New research from Compare the Market has revealed how Australia stacks up against 32 countries in the Single Woman Liveability Index 2025, which measures where in the world women can expect to be the most supported when living alone.

The study assessed six key factors that influence liveability for women, including the percentage of women who feel safe when walking home at night, average annual wage, percentage of the gender wage gap closed, world happiness score, annual mortgage interest rate, and women’s healthy life expectancy age. The countries were ranked based on these factors to determine where the best and worst is for single women looking to live in a different country.

Australia scored 5.08/10, placing it in the middle of the rankings. While Australian women enjoy a relatively high healthy life expectancy of 71.1 years and a strong happiness score (11th globally), the nation’s performance was held back by:

• Safety concerns: Only 4% of women reported feeling safe walking home alone at night – the third lowest score in the index.
• Gender wage gap: Australia has closed just 78% of the wage gap, lagging behind Nordic countries such as Iceland with 93.5% and Finland with 87.5%.
• Mortgage affordability: With an average annual mortgage rate of 6.27%, Australia ranks among the more expensive countries for home loans.

Switzerland topped the index with a score of 8.50/10, thanks to high wages, strong safety perceptions, and low mortgage rates. Luxembourg and Finland followed closely, with Finland also ranking as the happiest country in the world for the seventh consecutive year.

Hungary, Greece, and Mexico ranked lowest in the index, with challenges including low wages, high mortgage rates, and poor safety perceptions among women.

Stephen Zeller, Compare the Market’s General Manager of Money, said: “Just as choosing which country to live in can be complex and daunting, choosing the right home loan involves many factors. Whether you are taking out your very first home loan or refinancing, it is important to shop around to look for a plan that works well for you. Home loans are not a one-size-fits-all product, and rates will change over time. It can be a good idea to regularly compare your options to see if a different one is better suited to your situation.”

See full research here: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/home-loans/features/single-women-liveability-index/

For interviews and more information, please contact:

James McCay | +61 450 930 374 | [email protected]   

Compare the Market is a comparison service that takes the hard work out of shopping around. We make it Simples for Australians to quickly and easily compare and buy insurance, energy, and home loans products from a range of providers. Our easy-to-use comparison tool helps you look for a range of products that may suit your needs and benefit your back pocket.