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If you’re happy and you know it, there’s a high chance you live in the Top End. According to a new nationwide survey of more than 15,000 Aussies, Northern Territory locals officially rate themselves as the happiest in the entire country.
This data comes from Flinders University’s latest Wicked Problems Report. While it was originally launched last year to identify the biggest challenges facing communities across the country, the 2026 edition expanded to map out happiness levels across each Aussie state and territory.
According to the data, an incredible 75.3 per cent of Territorians reported feeling fairly, very or completely happy – placing them well ahead of the 69 per cent national average. The survey didn’t ask locals why they’re happy, but we reckon the territory’s easy access to nature, laid-back culture, warm weather and cultural diversity factor into it.
The Australian Capital Territory was the second-happiest place, with 74 per cent of happy residents, while Western Australia came in third at 70.6 per cent.
Interestingly, Australia’s three most-populated states recorded the lowest overall joy. Queensland sat just above the national average at 69.3 per cent, New South Wales sat just below at 68.5 per cent, and Victoria landed right at the bottom of the ladder at 65.9 per cent.
As part of the survey, respondents also rated how optimistic they feel about the future direction of their state or territory. Despite being the happiest right now, those in the Northern Territory had the lowest levels of optimism about what’s ahead at 23.3 per cent. That’s less than half the level of Australia’s most optimistic region, Western Australia, where 47 per cent reported feeling fairly, very or completely optimistic about the state’s direction.
So, what’s keeping us up at night? The main concerns identified by Aussies were cost-of-living pressures (65 per cent), housing affordability (40 per cent), crime and safety (37 per cent), healthcare access (26 per cent) and the environment (21 per cent). You can look more into the Wicked Problems Report here.
Australia’s happiness levels in each state/territory:
- NT: 75.3%
- ACT: 74%
- WA: 70.6%
- SA: 69.8%
- TAS: 69.5%
- QLD: 69.3%
- NSW: 68.5%
- VIC: 65.9%