Australian Interpersonal Trust and Life Satisfaction Hit Decade Lows

A June 2026 poll conducted by the Australian National University reveals that interpersonal trust among Australians has fallen to 5.32 on a 10-point scale, the lowest point recorded this decade. The study, which surveyed more than 3,500 adults, also indicates that average life satisfaction has reached its lowest level since consistent tracking began in 2023.

Public satisfaction with the operation of Australian democracy declined by nearly three percent to 62.8 percent. Despite this dip in operational satisfaction, respondents maintained their overall support for democracy as a governance system.

Nicholas Biddle, head of the ANU School of Politics and International Relations, attributed these trends to a population under considerable strain. He cited failures in the structure of the economy and public policy, alongside external uncertainties, as primary drivers for the decline in trust and satisfaction.