Baseline report

Data

In 2017, 20.2 per cent of heterosexual couples aged under 65 with at least one member employed were female-breadwinners (i.e. the female earned more than her male partner). (19.3 per cent in 2001). 

• Female-breadwinner couples were 15.0 per cent of couples with dependent children and 28.3 per cent of couples without dependent children.
• Female-breadwinner couples were 18.5 per cent of couples where both hold a university degree, 11.4 per cent of couples where only the male holds a university degree, 31.7 per cent of couples where only the female holds a university degree, and 18.7 per cent of couples were neither holds a university degree.
• Female-breadwinner couples were 17.7 per cent of couples where both were born in a non-mainly English speaking country, 19.7 per cent of couples where only the male was born in a non-mainly English speaking country, 22.6 per cent of couples where only the female was born in a non-mainly English speaking country and 20.5 per cent of couples where neither was born in a non-mainly English speaking country.
• Female breadwinner couples were 21.8 per cent of couples where the age of the male was under 30 years, 14.9 per cent of couples where the male was between 30-39 years, 18.1 per cent of couples where the male was between 40-49 years and 25.2 per cent of couples where the male was over 50 years.
• Female breadwinner couples were 20.3 per cent of couples where the age of the female was under 30 years, 15.1 per cent of couples where the female was between 30-39 years, 19.6 per cent of couples where the female was between 40-49 years, and 27.1 per cent of couples where the female was over the age of 50.
• Female breadwinner couples were 19.4 per cent of couples in major urban areas, 18.8 per cent of couples in other urban areas, and 25.4 per cent of couples in non-urban regions.

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Data source

HILDA Statistical Report 2019 | HILDA

Reported on every three to four years

Data

In 2021-22, 22 per cent of women and 6.1 per cent of men have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.

In the two years to 2021-22, 3.0 per cent of women aged 18 years and over experienced sexual violence. 

• 12.4 per cent of women aged 18 to 24 years had recent experience, compared to 4.5 per cent of women aged 25-34 years, 2.5 per cent of women aged 35-44 years, 1.9 per cent of women aged 45-54 years and 0.5 per cent of women aged 55 years and over.
• 4.0 per cent of women with disability had recent experience, compared to 2.5 per cent of women without disability.
• 13 per cent of women who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual (LGB) or who used a different term such as asexual, pansexual or queer had recent experience, compared to 2.4 per cent of women who identified as heterosexual.
• 7.6 per cent of single mothers with children under the age of 15 years had recent experience, compared to 5.6 per cent of single mothers with older or non-dependent children, 4.7 per cent of women who live by themselves or in a share house, 2 per cent of women in a couple family with children, and 1.2 per cent of women in a couple family with no children.
• 7.1 per cent of women who were renting had recent experience, compared to 1.5 per cent of women who owned their own home.
• Rates of recent sexual violence were higher for women who experienced one or more recent cash flow problems (8.1 per cent) or who were unable to raise $2,000 within a week for something important (6.6 per cent).
• Rates of recent sexual violence were higher for women living in a capital city (3.4 per cent) compared to women living outside of a capital city (2.3 per cent).

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Data source

Sexual violence, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)

Released every five years

Data

In 2021-22, an estimated 1.7 million people (8.7 per cent) experienced sexual harassment in the last 12 months, including:

• 13 per cent of women (1.3 million)
• 4.5 per cent of men (426,800).

Recent experience of sexual harassment was:

• highest among women aged 18 to 24 years (35 per cent) 
• lowest among women aged 65 years and over (3.2 per cent).

Recent experience of sexual harassment was higher for:

• women who identified as LGB or who used a different term such as asexual, pansexual or queer (37 per cent) compared to women who identified as heterosexual (11 per cent)
• women with disability (14 per cent) compared to women without disability (12 per cent)
• women who were unemployed (29 per cent) compared to employed women (15 per cent) and women not in the labour force (7.4 per cent)
• women born in Australia (14 per cent) compared to women born overseas (8.4 per cent)
• women living in a capital city (14 per cent) compared to women living outside a capital city (11 per cent)
• women who experienced recent cash flow problems (27 per cent) compared to women who hadn’t (11 per cent).

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Data source

Personal Safety Survey, via Sexual harassment, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released every five years

Data

In 2021-22, an estimated 7 million people aged 18 years and over (36 per cent) experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

• 42 per cent of men (4.0 million) have experienced physical violence.
• 39 per cent of men (3.7 million) have experienced physical violence by a male and 12 per cent (1.1 million) have experienced physical violence by a female.
• 31 per cent of women (3.1 million) have experienced physical violence.
• 28 per cent of women (2.8 million) have experienced physical violence by a male and 9 per cent (890,000) have experienced physical violence by a female.

In the two years to 2021-22, 4.8 per cent of women aged 18 years and over experienced physical violence.

• 11.2 per cent of women aged 18 to 24 years had recent experience, compared to 7.2 per cent of women aged 25-34 years, 5.4 per cent of women aged 35-44 years, 3.6 per cent of women aged 45-54 years, 3.0 per cent of women aged 55-64 years and 1.1 per cent of women aged 65 years and over.
• 5.8 per cent of women with disability, compared to 4.2 per cent of women without disability.
• 11 per cent of women who identified as LGB or used a different term such as asexual, pansexual or queer, compared to 4.4 per cent of women who identified as heterosexual.
• 15.4 per cent of single mothers with children under the age of 15 years, 9.4 per cent of women living in group households, 7.4 per cent of single mothers with older or non-dependent children, 5.1 per cent of women in a couple with older or no dependent children, 4.5 per cent of women living alone, 3.0 per cent of women living in a couple with children under 15 years, and 2.9 per cent of women living in a couple with no children.
• 15 per cent of women who were unemployed, compared to 5.3 per cent of women who were employed and 3.1 per cent of women not in the labour force.
• 8.3 per cent of women currently renting, compared to 4.6 per cent of women who were a homeowner with a mortgage and 2.3 per cent of women without a mortgage.
• 4.7 per cent of women living in a capital city and 4.9 per cent of women living outside a capital city.
• 14 per cent of women who experienced recent cash flow problems compared to 3.4 per cent of women who did not.

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Data source

Personal Safety Survey, via Physical violence, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released every five years

Data

In 2021-22, one in six women (16.9 per cent) and one in 18 men (5.5 per cent) had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

In the two years to 2021-22, rates of partner violence were:

• 2.6 per cent of women aged 18-34 years, 2.2 per cent of women aged 35-54 years, and 0.6 per cent of women aged 55 years and over
• 2.2 per cent for women with disability compared to 1.5 per cent for women without
• highest for single mothers with children under the age of 15 years (9.3 per cent), compared to other family and household types
• 3.5 per cent for women who were renting compared to 1.1 per cent for women who owned their home
• 1.9 per cent for women living in major cities (1.9 per cent) compared to 1.4 per cent outside major cities
• 1.8 per cent for women with non-school qualifications compared to 1.4 per cent without non-school qualifications
• 6.2 per cent for women who experienced recent cash flow problems compared to 1.2 per cent for women who hadn’t.

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Data source

Personal Safety Survey via Family, domestic and sexual violence | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Released every five years

Data

In 2021-22, one in four women (22.9 per cent) and one in seven men (13.8 per cent) had emotional abuse by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

In the two years to 2021-22, rates of emotional abuse by a partner were:

• 4.7 per cent of women aged 18-34 years, 7.7 per cent of women aged 35-54 years, and 3.8 per cent of women aged 55 years and over
• 7.0 per cent of women with disability compared to 4.6 per cent of women without disability
• highest for single mothers with children under the age of 15 years (18 per cent), compared to other family and household types
• 7.3 per cent for women who were renting compared to 4.8 per cent for women who owned their home
• 5.1 per cent for women living in major cities compared to 5.8 per cent outside major cities
• 6.1 per cent for women with non-school qualifications compared to 3.4 per cent for women without
• 13 per cent for women who experienced recent cash flow problems compared to 4.3 per cent for those who hadn’t.

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Data source

• Partner violence, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Family, domestic and sexual violence | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Released every five years

Data

In 2021-22, one in six women (16.3 per cent) and one in 13 men (7.8 per cent) had economic abuse by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15.

In the two years to 2021-22, rates of economic abuse by a partner were:

• 3.1 per cent of women aged 18-34 years, 4.5 per cent of women aged 35-54 years, and 1.8 per cent of women aged 55 years and over
• 4.6 per cent of women with disability compared to 2.4 per cent of women without disability
• highest for single mothers with children under the age of 15 years (17 per cent), compared to other family and household types
• 5.5 per cent for women who were renting compared to 2.3 per cent of women who owned their home
• 2.9 per cent for women living in major cities and 3.3 per cent outside major cities
• 3.5 per cent for women with non-school qualifications compared to 2.0 per cent of women without
• 9.3 per cent for women who experienced recent cash flow problems compared to 2.2 of women who hadn’t.

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Data source

• Partner violence, 2021-22 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Family, domestic and sexual violence | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Released every five years

Data

In 2022: 

• 15-17 years: 60 per cent of women, 25 per cent of men
• 18-29 years: 56 per cent of women, 35 per cent of men
• 30-39 years: 45 per cent of women, 32 per cent of men
• 40-49 years: 34 per cent of women, 22 per cent of men
• 50-64 years: 27 per cent of women, 19 per cent of men
• 65+ years: 36 per cent of women, 12 per cent of men.

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Data source

Time for respect: fifth national survey on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces | Australian Human Rights Commission

Irregular release

Data

In 2020-21, female parents did around 8 hours and 45 minutes more unpaid child care per week more than male parents.

• 1 hour and 15 minutes more per day.

Within demographic groups, of people who provided child care, the difference in care per week between women and men was highest for:

• People aged 25 to 34 years (13 hours) and lowest for people aged 65 years and over (0 hours).
• People living in inner regional Australia (13 hours) and lowest for people in major cities (7 hours).
• People born in Australia (8 hours) compared to people born overseas (7 hours).
• People who are unemployed (18 hours) compared to people who are employed full-time (3 hours).
• People whose highest level of educational attainment is the certificate level (10 hours) and lowest for people with diploma/advanced diploma (30 minutes).
• People in the lowest quintile of household income (17 hours) and lowest for people in the highest quintile (3 hours).
• People in the lowest quintile of personal income (13 hours) and lowest for people in the highest quintile (3 hours).
• People in the lowest quintile of relative socio-economic disadvantage (9 hours) and lowest for people in the third quintile (6 hours).
• People with good self-assessed health status (12 hours) and lowest for people with very good self-assessed health status (4 hours).

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Data source

How Australians Use Their Time, 2020-21 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released every two years

Data

In February 2024:

• 43.3 per cent of employed women work part-time
• 20.0 per cent of employed men work part-time

Within demographic groups, in 2023, rates of part-time work were highest for:

• Women aged 65 years and over (67.6 per cent working part-time) and lowest for women aged 25-34 years (32 per cent).
  • Men aged 15-24 years (46.7 per cent) and lowest for men aged 35-44 years (9.1 per cent).
• Not married women (44.2 per cent) compared to married women (including women in de facto relationships) (41.7 per cent) and married men (12.9 per cent).
• Women born in Australia (44.6 per cent), compared to women born in mainly English-speaking countries (39.6 per cent) and women born in countries other than mainly English-speaking countries (38.6 per cent).
• Women whose highest level of educational attainment is year 12 or below (54.2 per cent) and lowest for women with a diploma or above (35.1 per cent).
• By their status in their household, women who are dependent students (93.3 per cent) and lowest for women living alone (29.6 per cent).
  • Men who are dependent students (87.4 per cent) and lowest for men in a couple family with children under 15 years (8.1 per cent).

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Data source

Labour Force, Australia, February 2024 | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Monthly release

Data

In February 2024, women’s participation rate was 62.9 per cent, compared to 70.7 per cent for men. 

In 2023, the participation rate was lowest for:

• Women aged 65 years and over (11.6 per cent) followed by women aged 55 to 64 years (63.5 per cent). It was highest for women aged 24-34 years (82.6 per cent).
• Women who aren’t married (57.8 per cent) compared to married women (66.3 per cent).
• Women born in countries other than the main English-speaking countries (60.5 per cent) compared to women born in the main English-speaking countries (60.8 per cent) and women born in Australia (63.7 per cent).
• Women whose highest level of educational attainment is year 12 or below (47.4 per cent). It was highest for women with a diploma or above (76.8 per cent).
• Single mothers with non-dependent children (42.2 per cent). It was highest for women in couple families with dependent students over the age of 15 years (85 per cent).

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Data source

Labour Force, Australia | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released monthly

Data

In 2020-21, median superannuation gaps (men minus women):

• Under 18: $120 (39.1 per cent)
• 18-24 years: $299 (7.1 per cent)
• 25-29 years: -$285 (-1.7 per cent - women have higher balances than men)
• 30-34 years: $6,133 (14.7 per cent)
• 35-39 years: $16,661 (22.5 per cent)
• 40-44 years: $29,127 (27.3 per cent)
• 45-49 years: $43,275 (30.9 per cent)
• 50-54 years: $54,059 (32.4 per cent)
• 55-59 years: $60,549 (31.7 per cent)
• 60-64 years: $53,190 (25.1 per cent)
• 65-69 years: $12,753 (6.0 per cent)
• 70-74 years: $4,102 (1.9 per cent)
• 75 years or more: $5,206 (3.0 per cent)
• Total (all ages): $14,914 (21.7 per cent)

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Data source

Individuals statistics | Australian Taxation Office

Released annually

Data

In 2020-21, 18.7 per cent of retired women’s main source of personal income at retirement was superannuation (compared to 34.7 per cent of retired men).

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Data source

Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia, 2020-21 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released annually

Data

In 2020-21, 18.6 per cent of retired women had no sources of personal income at retirement (compared to 3.1 per cent of men).

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Data source

Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia, 2020-21 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released annually

Data

In 2020-21, 34 per cent of retired women relied on their partner’s income to meet their living costs at retirement (compared to 7 per cent of retired men). 

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Data source

Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia, 2020-21 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released annually

Data

In 2020-21, median annual personal income from investment was $105 for women and $103 for men (a gender gap of –1.9 per cent).

• At the 75th percentile, this widens to $2,168 for women and $2,389 for men (a gap of 9.3 per cent).
• For people aged 65 years and over, median investment income was $2,995 for women and $2,237 for men (a gap of –33.9 per cent), widening to $14,115 for women and $12,802 for men at the 75th percentile (–10.3 per cent).

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Data source

Personal Income in Australia, 2020-21 | Australian Bureau of Statistics, customised data request

Released annually

Data

In February 2024, 54.6 per cent of age pension recipients aged 65 to 85 years were women, and 63.3 per cent of age pension recipients aged 85 years and older were women

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Data source

DSS Income Support Recipients – Monthly Time Series | data.gov.au

Released monthly

Data

In 2022-23, there were 273,648 specialist homelessness services clients, of which 59.4 per cent were women. 

• 21.1 per cent of female clients were aged 25-34 years
• The main source of income for female clients were the Parenting payment (25.6 per cent), JobSeeker payment (23.9 per cent) and Disability support pension (12.1 per cent)
• For women the most common main reason for seeking assistance was family and domestic violence (16.3 per cent), for men it was housing crisis (11.2 per cent)
• 65.1 per cent of all young people presenting alone to services were women
• 59 per cent of female clients were in major cities, 34.3 per cent were in regional areas and 6.7 per cent were in remote and very remote areas
• 28.6 per cent of female clients were Indigenous
• 52.8 per cent of older clients seeking assistance were female
• 2.3 per cent of female clients had a disability
• 32.8 per cent of female clients had a mental health issue
• 87.2 per cent of all clients were born in Australia
• 14.7 per cent of all clients spoke a language other than English at home; 20.6 per cent of these spoke Aboriginal English

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Data source

Specialist homelessness services annual report 2022–23, Data | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Released annually

Data

On Census night 2021, 122,494 people were estimated to be homeless; 55.9 per cent of these were male and 44.1 per cent of these were female.

• 51 per cent of Indigenous Australians experiencing homelessness are female.
• 23.4 per cent of women experiencing homelessness are Indigenous.
• Young females had a homelessness rate of 70 people per 10,000 and young males had a rate of 71 per 10,000.
• Young females were more likely than males to be in supported housing (26.6 per cent) or staying temporarily with other households (9.9 per cent).
• Older females had a rate of 19 people per 10,000 and older males had a rate of 34 per 10,000.
• Older females were more like to be living in severely crowded dwellings (30.5 per cent), staying temporarily with other households (26.7 per cent) or in supported accommodation (16.9 per cent).

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Data source

Estimating Homelessness: Census, 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (via TableBuilder)

Released every five years

Data

• In 2022-23, 8.4 per cent of women and 5.5 per cent of men delayed seeing a GP due to cost.
  • This was highest for women aged 25-34 years (11.3 per cent) and men aged 25-34 years (8.6 per cent) and lowest for women aged 75-84 years (3.0 per cent) and men aged 85 years and over (2.1 per cent)
• 9.4 per cent of women and 5.5 per cent of men delayed getting a prescription.
  • This was highest for women aged 15-24 years (14.7 per cent) and men aged 25-34 years (8.6 per cent) and lowest for women aged 75-84 years (3.7 per cent) and men aged 65-74 years (3.4 per cent)
• 12.2 per cent of women and 8.4 per cent of men delayed seeing a medical specialist.
  • This was highest for women aged 25-34 years (20.3 per cent) and men aged 25-34 years (16.6 per cent) and lowest for women aged 75-84 years (4.2 per cent) and men aged 85 years and over (1.6 per cent).
• 18.8 per cent of women and 16.2 per cent of men delayed seeing a dental professional
  • This was highest for women aged 25-34 years (26.8 per cent) and men aged 25-34 years (25.5 per cent) and lowest for women aged 75-84 years (10.4 per cent) and men aged (6.1 per cent)
• 3.1 per cent of women and 2.9 per cent of men did not go to a hospital when needed due to cost.
• 21.4 per cent of women and 15.4 per cent of men did not see a mental health professional due to cost
  • This was highest for women aged 25-34 years (30.0 per cent) and men aged 25-34 years (21.9 per cent) and lowest for women aged 75 years and over (3.7 per cent) and men aged 65-74 years (5.3 per cent).

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Data source

Patient Experiences, 2022-23 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Released annually

Data

In 2020-22, 21.6 per cent of women saw a health professional for their mental health, compared with 12.9 per cent of men.

• This was highest for women aged 16-34 years (29.9 per cent) and men aged 16-34 years (16.0 per cent) and lowest for women aged 65-85 years (9.6 per cent) and men aged 65-85 years (6.8 per cent).

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Data source

National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Irregular release

Data

In 2022-23, 78.8 per cent of adult women and 52.1 per cent of girls participated in sport at least once per week. Participation was highest for:

• Women aged 45-54 years (83.7 per cent) and lowest for women aged 18-24 years (74.3 per cent).
• Girls aged 9-11 years (66.8 per cent).
• Women living in major cities (83.2 per cent) and lowest for women in remote or very remote areas (77.4 per cent)
• Women employed full-time (85.3 per cent) and lowest for unemployed women (70.3 per cent)
• Women with a university degree or higher (87.3 per cent) and lowest for women who did not complete year 12 (71.1 per cent)
• Women in a couple or single with no children (83.3 per cent) and lowest for women with a younger family (80.7 per cent)
• Non-Indigenous women (82.6 per cent) compared to Indigenous women (72.5 per cent)
• Women who mainly speak English at home (83.6 per cent) and lowest for women who speak a non-European language at home (73.8 per cent)
• Women without a disability (84.8 per cent) compared to women with disability (70.0 per cent)
• Women with a household income above $200,000 a year (91.4 per cent) and lowest for women with a household income below $40,000 a year (75.4 per cent)

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Data source

Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay results July 2022 – June 2023 | Clearinghouse for Sport

Released annually