Australia (Commonwealth of Australia)

Australia Commonwealth of Australia
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	13th best
Capital	Canberra
Land Area	7 682 300km21
Location	Australasia
Population	24.9m2
Life Expectancy	84.53yrs (2017)3
GNI	$49 238 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	AU, AUS, 365
Internet Domain	.au6
Currency	Dollar (AUD)7
Telephone	+618

1. Overview
2. Australia National and Social Development
3. Australia's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Australia's Health
6. Australia's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Australia's Modernity and Learning
8. Australia's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Christian Child Abuse in Australia
11. Links

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1. Overview

“Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession of the east coast in the name of Great Britain (all of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829 with the creation of the colony of Western Australia). Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the Allied effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has become an internationally competitive, advanced market economy due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s and its location in one of the fastest growing regions of the world economy. Long-term concerns include ageing of the population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as floods, droughts, and bushfires. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, making it particularly vulnerable to the challenges of climate change. Australia is home to 10 per cent of the world's biodiversity, and a great number of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else in the world. In January 2013, Australia assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2013-14 term.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Australia - the sixth-largest country on this lonely planet - is dazzlingly diverse: a sing-along medley of mountains, deserts, reefs, forests, beaches and multicultural melting-pot cities. Most Australians live along the coast, and most of these folks live in cities. In fact, Australia is the 18th-most urbanised country in the world. Sydney is a glamorous collusion of beaches, boutiques and bars. Melbourne is all arts, alleyways and Australian Rules football. Brisbane is a subtropical town on the way up; Adelaide has festive grace and pubby poise. Boomtown Perth breathes west-coast optimism; Canberra transcends political agendas. And the tropical northern frontier town of Darwin and chilly southern sandstone city of Hobart couldn´t be more different. [...] Australia's national parks and secluded corners are custommade for camping trips down the dirt road.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Australia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
4	Hong Kong	0.952
5	Australia	0.951
6	Denmark	0.948
7	Sweden	0.947
8	Ireland	0.945
9	Germany	0.942
10	Netherlands	0.941
11	Finland	0.940
12	Singapore	0.939
	Australasia Avg	0.70
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
20	Belgium	$52 293
21	Andorra	$51 167
22	Finland	$49 452
23	Australia	$49 238
24	Canada	$46 808
25	Saudi Arabia	$46 112
26	France	$45 937
27	UK	$45 225
	Australasia Avg	$12 519
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	29.1
2	Norway	32.3
3	Sweden	34.1
	...
10	Ireland	42.1
11	New Zealand	42.1
12	Belgium	42.5
13	Australia	43.1
14	Iceland	44.2
15	France	44.3
16	Luxembourg	44.4
17	UK	45.3
	Australasia Avg	95.6
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Australia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Australia's population is predicted to rise to 27.77 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.63. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
52	N. Korea	25.5m
53	Cameroon	25.2m
54	Ivory Coast	25.1m
55	Australia	24.9m
56	Niger	22.4m
57	Sri Lanka	21.2m
58	Burkina Faso	19.8m
59	Romania	19.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
6	Malta	83.8
7	S. Korea	83.7
8	Liechtenstein	83.3
9	Norway	83.2
10	Spain	83.0
11	Sweden	83.0
12	Italy	82.9
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
57	Barbados	1.63
58	Guyana	2.37
59=	Serbia	1.63
59=	Australia	1.63
61	Brazil	1.63
62	Czechia	1.62
63	St Martin	2.39
64	Trinidad & Tobago	1.61
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
142	Montenegro	30.0
143	Belarus	30.3
144	Ukraine	30.8
145	Australia	31.3
146	Slovakia	31.6
147	Albania	31.8
148	Norway	32.2
149	Iceland	32.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
14	Nauru	32.7%
15	Lebanon	31.9%
16	Switzerland	29.6%
17	Australia	28.8%
18	Antigua & Barbuda	28.1%
19	Brunei	25.3%
20	Israel	23.6%
21	Palau	23.0%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
152	Uganda	2.2%
153	Sudan	2.2%
154	Chad	2.1%
155	Australia	2.1%
156	Serbia	2.0%
157	Venezuela	1.8%
158	S. Africa	1.7%
159	Iran	1.7%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Australia #australia_freedom #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
4	Netherlands	9.8
5	Iceland	12.9
6	New Zealand	13.3
7	Canada	14.7
8	Austria	14.9
9	Australia	16.0
10	Luxembourg	16.2
	Australasia Avg	79.23
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

When it comes to ensuring human rights and freedom, Australia leads the world, setting excellent examples. Australia does the best when it comes to its average Freedom in the World rating. It comes in the best 20 in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₁₉ (amongst the lowest in Australasia), eliminating modern slavery₂₀ (one of the best in Australasia), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₁ (one of the best in Australasia), its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₂ (amongst the best in Australasia), opposing gender inequality₂₃ (the best in Australasia) and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₄ (amongst the best in Australasia). And finally, it does better than average when it comes to LGBT equality₂₅ (one of the highest in Australasia), supporting press freedom₂₆ (one of the highest in Australasia), commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₇ (amongst the best in Australasia) and in freethought₂₈ (but bad for Australasia). In 2017 Australia granted equality under marriage law to LGBT folk₂₉.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights, Equality and Freedom in Australia

5. Australia's Health

#alcohol #australia #birth_control #demographics #fake_lobbies #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #public_health #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2025)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	New Caledonia	57.9
2	Australia	66.3
3	New Zealand	69.9
4	Guam	99.3
5	Fiji	105.9
6	French Polynesia	114.5
7	Vanuatu	118.8
8	Solomon Islands	119.7
9	Palau	121.6
10	Tonga	124.3
11	Papua New Guinea	125.9
12	Tuvalu	126.7
13	Kiribati	129.5
	Australasia Avg	112.00
q=19.

Health (2025)30
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank30
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
30	Italy	65.0
31	Austria	65.0
32	Andorra	65.6
33	Australia	66.3
34	Montenegro	66.5
35	St Martin	66.7
36	Slovenia	67.5
37	Ireland	68.0
	World Avg	97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue₃₁.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₃₁, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia₃₁.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health Datasets:

Australia does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Australia comes in the best 20 for its average life expectancy₁₁ (the highest in Australasia) and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₂ (the best in Australasia). It does better than average in terms of its adolescent birth rate₃₃ (the best in Australasia), its suicide rate₃₄ (the best in Australasia) and in its fertility rate₁₄. Australia still has work to do. Australia does worse than average for its immunizations take-up₃₅, its smoking rate₃₆ (the worst in Australasia), its alcohol consumption rate₃₇ (one of the worst in Australasia) and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₈ (still good for Australasia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Australia in the 1990s and later 2010s was amongst the top 10 in the world. It improved by +6.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Australia's peak fertility rate was 3.54 in 1961.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
6	Malta	83.8
7	S. Korea	83.7
8	Liechtenstein	83.3
9	Norway	83.2
10	Spain	83.0
11	Sweden	83.0
12	Italy	82.9
	Australasia Avg	70.11
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better37
Pos.		2016 Per Capita37
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
154=	Greece	10.4
154=	Denmark	10.4
156	Cook Islands	10.6
157=	Australia	10.6
158	New Zealand	10.7
159=	Finland	10.7
160	Uruguay	10.8
161=	Cyprus	10.8
	Australasia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
57	Barbados	1.63
58	Guyana	2.37
59=	Serbia	1.63
59=	Australia	1.63
61	Brazil	1.63
62	Czechia	1.62
63	St Martin	2.39
64	Trinidad & Tobago	1.61
	Australasia Avg	2.82
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better36
Pos.		201436
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
115	Turkmenistan	92539
116	Chile	930
117	Ireland	954
118	Australia	956
119	Mongolia	957
120	Bahrain	969
121	France	993
122	Brunei	1 023
	Australasia Avg	372
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Australia and Cigarette Plain Packaging: When this measure was being planned, the tobacco industry panicked, and instigated aggressive campaigns against it throughout 2007 to 2011. They argued that it would create a black market for packaged produce, yet also argued that plain packaging doesn't work (i.e., sales will continue). The "Alliance of Australian Retailers" (AAR) appeared, with shop owners repeating all the industry's arguments against plain packaging and saying things like "it will make it harder to run my business". Struggling retailers of course weren't really behind the slick and rather well-funded AAR: it was the product of the three biggest tobacco firms, BAT, Phillip Morris and Imperial: the interviews were setup, and the shop-owners were pretend.₄₀

• The Tobacco Lobby: Fake Science, Legal Aggression, Lies and Misinformation

Suicide Rate34
Pos.		2013 Per 100k34
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
41	Spain	15.3
42	Argentina	15.6
43	Thailand	15.8
44	Australia	16.4
45	El Salvador	16.5
46	Kyrgyzstan	17.7
47	Netherlands	18.6
48	Luxembourg	19.3
	Australasia Avg	20.00
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
10	USA	10
11	Luxembourg	11
12	Finland	12
13	Australia	13
14	UAE	14
15	Saudi Arabia	15
16	Belgium	16
17	New Zealand	17
	Australasia Avg	94.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better38
Pos.		1976 %38
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
163=	USA	41.6
163=	Spain	41.6
165	Ukraine	42.2
166	Australia	42.4
167	Lithuania	42.6
168	New Zealand	42.7
169	Russia	43.8
170=	Belgium	43.9
	Australasia Avg	48.8
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better41
Pos.		2022 %41
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
145	Poland	31.4%
146	Dominica	31.5%
147	UAE	31.5%
148	Australia	31.8%
149	Costa Rica	32.0%
150	Paraguay	32.1%
151	Brunei	32.4%
152	Nicaragua	32.4%
	Australasia Avg	49.3%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better33
Pos.		2022 Per 100033
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
32	Portugal	7.1
33	Germany	7.2
34	Israel	7.4
35	Australia	7.7
36	Estonia	8.1
37	Croatia	8.2
38	Greece	8.3
39	Bahrain	8.7
	Australasia Avg	40.2
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better35
Pos.		2015 Avg %35
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
105	Vietnam	92.3
106	Denmark	92.3
107	Azerbaijan	92.2
108=	Australia	92.1
108=	Barbados	92.1
110	Ghana	91.7
111=	Lesotho	91.7
112	Malawi	91.7
	Australasia Avg	86.4
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Australia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#australia #biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #hong_kong #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Australasia (2025)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	New Zealand	75.8
2	Australia	76.6
3	Fiji	89.1
4	Vanuatu	93.0
5	Tonga	96.1
6	Papua New Guinea	104.5
7	Samoa	107.0
8	Kiribati	111.4
9	Micronesia	114.6
10	Cook Islands	119.6
11	Solomon Islands	121.6
12	Marshall Islands	123.1
13	Palau	124.5
	Australasia Avg	93.28
q=16.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
78	Bulgaria	75.8
79	Malawi	76.0
80	Benin	76.5
81	Australia	76.6
82	Botswana	76.8
83	Syria	77.4
84	Congo, (Brazzaville)	77.6
85	Latvia	77.7
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₃. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Australia is positioned 81st in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment (one of the lowest in Australasia). This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Australia comes in the best 20 in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. It does better than average in its environmental performance₄₄ (one of the highest in Australasia) and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₅. But, things still need to improve in Australia. Australia does worse than average in its score on the Green Future Index₄₆ (yet still amongst the highest in Australasia), the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₇ (yet still the best in Australasia) and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₈ (yet still one of the best in Australasia). And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₉ (amongst the worst in Australasia).

The Green Futures Index uses the mild phrase 'climate-skeptic government' to describe Australia's government in the recent past₅₀. But it was worse than that: Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott was almost a complete denialist, witnessed by his government's Direct Action Plan, described accurately as simply "impotent"₅₁ - thankfully his 'Liberal Party of Australia' (a misleadingly-named conservative party) mostly collapsed in the mid 2010s giving the Labour government time to implement some wiser policies. After a long period of bad leadership, the wider population are confused; just 31.8% of Australians have worries about the environment (10% lower than the global average of 39.9%₄₇). News outlets are to blame. Although a few broadcasters have readers who are well educated on the climate, the most popular news producers tend to push their consumers towards climate change denial: Whilst 94% of Huffington Post readers say climate change is somewhat or very serious, "nearly 30% of skynews.com.au readers don't believe climate change is a serious issue (compared to 35% of those who watch Sky News TV), and we see News Corp websites dominate the news sites whose readers most deny climate change"₅₂.

Environmental Performance Higher is better44
Pos.		201844
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
18	Netherlands	75.5
19	Israel	75.0
20	Japan	74.7
21	Australia	74.1
22	Greece	73.6
23	Taiwan	72.8
24	Cyprus	72.6
25	Canada	72.2
	Australasia Avg	55.2
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better48
Pos.		2022 Avg48
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
107	Georgia	1.22
108	Mauritania	1.24
109	Iraq	1.24
110	Australia	1.25
111	Cuba	1.25
112	Thailand	1.26
113	Slovakia	1.26
114	Sweden	1.30
	Australasia Avg	1.23
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
11	Germany	76%
12	Belarus	76%
13	Lithuania	75%
14	Australia	74%
15	Uruguay	74%
16	Macedonia	74%
17	Panama	74%
18	Denmark	73%
	Australasia Avg	48.2%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Australia was one of the 19 countries that signed the Basel Convention on its very first day, and one of the 30 who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on its first day.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better47
Pos.		2011 %47
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
86	Bulgaria	32.5%
87	Kyrgyzstan	32.0%
88	Georgia	31.9%
89	Australia	31.8%
90	Austria	31.8%
91	Azerbaijan	31.7%
92	Guinea	31.2%
93	Slovakia	31.1%
	Australasia Avg	28.0%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better49
Pos.		2021 kg49
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
176	Samoa	106.2
177	Israel	107.7
178	St Vincent & Grenadines	109.5
179	Australia	110.2
180	Bahamas	111.9
181	Argentina	115.5
182	Mongolia	115.6
183	Nauru	125.9
	Australasia Avg	74.2
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, Australia's meat consumption per person was the 2nd-highest in the world (119kg per person per year, on average), after Hong Kong, putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.₄₉

Green Future Index Higher is better46
Pos.		2023 Score46
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
41	New Zealand	4.6
42=	Philippines	4.6
42=	Israel	4.6
42=	Australia	4.6
45	Taiwan	4.5
46=	Mexico	4.5
47	Ukraine	4.4
48	Argentina	4.3
	Australasia Avg	4.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

Commenting on the period of dominance by the so-called Liberal Party in the 2010s, especially under climate-change-skeptic Tony Abbott, the Green Futures Index says that although "until recently led by a climate-skeptic government, [Australia] shows policy focus and business incentives can create a significant shift toward a green future. Australia jumped 10 places in the 2023 Green Futures Index, to 42nd place"₅₀.

7. Australia's Modernity and Learning

#australia #education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)53
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank53
1	New Zealand	15.2
2	Australia	16.6
3	Palau	47.4
4=	Tonga	62.0
5	Fiji	71.5
6	Samoa	99.8
7	Marshall Islands	111.1
8	Vanuatu	125.6
9	Kiribati	127.3
10	Micronesia	133.6
11	Tuvalu	138.2
12	Solomon Islands	154.5
13	Papua New Guinea	158.4
	Australasia Avg	97.01
q=13.

Modernity & Learning (2020)53
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank53
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
4	Iceland	15.0
5	New Zealand	15.2
6	Sweden	15.8
7	Germany	16.3
8	Australia	16.6
9	Switzerland	17.4
10	Estonia	17.9
11	Norway	18.3
12	UK	19.4
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₅₄. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₅₄. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₅.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₅₆

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₄, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₄.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

Throughout all the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s to the present, education in Australia has been the longest in the world, peaking at almost 23 years throughout the life of the average person. It was one of just ten countries who increased their expected duration of education by over 3 years in the 1990s, and it continued to rise in the 2000s before falling slightly in the 2010s.₅₇

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2958
2	Israel	4.1158
3	Japan	3.5858
	...
12	Belgium	2.4658
13	Slovenia	2.3958
14	France	2.2658
15	Australia	2.2559
16=	Singapore	2.0060
16=	Czechia	2.0058
18	Netherlands	1.9758
19	Iceland	1.8958
	Australasia Avg	1.71
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better61
Pos.		201861
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
36	Belarus	92.2%
37	Marshall Islands	92.1%
38	Montenegro	91.6%
39	Australia	90.4%
40	Romania	90.0%
41	Botswana	90.0%
42	Serbia	89.5%
43	Denmark	89.3%
	Australasia Avg	79.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better62
Pos.		2021 Years62
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
4	Belgium	19.6
5	Sweden	19.4
6	Iceland	19.2
7	Finland	19.1
8	Ireland	18.9
9	Denmark	18.7
10	Netherlands	18.7
11	Grenada	18.7
12	Turkey	18.3
	Australasia Avg	13.4
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
17	Sweden	17
18	Lithuania	18
19	Macedonia	19
20	Australia	20
21	Germany	21
22	Grenada	22
23	Poland	23
24	France	24
	Australasia Avg	58.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better63
Pos.		2015 Score63
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
19	Poland	1511
20	Belgium	1508
21=	Vietnam	1507
21=	Australia	1507
23	UK	1499
24	Portugal	1491
25=	France	1487
25=	Sweden	1487
	Australasia Avg	1512
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better64
Pos.		2018 %64
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
20	Australia	18
21=	Vietnam	18
22	Bulgaria	19
23=	Norway	19
24	Netherlands	20
	Australasia Avg	18.0
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better65
Pos.		200665
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
24=	Czechia	98
24=	Spain	98
24=	France	98
24=	Australia	98
24=	Denmark	98
24=	USA	98
24=	Latvia	98
24=	Hungary	98
	Australasia Avg	98.5
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better66
Pos.		201666
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
26	Switzerland	87%
27	France	86%
28	S. Korea	86%
29	Australia	85%
30	Bahamas	85%
31	Puerto Rico	83%
32=	Singapore	83%
32=	Slovakia	83%
	Australasia Avg	44.3%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better67
Pos.		201267
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
4	Australia	18
5	Hungary	19
6=	Philippines	23
6=	Italy	23
8	UK	25
9=	S. Africa	26
9=	Argentina	26
11	Ukraine	27
12=	Brazil	27
	Australasia Avg	18.0
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better68
Pos.		201368
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
21	Poland	0.55
22	Switzerland	0.55
23	S. Korea	0.56
24	Australia	0.63
25	Libya	0.63
26	Qatar	0.65
27	Chile	0.66
28	Guinea-Bissau	0.67
	Australasia Avg	0.63
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better69
Pos.		2017 Ratio69
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
16	Estonia	17.6
17	Malaysia	16.5
18	Norway	14.7
19	Australia	14.6
20	Trinidad & Tobago	14.5
21	Finland	14.1
22	Brazil	13.9
23	Netherlands	10.5
	Australasia Avg	1.55
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better70
Pos.		202470
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
34	Malta	61.0%
35	Slovakia	60.7%
36	Hungary	60.2%
37	Australia	59.7%
38	Greece	58.9%
39	Qatar	58.6%
40	Saudi Arabia	57.5%
41	Malaysia	57.5%
	Australasia Avg	60.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Australia's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#australia #capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Australasia (2020)71
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank71
1	New Zealand	15.5
2	Australia	29.4
3	Fiji	77.4
4	Samoa	83.3
5	Tonga	105.3
6	Papua New Guinea	110.3
	Australasia Avg	70.21
q=6.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)71
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank71
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
12	Canada	23.1
13	Germany	24.4
14	Luxembourg	25.7
15	Australia	29.4
16	Belgium	31.3
17	UK	31.8
18	Slovenia	32.6
19	Malta	36.8
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

World Giving Index Higher is better72
Pos.		2022 %72
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
4	Australia	55.0
5	New Zealand	54.0
6	Myanmar (Burma)	52.0
7=	Sierra Leone	51.0
7=	Canada	51.0
9	Zambia	50.0
10=	Ukraine	49.0
10=	Ireland	49.0
12	Czechia	48.0
	Australasia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better73
Pos.		2022 Points73
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
10	Ireland	77.0
11=	Luxembourg	77.0
12	Hong Kong	76.0
13	Australia	75.0
14=	Estonia	74.0
14=	Uruguay	74.0
14=	Iceland	74.0
14=	Canada	74.0
	Australasia Avg	55.83
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Throughout the 2010s, Australia's score on the Corruption Perception Index declined suddenly; it was amongst the 10 countries with the worse rise in perceived corruption that decade, although it had a good starting point, so only fell from 8th position to 12th.

Happiness Higher is better74
Pos.		2024 Score74
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
8	Israel	7.2
9	Luxembourg	7.1
10	Mexico	7.0
11	Australia	7.0
12	New Zealand	7.0
13	Switzerland	6.9
14	Belgium	6.9
15	Ireland	6.9
	Australasia Avg	6.96
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
45	Japan	45
46	Moldova	46
47	Greece	47
48	Australia	48
49	Seychelles	49
50	Grenada	50
51	Chile	51
52	Bahamas	52
	Australasia Avg	61.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
99	Israel	99
100	Argentina	100
101	Seychelles	101
102	Australia	102
103	Madagascar	103
104	Dominica	104
105	Iceland	105
106	Bolivia	106
	Australasia Avg	91.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Global Peace Index Lower is better75
Pos.		2023 Score75
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
19	Malaysia	1.51
20	Belgium	1.52
21	Qatar	1.52
22	Australia	1.53
23	Mauritius	1.55
24	Norway	1.55
25	Estonia	1.56
26	Slovakia	1.58
	Australasia Avg	1.64
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
51	Norway	51
52	Finland	52
53	France	53
54	Australia	54
55	Italy	55
56	Mauritius	56
57	Zambia	57
58	Romania	58
	Australasia Avg	88.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
4	Sweden	4
5	Malta	5
6	Australia	6
7	Norway	7
8	Finland	8
9	Denmark	9
10	Switzerland	10
11	Canada	11
12	UK	12
	Australasia Avg	103.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better76
Pos.		2019 Score76
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
77	Malaysia	2.50
78	Brazil	2.53
79	Ivory Coast	2.60
80	Australia	2.65
81	Congo, (Brazzaville)	2.69
82	Ireland	2.69
83	Zimbabwe	2.83
84	Peru	2.84
	Australasia Avg	1.38
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better77
Pos.		201977
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
22	Montenegro	3.60
23=	Cyprus	3.60
23=	Denmark	3.60
25	Australia	3.70
26=	Austria	3.70
27	France	3.80
28=	Germany	3.80
29	UK	4.10
	Australasia Avg	13.47
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better78
Pos.		2023 %78
1	Slovakia	24.1%79
2	Slovenia	24.3%79
3	Belarus	24.4%80
	...
72=	Romania	33.9%79
73	Tajikistan	34.0%81
74	Sudan	34.2%82
75=	Australia	34.3%83
75=	Montenegro	34.3%79
75=	Latvia	34.3%79
78	Benin	34.4%79
79	Portugal	34.6%79
	Australasia Avg	34.8%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation #universalism

Religiosity (2018)64
Pos.		Lower is better %64
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
20	Australia	18
21=	Vietnam	18
22	Bulgaria	19
23=	Norway	19
24	Netherlands	20
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
27	Ireland	22
28=	Kazakhstan	22
28=	Spain	22
30	Slovakia	23
31=	Ukraine	23
32	Canada	27
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)84
Pos.		Higher is better %84
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
17	S. Korea	30
18	Finland	28
19	Russia	27
20	Australia	25
21	Taiwan	24
22=	New Zealand	22
22=	Canada	22
24	Latvia	20
25=	Ukraine	20
25=	Mongolia	20
27	Austria	18
28=	Slovakia	17
28=	Switzerland	17
28=	Belarus	17
31	Greece	16
32=	Iceland	16
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₈₅:

Christian	67.3%
Muslim	2.4%
Hindu	1.4%
Buddhist	2.7%
Folk Religion	0.7%
Jewish	0.5%
Unaffiliated	24.2%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 75% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 18% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 27.4% (Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 3%), Catholic 25.8%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian 7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%, none 18.7% (2006 Census)₈₆.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on Australia₈₇. Despite the large numbers of Christians, not many have traditional beliefs in the afterlife - just 13%. More people don't know what to believe (30%). Some believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (24%). Also, 2% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 9% believe in reincarnation.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?

10. Christian Child Abuse in Australia₈₈

#australia

There has been a lot of historical abuse of children by individual Christian clergy over previous decades, but also, systematic abuse of children by Christian institutions in Australia. Well after the revelations of the Catholic Church's horrendous activities in Australia in the 1930s to 1960s, continued cases have come to light. So many that in 2008 July, Pope Benedict XVI has himself gone to Australia to apologize for the behaviour of his priesthood there. The Christian Brothers institute saw multiple complaints between 1919 and the 1960s, and a report finds that one of the boys who reported the abuse was physically beaten for it - "the physical abuse at the institutions contributed to a culture where boys were reluctant to report abuse for fear of consequences" and the institution moved 'Brothers' from one place to another when accusations surfaced, but did not attempt to deal with the abuse and then when it all went to concern, they were mostly concerned with avoiding financial costs₈₉.

More cases have emerged amongst Priests from various denominations. Australian Catholic Priest Brian Joseph Spillane finds himself accused of seemingly endless abuses of teens and pre-teens in various circumstances (i.e., in the confessional box and at a Catholic boarding school), between 1971 and 1990. The Salvation Army in Australia is another Christian organisation that has fostered sexual abusers - "boys who attempted to report abuse were punished or accused of lying" according to the Royal Commission₉₀. In another case, a Pastor from a (non-Catholic) Protestant church was caught out in the 1990s. The RCC in Australia, in order to limit further damage, has drawn up guidelines to prevent further abuse. "Roman Catholic bishops have sought to ban their priests from having any private contact with children. Guidelines drawn up with the approval of the Vatican mean that confessionals have to be fitted with glass viewing panels. Priests are also banned from seeing any child alone with the door closed"₉₁.

[ + More on Cases in Australia + ]

Some news excerpts:

Royal Commissions finds Christian Brothers institution knew of abuse for decades and didn't act to stop it (2014 Dec 19)
Priest involved in rampant pedophilia (The Australian 2009)
Pope to apologise for clergy abuse in Australia (The Guardian 2008)
Fundamentalist Christian pastor jailed for child abuse & incest (2007)
Australian Church apologises to child migrants (BBC News 2001)
Over 100 recently Catholic Sexual Abuse Cases in Australia (Wikipedia)

“Australia's Roman Catholic Church publicly apologised on Thursday to British and Maltese child migrants who suffered abuse including rape, whippings and slave labour in religious institutions. [...] Some children were told that were going on a holiday. [...] Two church bodies said the programme, in which more than 1,000 British and 310 Maltese children were sent to Australian Catholic schools between the late 1930s and 1960s, resulted in "suffering and dislocation". Many children were raped, whipped, stripped of their names and forced to scramble for food thrown on the floor. Some children were also made to do hard labour, including construction work, at some schools.

The inquiry found that migrant children were subjected to systematic abuse in religious schools in Australia, New Zealand and other countries.”

"Australian Church apologises to child migrants" (BBC News, 2001)

“MOLESTING girls in the confessional box and raping hypnotised boys was part of a pattern of "rampant pedophilia" by a former priest accused of sexually assaulting youngsters, a Sydney court has been told. Brian Joseph Spillane, a former chaplain at St Stanislaus College in Bathurst, [...] has been charged with an additional 29 counts of indecently assaulting 11 males and females, bringing the total number of charges against the former priest to 146. [...] Ms Walker said Mr Spillane sexually assaulted both boys and girls between 1971 and 1990 during his time at both St Stanislaus boys' school in NSW's central west and St Anthony's parish at Marsfield, in Sydney's north. [...] Mr Spillane is accused of serious offences including anal intercourse and group rape at the Bathurst boarding school, Ms Walker said. Teachers at St Stanislaus "hypnotised boys for the purpose of having sexual intercourse with them'', she told the court.”

The Australian (2009 Sep 01)

“A pastor from a South Australian fundamentalist church has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after admitting he had sex with two of his teenage daughters [...and] pleaded guilty to seven counts each of incest and unlawful sexual intercourse. The court heard that the man had sex with his daughters for nearly a decade in the 1990s at the family property. The man later told the court he had sex with the girls to "educate" them on how to be good wives - not for his own gratification.”

"Fundamentalist Christian pastor jailed for child abuse & incest" (2007 Aug 30)

[ - COLLAPSE THE ABOVE SECTION - ]

After further evidence of abuse and cover-ups in Australia was revealed in 2018, criticism of the Pope for failing to provide meaningful leadership in his organisation on this issue resurfaced, so he finally summoned over 100 of the most senior Bishops to the Vatican to discuss it₉₂.

For more, see:

• "Organized Coverups of Sexual Child Abuse by Priests, Clergy and Christian Institutions" by Vexen Crabtree (2009).