When it comes to the sweet, cold stuff, Australians don’t just have a soft spot, we have an Olympic-sized swimming pool full of commitment. We are consistently ranked among the top three ice cream-loving nations globally, devouring approximately 18 litres per person each year. It seems that when the freezer calls, Aussies go all in.
The Magnum Ice Cream Company, the world’s largest ice cream company and parent to local icon Streets, has unwrapped the numbers on what Australians have been licking, slurping, and chomping this past year. The data doesn’t lie: it’s a lot.
Scott Mingl, GM ANZ, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, summed up the national spirit perfectly: “Ice cream isn’t just a summer fling. Aussies are committed year-round. From Bubble ‘O Bill noses to cracking Magnum chocolate, our data shows we’re a country that knows how to treat itself.”
So, grab a spoon (or stick) and dive into the deliciously deep data that shows which State leads the Icecream Unwrapped battle.
The Ice Cream King and Queens
While ice cream might seem like a natural fit for the sunny states, the leaderboard for most ice cream consumed per capita delivered a few chilly surprises. Queensland claims the top spot, earning the gold cone. But in a stunning upset, Tasmania, the island state known for its cooler climate, scooped second place, beating New South Wales (NSW) + ACT.
The full state-by-state ranking:
- Queensland (QLD)
- Tasmania (TAS)
- New South Wales + ACT (NSW + ACT)
- Western Australia (WA)
- Victoria (VIC)
- South Australia + Northern Territory (SA + NT)
On the city front, Melbourne’s Central Business District consumed more ice cream than any other major city. Meanwhile, the Northern Territory, despite its joint last overall ranking saw Darwin City, Alice Springs, and Berrimah top the charts for regional consumption.
When exactly do Aussies hit their sugar high? The most popular time for an ice cream run is Saturdays between 4–5 pm. The perfect time to prep for the evening. And speaking of evening prep: if a box of Golden Gaytimes made it into your supermarket trolley, chances are a frozen pizza was right there next to it. Dinner plus dessert? Nailed it.
Australia’s Frozen Favourites
Certain treats held a special place in the national freezer:
- Golden Gaytime Capital: NSW is officially the Golden Gaytime capital of Australia, smashing through over 6.7 million in the past year alone.
- The Big Stick: NSW also leads the nation in Magnum consumption, enjoying more than 19 million. That’s about 24% more than Victoria, which came in second with just over 15 million.
- Vanilla Reigns: Blue Ribbon vanilla remains a firm fan favourite in NSW, VIC, and QLD, making it the country’s number one vanilla flavour.
- Bulk Buy: Multipacks are the undisputed champions of the freezer aisle, outselling tubs and single sticks combined.
Challenge Accepted, Challenge Conquered
The consumption data is perhaps best illustrated by turning the numbers into mind-boggling scale:
- Bubble Trouble: Aussies chewed through more than 33 tonnes of Bubble ‘O Bill bubble-gum noses (that’s enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) up to about knee height. Good luck getting that gum out of the turf.)
- Crumb Coverage: There was enough Golden Gaytime crumb consumed to coat Surfers Paradise beach entirely. We hope it was delicious.
- Paddle Pool: Enough Paddle Pops were licked to fill an Olympic swimming pool. The favourite? Chocolate, not rainbow!
- Aussie Ingredients: Over 2.4 million Australian Kensington Pride mangoes and 34.5 tonnes of Australian-grown macadamia nuts were used to create iconic Weis Bars this year.
- Cracking The Code: There was enough cracking Magnum ice cream chocolate to coat Melbourne’s Federation Square four times over.
It seems no matter the weather, the city, or the state, Australia’s commitment to the cold stuff is unstoppable. Now, if you’ll excuse us, it’s almost 4 pm on a Saturday… and I’m ready for a Gay Time!
