Australia has tumbled down a major global index of "social progress", hampered by unreliable power supply, unequal access to health and education and our treatment of refugees.

The index, compiled by a US non-profit organisation and supported by Deloitte, also rated Australia poorly on environmental quality — particularly our emissions of carbon dioxide per capita and biome protection — and on concentration of power among the wealthy.

Altogether, Australia fell six places in the past 12 months to rank 15th on the Social Progress Index, which was topped by Norway. It is the second year in a row Australia has taken a hit — just two years ago it was ranked fourth.

Lack of quality electricity supply was one area on which Australia was marked down. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Deloitte's chief strategy and innovation officer Rob Hillard partly blamed political instability and the revolving door of Australian prime ministers for the drop.