Credit Scores · Updated June 2026

Average Credit Score by State in Australia (2026 Breakdown)

On Equifax data, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest average credit score in Australia at around 906, while the Northern Territory sits lowest at about 834. The national average reached 864 in 2025. But here’s the part most ‘by state’ articles skip: where you live is one of the weakest influences on your own score — your credit file matters far more than your postcode.

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Average Credit Score by State and Territory

On Equifax’s 0–1,200 scale (late-2024 reporting), the ACT leads at about 906, ahead of Tasmania (886) and Victoria (885). Queensland (857) and the Northern Territory (834) sit lowest. NSW, SA and WA fall in between, with no separate figure published. Every average except the NT’s is within the Excellent band.

The figures below are from Equifax — Australia’s largest credit reporting body — on its 0–1,200 scale, drawn from reporting published in late 2024. Equifax publishes the clear leaders and laggards rather than a precise number for every jurisdiction, so we show the states with published averages and explain where the others sit.

Rank	State / Territory	Average Equifax score	Band (0–1,200)
1	Australian Capital Territory	906	Excellent
2	Tasmania	886	Excellent
3	Victoria	885	Excellent
—	NSW, South Australia, Western Australia	Mid-range	Excellent (no separate figure published)
7	Queensland	857	Excellent
8	Northern Territory	834	Very Good

New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia sit between the top three and the bottom two. Equifax did not publish a separate average for each, so we don’t state a specific figure for them rather than guess. All averages except the Northern Territory’s fall within the Excellent band.

The National Picture, and by Gender

Australia’s national average credit score was 864 in 2025, sitting comfortably in Equifax’s Excellent band and up slightly from 861 in 2024 — a sign that, despite cost-of-living pressure, most Australians kept their credit health intact. By gender, women average around 895 and men around 882, a gap of roughly 13 points.

For broader context on how the average has moved and how it breaks down by life stage, see our companion pages on the average credit score in Australia and average credit score by age, and the national figures on our credit score statistics page.

Why Credit Scores Vary Between States

It’s tempting to read a state ranking as a verdict on the people who live there. It isn’t. A bureau does not score a state — it scores millions of individual files, and the ‘state average’ is simply what you get when you pool them. The differences that show up reflect broad, population-level economic patterns rather than anything about a postcode itself:

Income and employment. Higher median incomes and lower unemployment support steady repayments. The ACT’s large, stably employed public-sector workforce consistently tops the table.

Cost of living and household debt. Stretched budgets mean more missed payments and higher credit use, both of which weigh on scores at the population level.

Industry mix. Economies leaning on seasonal, resource or fly-in-fly-out work can have more variable household income and slightly more volatile repayment behaviour.

Demographics. Older, more established populations (a factor in Tasmania’s strong showing) often have longer, cleaner credit histories.

The key point: the spread from top to bottom — roughly 906 down to 834 — is modest against a 1,200-point scale. No state or territory is a credit ‘problem zone’, and your own result is determined by your file, not the average around you.

How Credit Scores Work in Australia (and Why Your Number Differs by Bureau)

Australia has three main credit reporting bodies, and they don’t use the same scale, so the same person legitimately has different numbers at each:

Bureau	Scale	Notes
Equifax	0–1,200	The largest bureau; used by most major banks. All the state figures above are Equifax.
Experian	0–1,000	Used by a range of lenders and buy-now-pay-later providers.
illion	0–1,000	Bands commonly grouped as Good, Great and Excellent.

Because the scales differ, a ‘good’ score is bureau-specific. For a full side-by-side, see our Equifax vs illion comparison and the three-bureau comparison, and for what feeds the calculation, how a credit score is calculated.

What counts as a good score (Equifax 0–1,200)

Band	Equifax range
Excellent	853–1,200
Very Good	735–852
Good	661–734
Average	460–660
Below Average	0–459

For more on thresholds lenders look for, see what is a good credit score in Australia.

What Actually Moves Your Score (Far More Than Your State)

A single negative listing affects your score more than the entire gap between the highest and lowest states. Defaults, court judgements and hard enquiries each stay on your file for five years under the Privacy Act 1988; repayment history is kept for 24 months, and a serious credit infringement can remain up to seven years.

That’s the practical takeaway. If your score is lower than you’d like, the lever isn’t your location — it’s what’s on your file. And importantly, a listing recorded in breach of the credit reporting rules — for example a default listed without the required section 21D notice, for the wrong amount, or while genuinely in dispute — can be challenged and removed. A correctly listed entry generally stays for its full term.

How to check your real score for free

State averages are interesting, but they’re no substitute for your own number. You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each credit reporting body, usually every three months, or sooner if you’ve recently been knocked back for credit. Checking your own report is a ‘soft’ enquiry and does not affect your score. For repayment and budgeting tools, see our free calculators.

How to improve your score — wherever you live

If a default, judgement or enquiry is dragging your score down and you believe it was listed incorrectly, that’s where credit file correction comes in. See default removal, or get a free assessment of your file.

Methodology & Data Notes

For transparency: the state and territory figures here are Equifax averages on the 0–1,200 scale, reported in late 2024 and circulated through consumer-finance publishers such as Money.com.au and Canstar. The national average (864 for 2025, 861 for 2024) and the gender figures (≈895 women, ≈882 men) come from Equifax’s own annual scorecard. Averages move modestly between updates and are indicative, not precise. Where Equifax did not publish a per-state figure (NSW, SA, WA), we deliberately don’t substitute an estimate. Figures from Experian or illion would differ because their scales and models differ.

Reviewed by Elisa Rothschild, BA/LLB

Principal Solicitor & Director, Australian Credit Solutions (ASIC ACL 532003). Elisa has advised on credit reporting matters under the Privacy Act 1988 for over a decade. This article compiles publicly reported figures from Equifax and Australian regulators; it is general information, not legal or financial advice.

FAQs

Credit Score by State Questions

Which Australian state has the highest average credit score?

On Equifax data, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest average credit score at around 906, followed by Tasmania (about 886) and Victoria (about 885). All three sit in the Excellent band on the 0–1,200 scale.

Which state or territory has the lowest average credit score?

The Northern Territory has the lowest average at around 834, followed by Queensland at about 857. Even the lowest state average sits in the Very Good to Excellent range, so the gap between states is modest.

What is the average credit score in Australia?

Equifax reported a national average credit score of 864 in 2025, within its Excellent band, up slightly from 861 in 2024.

Do men or women have higher credit scores in Australia?

On Equifax data, women have a slightly higher average credit score than men — about 895 versus 882.

Does my postcode or state affect my credit score?

Not directly. Your credit score is calculated from your own credit history — repayments, defaults, enquiries and credit use — not your location. State averages differ because of broad economic factors across a population, not because a bureau scores a postcode.

Why do average credit scores differ between states?

Differences reflect population-level factors such as income, employment, cost of living and household debt. They are modest relative to the full 0–1,200 scale, and no state or territory is a major outlier.

What is a good credit score in Australia?

On the Equifax 0–1,200 scale, 661 and above is generally considered good, 735+ very good and 853+ excellent. Experian and illion use a 0–1,000 scale, so the same person can have different numbers at each bureau.

How is the state average calculated and from which bureau?

The figures here are from Equifax, Australia's largest credit bureau, on its 0–1,200 scale, drawn from reporting published in late 2024. Other bureaus use different scales and would produce different numbers.

Do lenders check where I live when assessing credit?

Lenders verify your address as part of identity and serviceability checks, but your state is not a credit-score input. What matters is the content of your credit file and your capacity to repay.

How do I find my own real credit score for free?

You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each credit reporting body, normally every three months, or sooner if you have recently been declined credit.

What lowers a credit score more than where you live?

Negative listings have far more impact than location. Defaults and court judgements are the heaviest, followed by multiple recent enquiries and missed repayments. Each stays on file for set periods under the Privacy Act 1988.

Can I improve my credit score regardless of which state I live in?

Yes. Paying on time, keeping credit-card use low, limiting applications and correcting any listing recorded in error all help — and none of it depends on your location.

Is a score of 864 good?

Yes. On the Equifax scale, 864 sits in the Excellent band and is above the 2025 national average.

How often do these state figures change?

The national average shifts slightly year to year (861 in 2024, 864 in 2025) and the ranking between states is generally stable. Treat the figures as indicative averages rather than precise, fixed numbers.

Can a default be removed to improve my score?

Only where the listing breached the credit reporting rules in the Privacy Act 1988 — such as a missing section 21D notice, a wrong amount, a disputed debt, or identity fraud. Whether grounds exist depends on the individual file.

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Australian Credit Solutions Pty Ltd holds Australian Credit Licence ACL 532003. Figures are drawn from third-party sources current at the date of publication and may change. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice, nor a guarantee of any outcome.

Last updated: 14 June 2026 · Reviewed by Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB · ASIC ACL 532003