External report summary

Mapping Social Cohesion 2024

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The peace, harmony and cohesion of societies continues to be one of the most important global social challenges of our time. The violent wars and conflicts we have witnessed around the world in recent months and years, the sharply divided debates, election outcomes and protest movements, misinformation, distrust, financial hardship and threats to social and physical wellbeing have diverse and usually complex origins and solutions. What they all have in common is the pressures they signal on global social harmony and cohesion from division, hardship and inequality, of the risk of a fracturing of the global social fabric and the weakening of our common bonds and common humanity.

In a world struggling with conflict and division, social cohesion in Australia is under pressure but has been resilient. Violence in the Middle East has sparked protests at home and strained interfaith relations (Chamas & Ford, 2023). Meanwhile, deeply divided debates over immigration across Europe and North America (The Economist, 2024) have been kept at bay in Australia to an important extent, though we face greater division over the size of Australia’s migration program (Al Jazeera, 2024). Home-grown pressures over the last 12-18 months are also evident from the difficult debate over the First Nations Voice Referendum in 2023 (Whiteman, 2023), violent attacks in Sydney (AAP, 2024) and violence against women across the country (ABC, 2024). Perhaps above all in the view of most Australians, economic and cost of living pressures continue to strain household finances and weigh on personal and social wellbeing, trust and acceptance of others, and the sense of fairness and the ‘fair go’. Australia’s social cohesion, perhaps now more than ever, is a crucial resource in managing current challenges. The continued strength of connection and engagement within local communities; the breadth of support for multiculturalism and the contributions migrants have made to Australian society, culture, and the economy; and the foundational importance of First Nations peoples to society, all underpin Australia’s social fabric through difficult times. The challenge of renewing Australian multiculturalism and addressing social inequalities are key to maintaining that strength.

Mapping Social Cohesion 2024

It is in this context that the 2024 Mapping Social Cohesion study takes place. As in every year since 2009 (and following the first in 2007), a nationally representative survey was conducted in July-August to gauge Australians’ attitudes, perceptions and behaviours across 100 indicators of social cohesion, immigration, multiculturalism, wellbeing and other topical issues. In 2024, more than 8,000 people completed a survey, while 45 people took part in an in-depth interview, making it the largest study in the history of the Mapping Social Cohesion series.

Most people completed the survey as members of the Social Research Centre’s Life in Australia™. Life in Australia™ is a panel of more than 10,000 Australians who have been randomly selected and invited to join as panel members. Almost 7,900 members completed an online survey, while 87 completed the survey by telephone. To ensure the Mapping Social Cohesion study is representative of all Australians, an additional 229 surveys were conducted with people from Indian, Middle Eastern and African backgrounds in one of four different languages (including English). The in-depth interviews were conducted with a cross-section of Australians to seek their views on how national and global divisions impact life and social cohesion in Australia.

Overall social cohesion has been stable over the last 12 months, but is below its long term average

The Scanlon Index of Social Cohesion was stable between 2023 and 2024, recording a score of 78 in both years. In the context of the national and global challenges of the last 12 months, this stability reflects the resilience of Australian society and the bonds that connect people. Australians’ sense of national pride and belonging and personal happiness and wellbeing have been steady over the last year, while participation in the political process and in the social and civic life of communities has been at least as strong as in previous years.

In several areas though, social cohesion remains below past levels while new pressures have emerged. Australians’ sense of belonging and social justice are significantly below their long-term averages, while economic and cost of living pressures contribute to stubbornly high financial dissatisfaction and stress. Acceptance of Australia’s diversity and multicultural harmony is also strained by the experience of discrimination and mistreatment. Alongside widely reported increases in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism (Dumas, 2024; SBS, 2024), one-in-three (35 per cent) overseas-born Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds in the Mapping Social Cohesion survey report experiencing discrimination on the basis of skin colour, ethnic origin or religion in the past 12 months. In sum, while the Scanlon Index of Social Cohesion has been steady over the last 12 months, it is approximately six points lower than its average of the 2010s and at its equal lowest level since the first Mapping Social Cohesion survey in 2007.

In a divided world, attitudes to migration and multiculturalism remain largely positive but have declined from peaks in recent years

Attitudes to migrants and migration have been highly divisive across Europe and North America in recent years, evidenced by protests (and counter-protests), riots, polarised political platforms and election outcomes. Harmony across nationalities, cultures and religions is further strained by conflict and tensions, particularly the violent conflict in the Middle East. Such global events infiltrate Australian society and politics through traditional and social media, and through Australia’s diversity and our ancestral, cultural and ideological connections to all sides of current debates and conflicts.

Australians however continue to broadly value multiculturalism and the contribution of migrants and migrant diversity to Australian society, culture and the economy. In 2024, 71 per cent of people agree that accepting immigrants from many different countries makes Australia stronger, while more than four-in-five agree that multiculturalism has been good for Australia (85 per cent), that immigrants are generally good for Australia’s economy (82 per cent) and that immigrants improve Australian society by bringing new ideas and cultures (82 per cent). Similar proportions say they have two or more close friends from different national, ethnic or religious backgrounds (79 per cent) and like meeting and getting to know people from different ethnic and cultural groups (86 per cent).

Support for multiculturalism has declined though over the last two years. The proportions who agree that multiculturalism has been good for Australia, that immigrants are generally good for the economy, that immigrants from many different countries makes Australia stronger and that immigrants improve Australian society have declined by 2 to 7 percentage points since 2022.

The fact that declines in positive attitudes are coming off such a high base and remain at high levels suggests that support for migration and multiculturalism continues to be a strength and asset to Australia in warding off deeper social and ideological divisions. Nevertheless, the challenges of the past year provide a call to renew and re-invest in Australian multiculturalism to ensure it remains an asset (Dellal et al., 2024).

People are more divided on the number of immigrants coming to Australia but strongly support non-discriminatory migration policy including for people arriving from conflict zones

In 2024, 49 per cent of people say that the number of immigrants to Australia is too high, significantly higher than the 33 per cent recorded in 2023 and 41 per cent in 2019 prior to COVID-19 era border closures. This means Australians are now evenly split between those who think immigration is too high and those who think immigration is about right or too low. While the proportion who say immigration is too high is substantially higher than in previous years, it is perhaps not surprising or out of step with political leadership given that both the Federal Government and the Opposition are pursuing or proposing policies to reduce the immigration intake – actions that may help to lead public opinion on these issues.

Concern about the size of the migration program does not translate to widespread support for a discriminatory migration program. More than four-in-five (83 per cent) people do not agree that Australia should reject migrants on the basis of their ethnicity or race while a similar proportion (79 per cent) disagree that Australia should reject on the basis of religion. Of particular note given current conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, three-quarters (73 per cent) of people do not think Australia should reject immigrants because they are coming from areas experiencing conflict. Meanwhile, two-in-three people (65 per cent) disagree that it should be possible to reject individuals and families from migrating to Australia on the basis of their health or a disability.

Growing belief that immigration is too high is most strongly related to economic and housing issues, rather than attitudes to diversity, multiculturalism and migrants

Most people who think immigration is too high also value the benefits of multiculturalism and the contribution of migrants to Australian society, culture and the economy. Of people who think immigration is too high, 75 per cent agree that multiculturalism has been good for Australia, 69 per cent agree that immigrants are generally good for Australia’s economy and 68 per cent agree that immigrants improve Australian society by bringing new ideas and cultures.

The importance of current economic challenges in shaping attitudes to immigration is clear from the problems that people see and experience. Almost two-in-three (64 per cent) adults who said that immigration is too high cited economic issues or housing shortages and affordability as the most important problem facing Australia, while only 7 per cent cited immigration. More than two-in-five (43 per cent) adults who believe immigration is too high described their financial circumstances as poor, struggling to pay bills or just getting along. Of those who think immigration is too high and are just getting along at best, 88 per cent believe that migrants are taking away jobs or raising housing prices, even though 73 per cent believe multiculturalism has been good for Australia and 60 per cent believe that immigrants are generally good for Australia’s economy.

The conflict in the Middle East and other events coincide with greater pressure on interfaith relations

In July 2024, one-in-three (34 per cent) adults say they have a somewhat or very negative attitude towards Muslims. This figure increased from 27 per cent in July 2023, before the current conflict in the Middle East. While a substantial share of people, and a significant increase since the current crisis started, progress in recent years means the current proportion with a negative attitude towards Muslims is still below levels recorded in July 2018 (39 per cent), 2019 (40 per cent) and 2020 (37 per cent). Negative attitudes towards Jewish people have also become more common, though from a lower base, increasing from 9 per cent in 2023 to 13 per cent in 2023. The proportion of adults who have a positive attitudes towards Muslim and Jewish people (as opposed to a negative or neutral view) declined by 7-8 percentage points each between 2023 and 2024.

In truth though, attitudes towards all major faiths are less positive and more negative in 2024. The proportion with a positive attitude towards Christians decreased from 42 per cent in 2023 to 37 per cent in 2024, with negative attitudes increasing from 16 per cent to 19 per cent. The proportion with a positive attitude towards Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs declined by 6-8 percentage points each, while the proportion with a negative attitude to people of any of the major faiths other than their own increased from 38 per cent to 48 per cent. So, while attitudes to Australia’s Muslim and Jewish communities is a particular area of concern, relations towards and across all faiths appear to be under pressure.

Cost of living pressures continue to impact financial, personal and social wellbeing

With a pause in interest rate rises and slowing inflation in 2024, it may have been hoped that financial stress would ease in the last year. However, with the cost of living still high and real incomes shrinking, the experience of financial stress has been stubbornly common. In 2024, 41 per cent of adults say they are at best ‘just getting along’ financially, 11 per cent describe themselves as ‘poor’ or struggling to pay bills and 28 per cent say they often or sometimes could not pay for meals, medicine or healthcare in the last 12 months, or could not pay their rent or mortgage on time. These levels of financial hardship are similar to the levels recorded in 2023, while the proportion of those who are ‘just getting along’ at best has increased by 11 percentage points since 2021 (from 31 per cent).

Financial pressures continue to be a strong drag on social cohesion. People experiencing financial hardships are much less likely to trust in government, institutions and other people in society, feel a substantially weaker sense of national pride and belonging, a greater sense of social isolation and are more likely to have negative views on migrants and multiculturalism. People who are struggling or poor are 10 per cent less likely to agree that multiculturalism has been good for Australia than people who are living reasonably comfortably, 20 per cent more likely to believe migrants take jobs away or raise house prices, and 20 per cent more likely to have a negative attitude to people of different religious faiths than their own.

Australians have a high degree of trust in community and public services and weaker trust in government and media

Trust in government and other institutions is an important foundation for democracy and the smooth and cohesive functioning of society. Trust in government and institutions ought to be critical and conditional in holding leaders accountable. Nevertheless, mutual trust between people and institutions such as government, the courts, public services, businesses and the media, supports the free flow of information and the efficient and effective delivery and take-up of important services.

Australians generally value services but are less trusting of government and media. According to the 2024 Mapping Social Cohesion survey, more than 70 per cent of adults trust the police, the health system and community organisations all or most of the time, while between 40 and 50 per cent of people trust businesses, their local council and trade unions. Only one-in-three people trust their state government, the Federal Government or religious organisations at least most of the time, while one-in-four trust traditional media companies and fewer than one-in-ten trust social media companies. Just over one-half (54 per cent) of adults believe the courts make fair, impartial decisions all or most of the time, while more than one-third (38 per cent) of people do not believe that elections are fair at least most of the time.

Trust in government and the political system continue to decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. The proportion of adults who think the Federal Government can be trusted to do the right thing by the Australian people all or most of the time has declined from 44 per cent in 2021 to 33 per cent in 2024, while the proportion who think the system of government in Australia needs to undergo major changes or be replaced increased from 39 per cent to 45 per cent. Dissatisfaction is strongly related to economic and financial pressures, with those who are renting, struggling financially and/or living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods being the least trusting in government and the most likely to believe major change is needed.

While important to democracy and social cohesion, political activism and protest highlight – and likely exaggerate – divisions and divides in Australia

In 2024, more than one-half (53 per cent) of people said they had signed a petition in the last three years or so, 20 per cent had written or spoken to a Member of Parliament, 20 per cent had joined a boycott of a product or company, 11 per cent had attended a protest, march or demonstration and 26 per cent had posted or shared anything about politics online. While most of these proportions are similar to previous years, involvement in boycotts and petitions are more common in 2024.

Political activity reflects an engaged citizenry, people prepared to fight for what they believe in, to enact and realise change. In this way, political engagement contributes positively to social cohesion. Clearly though, political activism in recent years has also been a symptom of divisions and dissatisfaction in society, including with respect to violence in the Middle East and violence against women in Australian communities.

According to the 2024 Mapping Social Cohesion survey, involvement in protests, boycotts and online activity is most common among young adults and those who identify as left wing. Left wing activists in these areas are significantly less likely to have a great sense of belonging in Australia than other left wing people, while right wing activists are less likely to agree that migrant diversity makes Australia stronger and more likely to have a negative attitude towards Muslims. Regardless of political orientation, those involved in protests, boycotts and online activity are much less likely to trust in government than non-activists. In this way, highly visible protests, boycotts and other political activities seen online and through the media amplify apparent divisions, making Australians seem more divided and dissatisfied than they are.

Australians remain connected and engaged within their communities, though they are feeling somewhat less safe

The connectedness and cohesion of neighbourhoods and local communities has been a great source of strength in Australia, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, 82 per cent of adults agreed that people in their local area are willing to help their neighbours while 81 per cent agreed that their local area is a place where people from different national or ethnic backgrounds get on well together. These proportions have declined modestly since 2021 though still remain in line with or above their averages of the last 15 years.

Likewise, Australians remain actively engaged in the social and civic life of their communities. More than one-half (56 per cent) of Australians were involved in a social, community, religious, civic or political group in the last 12 months, including State Emergency Services, sport clubs, charities and religious groups – a figure that is at least as high as it has been in recent years (54-55 per cent in 2021, 2022 and 2023).

In the context of heightened concern around violence, and particularly violence against women, Australians are feeling somewhat less safe. The proportion of women who feel at least fairly safe walking alone at night in their local area declined from 54 per cent in 2022 to 46 per cent in 2024 (from 79 to 74 per cent for men), while the share who are fairly or very worried about becoming a victim of crime increased from 28 per cent to 36 per cent (from 21 to 26 per cent for men). Men and women who feel most unsafe are much less likely to trust other people, feel a weaker sense of belonging in Australia and in their neighbourhoods, are more likely to feel socially isolated and more likely to have negative attitudes to religious faiths other than their own – indicating that concern for safety is closely related to social cohesion.

National and global challenges put pressure on social cohesion, but also demonstrate its importance in supporting personal and social wellbeing and connections when it is most needed

The current national and global environment appears to be taking a toll on Australia. Amidst cost of living pressures, conflict and violence at home and abroad, and deep global divisions over issues such as immigration, Australians are more divided on the size of Australia’s immigration program now than they were in 2023, feel less safe in their communities, feel more negatively and less positively towards people of different faiths and multiculturalism generally, are just as likely to be experiencing financial hardship and are feeling more pessimistic about the future. At the same time, Australians are still connected and active in their communities and still value Australia’s multicultural diversity. These are important strengths in Australia’s social fabric that are positively associated with individual and collective wellbeing. They also highlight that social cohesion is and can continue to be an important resource in weathering challenges now and into the future.

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