The household, income and labour dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey gives fascinating insights into Australians’ lives.

Here are some of the results from this year’s report:

Financial stress: There is plenty of evidence that many Australians are increasingly struggling to deal with the high cost of living, not least rising rents and the prices of other necessities.

• One in eight people reported two or more indicators of financial stress in 2023 – the second-highest rate in nearly 20 years.
• Stress indicators include not being able to pay utilities or mortgage or rent on time, skipping meals, being unable to heat the home, or having asked for financial help from friends, family or welfare organisations.

Childcare costs: The average family is spending $171 a week on childcare, or nearly $100 more than two decades ago – a 40 per cent increase.

Fewer children: Australia’s total fertility rate, or the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime, dropped to a record low of 1.5 in 2023 – down from 2.02 in 2008.

Retiring older: In 2003, 70 per cent of women and 49 per cent of men aged 60–64 were retired. But by 2023, these figures had dropped to 40 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively, the survey showed.