Perth, July 23: Australia has been ranked among the world’s top countries for overall quality of life, according to a new international study which found that health and access to quality healthcare are the strongest drivers of wellbeing.
The global study, led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Griffith University, analysed data from 48 countries over more than two decades to examine how wellbeing has changed over time and identify the factors that have the greatest influence on people’s quality of life.
Researchers assessed 28 developing and 20 developed countries using the Multidimensional Well-Being Index (MDWI), a new measure that evaluates wellbeing across a range of indicators including health, financial security, safety and social capital.
The index draws on data from the World Values Survey (WVS), an international research project that examines changing social values and their influence on societies worldwide.
The findings show that health and access to quality healthcare are the most significant contributors to wellbeing globally, followed by social capital, which measures the value of positive human relationships and community connections.
Among the countries analysed, the Netherlands, Singapore and Australia recorded the highest levels of wellbeing, each achieving MDWI values above 0.70. Peru and Iran ranked lowest, with MDWI values below 0.50.
Lead author and CDU Lecturer in Economics and Business Dr Mohammad Rajib Hasan said the index could be used to support more targeted and effective policy decisions.
“Wellbeing is not just about economic growth. It is about people’s health, their relationships, and the strength of the communities they live in,” Dr Hasan said.
“If we understand what truly drives well-being in a country, we can design smarter policies – whether that means investing in healthcare, strengthening communities, or improving governance.”
The study also found a shift in Australia’s wellbeing drivers over the past decade. While social capital was the country’s largest contributor to wellbeing in 2009, health has since become the dominant factor.
“This implies that people in Australia are enjoying better healthcare facilities,” Dr Hasan said.
“But the downturn of social capital is alarming. It means there is a decline in social and institutional trust across Australia, and we need to work more on improving these aspects.”
Within Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory recorded lower overall wellbeing than other states and territories, although health remained the strongest contributor across all jurisdictions.
The research was conducted by Dr Hasan in collaboration with CDU Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Arts and Society Professor Maneka Jayasinghe and Griffith University Professor of Econometrics Professor Eliyathamby Selvanathan.
The study, Intertemporal analysis of well-being and its contributing factors: Cross-country evidence, has been published in the International Journal of Wellbeing.
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