If Australia were a US state
Where it would rank among 50 states + DC — median rank 10th
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Where it would rank among 50 states + DC — median rank 10th
Common questions
Across 16 measures of health, safety, money, education and the environment, Australia's median rank would be 10th on a list of the 50 states plus Washington, DC. It lands in the top half of that list on 13 of the 16 measures.
Australia's GDP per capita is $71,934, price-adjusted so states and countries sit on one scale. That would rank 43rd of 52 among the states — poorer than most US states. Source: World Bank (PPP), 2025. See the full ranking
People in Australia live 83.1 years on average — 4.2 years longer than the US figure of 78.9 years. Among the states, Australia would rank 1st of 52. Source: World Bank / UN Population Division, 2024. See the full ranking
Australia's homicide rate is 0.9 per 100k — a lower rate than every US state. Ranked with the states on the lowest rate, it would come 1st of 52. Source: UNODC / WHO, 2023. See the full ranking
On the 17 measures with wide global coverage, Australia's median rank is 32nd out of roughly 190 countries (coverage varies by measure). Rank 1st means best in the world.
Compared with US states, Australia's strongest measure is life expectancy: at 83.1 years, it would rank 1st of 52. It does equally well on lowest homicide rate. Source: World Bank / UN Population Division, 2024. See the full ranking
Australia's weakest showing is GDP per capita: $71,934 would rank 43rd of 52 — ahead of only 9 of them. Source: World Bank (PPP), 2025. See the full ranking
Australia scores 6.92 / 10 for self-reported life satisfaction, ranking 15th of 162 countries worldwide. Source: World Happiness Report, 2025. See the full ranking
Australia has about 27.6 million people. Dropped into the list of 50 states plus DC, it would rank 3rd of 52 by population. Source: World Bank, 2025. See the full ranking