This factsheet provides an overview of the extent of poverty and inequality in the ACT to raise awareness for Anti-Poverty Weeks 2023.
The ACT has high average wages, however those Canberrans on low incomes are struggling to cope in Australia’s least affordable jurisdiction. Many Canberrans are experiencing poverty and struggling with the cost of housing and essentials.
The most recent estimates for the ACT indicate that:
- CPI increases mean that living costs in the ACT have reached the highest levels in two decades
- 1,777 people in the ACT were homeless according to the 2021 Census
- ACT community sector services have reported increasing poverty rates, with only 4% of services able to meet increasing demand