New Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey Data Reveal Major Shifts in Australian Life

The latest edition of the HILDA Survey—released by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at University of Melbourne—uses data up to 2023 to highlight how Australians are navigating post-pandemic cost-of-living pressures and evolving social landscapes.

Key findings show older Australians delaying retirement, a growing gap between homeowners and renters in retirement, a drop in desired family size, a rise in bodily pain, and fewer social connections than two decades ago.

Key Insights:

• Those aged 60-64 are retiring later: in 2023 only 41% of women and 27% of men in that age group were retired—down significantly from 70% and 49% respectively in 2003.
  
  
• The number of retirees living in private rentals has doubled over the past 20 years, exposing many to rising housing stress as average rents increased substantially.
  
  
• The average number of children desired has fallen: men’s desired number dropped from 2.22 in 2005 to 1.99 in 2023, women’s from 2.35 to 2.09.
  
  
• Australians are reporting more bodily pain: between 2001 and 2023, average pain levels rose ~5.1% for men and ~11.6% for women (even after age adjustment).
  
  
• Social connections are weakening: average score for number of friends fell from 4.6 to 4.1 (on a 1-7 scale) since 2001, while the share of people meeting friends or relatives several times a week dropped from ~32% to ~20%.
  
  

Takeaway:

Australia’s social and economic landscape is shifting under the weight of rising costs, demographic change and evolving living preferences. These data underscore the need for policies that address housing security, health burdens, social isolation and the changing nature of family and retirement life.