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Individuals statistics

Last updated 25 May 2023

The Individuals section includes statistics on most labels and calculations from the Individuals tax return, as well as some superannuation account information.

Individuals summary tables and charts

Table 3: Individuals – median and average key items, by sex, 2018–19 and 2019–20 income years

 

2018–19

2019–20

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

Average taxable income
($)

73,218

51,382

62,549

74,559

52,798

63,882

Median taxable income
($)

55,829

40,547

47,492

56,746

41,724

48,381

Average net tax
($)

23,365

14,687

19,344

23,938

15,079

19,790

Median net tax
($)

13,801

8,405

11,024

14,185

8,697

11,330

Average superannuation account balance
($)

162,275

128,068

143,910

161,834

129,506

145,388

Median superannuation account balance
($)

57,883

45,118

49,413

56,425

44,634

49,374

Download data from the 2012–13 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

Chart 4: Individuals – top 10 postcodes, by average taxable income

Chart 4 shows top 10 postcodes in Australia, ranked by average taxable income of individuals, for the 2019–20 income year. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2010–11 income year.

Download data from the 2010–11 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Chart 5: Individuals – top 10 occupations, by average taxable income

Chart 5 shows top 10 occupations in Australia, ranked by average taxable income of individuals, for the 2019–20 income year. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2010–11 income year.

Download data from the 2010–11 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Table 4a: Individuals – single people with private health insurance (PHI), by income tier and age, 2019–20 income year

Single people

Tier 0:
$90,000 or less
(no.)

Tier 1:
$90,001 to $105,000
(no.)

Tier 2:
$105,001 to $140,000
(no.)

Tier 3:
$140,001 or more
(no.)

Less than 65 years of age

1,207,871

164,220

216,537

176,445

65 to 69 years

99,478

6,680

8,356

7,967

70 years or more

196,377

6,612

9,087

15,441

Unspecified

283

9

2

337

Dependent child for PHI rebate purposes

413,326

3,775

2,692

4,074

Table 4b: Individuals – members of a couple with PHI, by income tier and age, 2019–20 income year

Members of a couple

Tier 0:
$180,000 or less
(no.)

Tier 1:
$180,001 to $210,000
(no.)

Tier 2:
$210,001 to $280,000
(no.)

Tier 3:
$280,001 or more
(no.)

Less than 65 years of age

2,952,108

507,703

642,143

568,741

65 to 69 years

353,310

19,574

24,340

26,125

70 years or more

510,310

13,952

18,862

27,516

Unspecified

79,924

12,233

14,274

9,308

In these tables, Income tier is determined by income for surcharge purposes.

Download data from the 2013–14 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

Chart 6: Individuals – net tax, by tax bracket, 2019–20 income year

Chart 6 shows the distribution of individuals and net tax, across the different tax brackets, for the 2019–20 income year. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2010–11 income year.

Download data from the 2010–11 income year at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Table 5: Individuals – Selected income items, 2018–19 to 2019–20 income years

Income item

2018–19

2019–20

Individuals
(no.)

Average
($)

Median
($)

Individuals
(no.)

Average
($)

Median
($)

Salary or wages

11,551,273

63,085

52,732

11,779,081

64,421

53,627

Gross interest

8,215,961

1,177

64

7,861,321

998

39

Allowances, earnings, tips, director’s fees etc.

2,666,000

3,539

417

3,940,637

3,605

780

Dividends – franked amount

2,834,906

9,656

568

2,674,671

9,159

480

Dividends – franking credit

2,827,899

4,009

245

2,664,405

3,782

207

Net rent

2,244,857

−1,352

−1,238

2,270,911

−73

−400

Partnerships and trusts – net non-primary production amount

1,831,599

33,046

5,577

1,862,533

32,578

4,178

Australian Government allowances and payments like Newstart, Youth Allowance and Austudy payment

933,806

6,451

5,637

1,674,555

6,569

5,374

Net income or loss from business – non-primary production

1,353,290

26,874

12,332

1,409,021

26,060

11,755

Dividends – unfranked amount

966,323

1,077

78

1,123,790

1,156

119

Net capital gain

744,478

26,446

1,689

839,950

24,039

1,670

Assessable foreign source income

795,712

8,582

400

828,520

8,864

384

Other net foreign source income

656,391

4,216

199

689,443

4,429

194

Australian Government pensions and allowances

663,999

12,019

12,575

683,443

13,016

13,737

Total income or loss

14,677,545

65,148

49,480

14,958,590

66,535

50,425

In this table:

  • Total income or loss components don't add to the total number of individuals because individuals may declare more than one type of income
  • some components of total income are not listed
  • the calculations for count, average and median for total income or loss include zeros.

Download data from the 2007–08 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

Table 6: Individuals – Selected deductions, 2018–19 to 2019–20 income years

Deduction item

2018–19

2019–2020

Individuals
(no.)

Average
($)

Median
($)

Individuals
(no.)

Average
($)

Median
($)

Work-related expenses

8,888,020

2,331

1,045

9,395,149

2,303

1,092

Other expenses included in managing your tax affairs

5,951,011

332

176

5,911,137

333

180

Gifts or donations

4,210,270

933

120

4,337,321

887

130

Other deductions

673,191

3,109

1,706

681,164

3,314

1,731

Personal superannuation contributions

436,952

13,395

12,500

480,735

13,524

12,000

Dividend deductions

298,450

3,091

404

305,553

2,678

369

Low value pool deduction

274,055

420

172

280,784

396

168

Interest charged by ATO

233,659

1,464

262

193,745

1,602

372

Interest deductions

185,078

3,404

184

163,919

3,433

200

Total deductions

14,677,545

2,498

600

14,958,590

2,548

687

In this table:

  • Other deductions is a label on the tax return and doesn't include all other deductions from the tax return not listed
  • Total deductions components don't add to the total number of individuals claiming deductions because individuals may claim more than one type of deduction
  • some components of total deductions are not listed
  • the calculations for count, average and medians for total deductions include zeros.

Download data from the 2002–03 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

Table 7: Individuals – Selected tax offsets and levies, 2018–19 to 2019–20 income years

Offset/levy

2018–19

2019–20

Individuals
(no.)

Average
($)

Median
($)

Individuals
(no.)

Average
($)

Median
($)

Medicare levy

10,168,264

1,622

1,264

10,417,278

1,652

1,287

Low and middle income tax offset

9,931,612

747

954

10,117,963

748

951

Low income tax offset

6,768,009

307

347

6,787,746

306

346

Small business income tax offset

998,974

440

295

1,080,451

427

277

Commonwealth of Australia benefits and payments tax offset

430,560

691

688

687,605

775

676

Foreign income tax offset

591,696

1,868

45

654,222

1,696

31

Seniors and pensioners tax offset

624,458

1,182

1,167

639,319

1,193

1,138

Zone or overseas forces tax offset

459,137

315

132

442,988

309

132

Medicare levy surcharge

328,574

1,264

1,027

411,624

1,220

1,026

Employment termination payment tax offset

340,523

3,387

261

385,201

2,764

200

Australian superannuation income stream tax offset

181,999

3,294

2,794

167,914

3,497

3,070

Download data from the 2002–03 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

Chart 7: Individuals – returns by lodgment type, 2019–20 income year

Chart 7 shows lodgment channel of 2019–20 individual income tax returns. 64.8% by agent, 34.5% by myTax, 0.7% other self-preparer. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data going back to the 2009–10 income year.

Download data from the 2009–10 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Chart 8: Individuals – returns by sex, 2015–16 to 2019–20 income years

Chart 8 shows the sex of individuals lodging income tax returns for the last 5 income years. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2009–10 income year.

Download data from the 2009–10 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Chart 9: Individuals – returns by state/territory, 2019–20 income year

Chart 9 shows individual returns lodged by state or territory for the 2019–20 income year. NSW 31.3%, VIC 25.6%, QLD 20.0%, WA 10.6%, SA 6.8%, TAS 2.1%, ACT 1.9%, NT 0.9%, Overseas 1.0% and Unknown <0.1%. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2009–10 income year.

Download data from the 2009–10 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Chart 10: Individuals – rental income and deductions, 2015–16 to 2019–20 income years

Chart 10 shows rental income and deduction items, as well as net rental income, for individuals over the last 5 income years. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2009–10 income year.

Download data from the 2009–10 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Table 8: Individuals – interest in a rental property, by overall net rent outcome, 2018–19 to 2019–20 income years

Property interests
(no.)

2018–19

2019–20

Net rent loss
(no.)

Net rent neutral/ profit
(no.)

Total individuals
(no.)

Net rent loss
(no.)

Net rent neutral/ profit
(no.)

Total individuals
(no.)

1

931,132

658,431

1,589,563

856,436

736,447

1,592,883

2

250,035

170,494

420,529

227,742

190,895

418,637

3

74,955

54,861

129,816

67,753

61,637

129,390

4

26,719

20,600

47,319

23,709

23,056

46,765

5

10,935

8,578

19,513

9,647

9,624

19,271

6 or more

11,226

9,208

20,434

9,858

10,037

19,895

Total

1,305,002

922,172

2,227,174

1,195,145

1,031,696

2,226,841

In this table, Property interests implies solely or jointly owned properties, including those bought or sold during the year.

Download data from the 1999–2000 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

Table 9: Individuals – workplace giving programs, 2017–18 to 2019–20 income years

 

2017–18

2018–19

2019–20

Total employees employed by workplace giving employers
(no.)

3,825,871

4,230,951

4,141,814

Employees using workplace giving
(no.)

181,456

201,237

211,316

Total donations given using workplace giving
($m)

38

43

52

Average donation
($)

210

215

247

Median donation
($)

75

75

100

In this table, individuals may be counted more than once if they changed jobs during the same income year.

Download data from the 2009–10 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

Chart 11: Individuals – gifts or donations, by state/territory, 2019–20 income year

Chart 11 shows the average and median deduction of individuals for gifts or donations, by state or territory, for the 2019–20 income year. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2009–10 income year.

Download data from the 2009–10 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Chart 12: Individuals – median super balance, by age and sex, 2019–20 financial year

Chart 12 shows the median superannuation balance of individuals by age and sex, for the 2019–20 financial year. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2013–14 financial year.

In this chart, statistics include individuals with an account balance or current year contributions greater than zero.

Download data from the 2013–14 financial year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Chart 13: Individuals – super balance, by state/territory and sex, 2019–20 financial years

Chart 13 shows the average and median superannuation balance of individuals by state or territory and sex, for the 2019–20 financial year. The link below will take you to the data behind this chart as well as similar data back to the 2013–14 financial year.

In this chart, statistics include individuals with an account balance or current year contributions greater than zero.

Download data from the 2013–14 income year onward at Snapshot table 5External Link.

Table 10: Individuals – super balance, by taxable income range, 2018–19 to 2019–20 financial years

Taxable income

2018–19

2019–20

Individuals
(no.)

Average account balance
($)

Median account balance
($)

Individuals
(no.)

Average account balance
($)

Median account balance
($)

Less than or equal to $18,200

1,979,605

131,629

19,394

1,938,107

143,479

19,188

$18,201 to $37,000

2,695,562

93,957

19,380

2,726,195

92,490

15,188

$37,001 to $90,000

5,902,727

121,119

58,841

6,015,386

116,698

54,365

$90,001 to $180,000

2,244,478

257,695

154,606

2,421,962

249,830

150,297

$180,001 or more

487,380

608,285

313,803

527,251

575,470

302,397

No tax return

3,670,006

91,799

15,464

3,508,673

99,468

20,181

Total

16,979,758

143,910

49,413

17,137,574

145,388

49,374

In this table, only individuals with a superannuation account balance greater than zero are included. The average and median are calculated excluding zeros.

Download data from the 2013–14 income year onward at Snapshot table 4External Link.

See also

QC70151