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From NSW to WA: Here’s where Australia’s happiest couples actually live

New data reveals the Aussie states where couples have the strongest foundations for long-term happiness

Melissa Woodley
Written by
Melissa Woodley
Editor, Time Out Australia
A man and a woman sitting on a hill overlooking a city
Photograph: Henry Chan via Unsplash | Observatory Hill, Sydney
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If you and your partner have been arguing over whose turn it is to unload the dishwasher or take the bins out, your location might actually be to blame. A new data-driven study has revealed the Australian states home to the happiest couples – and the results might surprise you.

To build the Happiest Couples Index, Compare the Market evaluated each state and territory across six core relationship and lifestyle metrics – ranging from marriage and divorce rates to housing affordability, healthcare quality and overall wellbeing. They even tracked monthly relationship-related Google searches to calculate the final score, with top-ranking states offering the best foundation for long-term love.

A group of people walking down a street next to a body of water
Photograph: Ziyao Xiong via UnsplashHobart

Taking the top spot as Australia’s relationship capital is Tasmania, boasting an overall score of 79.00. The Apple Isle performed particularly well across key lifestyle factors, like general wellbeing and housing affordability, while recording low relationship search volumes compared to other states. That suggests fewer Tassie couples are turning to Google for relationship advice or divorce lawyers.

Victoria and New South Wales followed in second and third place, scoring particularly well for marriage rates and overall wellbeing. However, both eastern states had higher divorce rates, along with lower healthcare quality and more expensive housing markets – two major stressors that impact relationship satisfaction and longevity.

On the flip side, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory rank at the bottom of the ladder for Australia’s happiest couples, largely driven by lower marriage rates and higher divorce rates.

Of course, relationship happiness is entirely subjective and depends on far more than postcodes, state averages or Google trends. So, take these rankings with a grain of salt, and read more about the methodology here.

Ranked: Where Australia’s happiest couples live?

  1. Tasmania
  2. Victoria
  3. New South Wales
  4. South Australia
  5. Queensland
  6. Western Australia
  7. Australian Capital Territory
  8. Northern Territory

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