

Household income and wealth

For most Australians, income is the most important resource they have to meet their living costs. However, reserves of wealth can be drawn upon to maintain living standards in periods of reduced income or substantial unexpected expenses. Considering income and wealth together helps to better understand the economic wellbeing or vulnerability of households.

Levels of household income and wealth

Distribution of household income and wealth

Low, middle and high income and wealth households

Households with middle and high incomes tend to have a corresponding level of economic resources and wellbeing. Low income households, however, do not always have a lower level of economic wellbeing, because low income households may have stores of wealth which help to support their living standards.

In this section, the characteristics of households with different income and wealth levels are compared.

To compare different income levels:

  • High income households refers to the 20% of households in the highest equivalised disposable household income quintile.
  • Middle income households refers to the 20% of households in the third equivalised disposable household income quintile.
  • Low income households refers to the 18% of households in the lowest equivalised disposable household income quintile, adjusted to exclude the first and second percentiles.
     

This low income definition was introduced in SIH 2013–14. This definition better captures households that have low economic resources by excluding those with nil or negative income, or income significantly below government pension rates. Such households often are either experiencing a temporary economic setback or have stores of wealth to support their living costs.

Equivalised disposable household income (EDHI) estimates are adjusted by equivalence factors to standardise them for variations in household size and composition, while taking into account the economies of scale that arise from the sharing of dwellings. When discussing income in this section, we are referring to EDHI.

To compare different wealth levels:

  • High wealth households refers to the 20% of households in the highest net worth quintile.
  • Middle wealth households refers to the 20% of households in the third net worth quintile.
  • Low wealth households refers to the 20% of households in the lowest net worth quintile.
     

For more information see the Survey of Income and Housing, User Guide, Australia, 2017–18.

Characteristics of low, middle and high income households

Changes in income over time

Characteristics of low, middle and high wealth households

Changes in wealth over time

Data downloads - data cubes

1. Household income and income distribution, Australia

2. Household wealth and wealth distribution

3. Income, wealth and debt

4. Selected characteristics of households and persons

5. Equivalised disposable household income quintiles

6. Gross income quintiles

7. Net worth quintiles

8. Tenure and landlord type

9. Household composition

10. Age of reference person

11. Child care

12. Superannuation of persons

Minor correction to transposing and rounding errors in Table 12.3 (2013-14 data).

13. States and territories

14. Household income and income distribution, states and territories

15. Main source of household income, superannuation and investments, Australia

All data cubes

Data downloads - fact sheets

To view the Fact Sheet 1. What is Household Economic Wellbeing? click here.

To view the Fact Sheet 2. Understanding Measures of Income and Wealth click here.

To view the Fact Sheet 3. Low Economic Resource Households click here.

To view the Fact Sheet 4. Key Data Sources click here.

To view the Fact Sheet 5. Changes Over Time click here.

History of changes

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Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6523.0.
 

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