This report outlines poverty lines and people in poverty in Australia from 2022–23 data. It outlines trends in poverty from 1999 to 2022, and social security payments and poverty lines in 2023. Poverty lines are benchmarks for the adequacy of incomes to meet the minimum needs of households of different sizes. 

Key findings

• The poverty line is $584 a week for a single adult and $1,226 a week for a couple with two children.
• In 2022–23, more than one in seven people in Australia live below the poverty line, amounting to 3,706,000 people.
• In 2022–23, one in six children live in poverty.
• After the COVID lockdowns, from 2020-21 to 2022-23, poverty increased due to the removal of COVID income supports and large increases in rents.
• From June 2021 to June 2023, the median advertised rent for units rose 40% in Sydney, 34% in Melbourne and 41% in Brisbane.
• In March 2023, maximum social security payments were substantially below the poverty line.