Nearly 2.2 million Australians aged 15 and older are now living below what researchers call the "wellbeing poverty line," with the share of people reporting very low life satisfaction doubling over the past decade, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data analysed by Guardian Australia. In 2025, roughly one in ten Australians rated their general life satisfaction at four or below out of ten, compared with one in twenty in 2014 — a surge that began during Covid-19 lockdowns and has persisted under the pressure of soaring costs for essentials such as housing, electricity, and healthcare. Economists and social researchers warn the trend is feeding political disillusionment and eroding trust in institutions, with those in the lowest satisfaction group far less likely to feel they have a voice in their communities or to support multiculturalism — trends that carry significance as populist and far-right movements gain ground in Australian politics.