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2032.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Australia in Profile -- A Regional Analysis, 1996  
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/12/1998   
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MEDIA RELEASE

December 14, 1998
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
142/98
Pilbara and Kimberley feature in regional comparisons across Australia - ABS

A major new social report, Australia in Profile: a Regional Analysis, released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, uses results from the 1996 Census of Population and Housing to describe some of the major differences in the characteristics and well-being of people living in different parts of Australia. The report enables comparisons of Western Australian regions with regions across other States and Territories.

These comparisons show:
  • WA had five of the ten least populated regions in Australia (Kimberley, South Eastern, Pilbara, Central and Upper Great Southern Statistical Divisions).
  • The Pilbara region had the largest average rate of population decline between 1991 and 1996 (-2.8%) in Australia.
  • The Pilbara region had the highest level of labour force participation (78%) in Australia.
  • The Pilbara region had the highest median gross weekly income ($530), of individuals aged 15 years or more, outside of Sydney. This was well above the median gross weekly income of $292 for all Australians.
  • The remote regions of WA have some of the youngest populations in Australia. Median ages of the populations of Kimberley, Pilbara and South Eastern regions were 27.1 years, 28.3 years and 28.7 years respectively, compared with 34.0 years for the population of Australia as a whole.
  • Over half (51%) of people living in the Kimberley region were of Indigenous origin, the highest proportion in Australia.
  • The Kimberley region had the highest proportion of one-parent families with dependent children (19%).
  • The regions with the highest proportion of people born in the United Kingdom (15% of more) were all in Perth. The Wanneroo region had the highest proportion (19%).


This report capitalises on the strength of the Census which is to provide detailed information for small geographic areas. The report also compares and contrasts the circumstances of people living in urban and rural areas.

Australia in Profile: a Regional Analysis is divided into two main parts. The first consists of seven chapters discussing topics of social interest and concern in a range of areas including cultural diversity, living arrangements, and employment and unemployment.

The second part of the report consists of a detailed social indicator table which presents a selection of key indicators for Statistical Local Areas - towns, shires and municipalities - across Australia. At a glance regions can be compared to others at the national, state and local levels.

Australia in Profile: a Regional Analysis (cat. no. 2032.0) is available at ABS bookshops. Other Media Releases which look Nationally and at individual States and Territories are also available from this site.


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