2016 Census: Victoria

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MEDIA RELEASE
27 June 2017
065/2017


Victoria records highest population rise of all States and Territories

2016 Census results released today revealed the Garden State had the highest increase in population in 2016 of all States and Territories, in part due to Melbourne City becoming the third-fastest growing region in Australia.

It has been less than 10 months since the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) took the pulse of the nation to find out who we are, how we live, what we do, and where we’re headed.

The Census has been used to update Victoria’s estimated resident population, which at December 31, 2016 had grown to 6,244,227 people.

The Census counted 5,926,624 usual residents of Victoria on Census night, an increase of 572,582 people since 2011 (or 10.7 per cent).

The Melbourne City, stretching from Punt Road in the city’s east, to the Maribyrnong River in the west and as far north as Park Street in Brunswick, recorded a 45 per cent population increase to 136,000 people, up from 94,000 people in 2011. Wyndham, located on the western edge of Melbourne, was the State’s next fastest growing region, with its population increasing by 56,000 people to 222,000 people (up 34 per cent).

Outside of the Greater Melbourne area, the region of Surf Coast – Bellarine Peninsula was the fastest growing, showing a population increase of 18.4 per cent since 2011.

Bendigo (9.6 per cent) and Ballarat (8.6 per cent) also showed considerable growth since 2011.

More than one in four Victorians (28 per cent) reported being born overseas – more than ever before and an increase from 26 per cent in 2011.

England tied with India for the most common country of birth outside Australia, with both countries accounting for 2.9 per cent of Victoria’s population.

The majority of people (68 per cent) reported that they spoke only English at home in Victoria, a fall from 72 per cent in 2011. Other common languages spoken in Victorian homes include Mandarin, Italian and Greek.

A total of 47,788 Victorians reported having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origins, an increase of 9,796 people since 2011.

Christianity was the most common religion reported in Victoria, accounting for just under half the State’s population – 2.8 million people, down from 3 million in 2011. However, of the states, Victorians were the most likely to report a religion other than Christianity, while 32 per cent of people reported they had ‘No religion’, up from 24 per cent in 2011.

There was no change in the average median age in Victoria since 2011 (37 years). This bucks the trend for the rest of the nation, with Australia’s national median age increasing to 38.

Victorians are earning more in 2016, with an individual median income of $644 per week, an increase of $83 since 2011, with the Port Phillip Local Government Area recording the State’s highest median income at $1,087 a week.

The median weekly rent for a dwelling in Victoria increased by 17 per cent over the past five years to $325, while the State’s median monthly mortgage repayment increased by 1.6 per cent ($1,728).

Australian Statistician David W. Kalisch said Census data is high quality, thanks to the participation of Australians.

“The Independent Assurance Panel I established to provide extra assurance and transparency of Census data quality concluded that the 2016 Census data can be used with confidence,” Mr Kalisch said.

“The 2016 Census had a response rate of 95.1 per cent and a net undercount of 1.0 per cent. This is a quality result, comparable to both previous Australian Censuses and Censuses in other countries, such as New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

“Furthermore, 63 per cent of people completed the Census online, embracing the digital-first approach and contributing to faster data processing and data quality improvements.

“2016 Census data provides a detailed, accurate and fascinating picture of Australia, which will be used to inform critical policy, planning and service delivery decisions for our communities over the coming years,” he said.

Census data is available free online. Use one of our easy tools such as QuickStats and Community Profiles to access the latest data for your area or topic of interest.

You can also attend one of our free Seminars. To find out more about Census Data Seminar series, or to register, go to the ABS website.


Victoria

2016
2011

Usual resident count
5,926,624
5,354,042

Population growth
10.7%

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
47,788
37,992

Median age
37
37

Sex
Male
49.1%
49.2%
Female
50.9%
50.8%

Born overseas
1,675,280 (28.3%)
1,402,538 (26.2%)

Country of birth (top 5 outside Australia) %
1.
England – 171,443 (2.9%)
England – 172,068 (3.2%)
2.
India – 169,802 (2.9%)
India – 111,787 (2.1%)
3.
China – 160,652 (2.7%)
China – 93,896 (1.8%)
4.
New Zealand – 93,253 (1.6%)
New Zealand – 80,234 (1.5%)
5.
Vietnam – 80,787 (1.4%)
Italy – 76,908 (1.4%)

Languages spoken at home (top 4) %
1.
English – 4,026,811 (67.9%)
English – 3,874,861 (72.4%)
2.
Mandarin – 191,793 (3.2%)
Italian – 124,856 (2.3%)
3.
Italian – 112,272 (1.9%)
Greek – 116,802 (2.2%)
4.
Greek – 110,707 (1.9%)
Mandarin – 103,742 (1.9%)

Religious affiliation (top 3) %
1.
No Religion – 1,876,738 (31.7%)
Catholic – 1,428,758 (26.7%)
2.
Catholic – 1,377,134 (23.2%)
No Religion – 1,256,142 (23.5%)
3.
Anglican – 530,710 (9.0%)
Anglican – 656,703 (12.3%)

Registered marital status (over 15 years old) %
Married
2,344,107 (48.4%)
2,136,931 (49.1%)
Separated
146,493 (3.0%)
125,442 (2.9%)
Divorced
382,544 (7.9%)
339,501 (7.8%)
Widowed
251,674 (5.2%)
242,620 (5.6%)
Never married
1,720,887 (35.5%)
1,510,759 (34.7%)

Median income (weekly)
Individual
$644
$561
Family
$1,715
$1,460
Household
$1,419
$1,216

Family composition %
Couple with children
46.3%
46.0%
Couple without children
36.5%
36.7%
One parent families
15.3%
15.5%
Other family types
1.8%
1.8%

*All numbers based on Place of Usual Residence



Dwellings
2016
2011

Occupied private dwellings
2,112,699
1,944,691
Median household rent (weekly)
$325
$277
Median household mortgage repayments (monthly)
$1,728
$1,700
Median bedrooms per household
3
3
Average number of people per household
2.6
2.6

Household composition %
Family households
70.8%
71.2%
Single (or lone) person households
24.7%
24.5%
Group households
4.5%
4.2%

*All numbers based on Place of Enumeration, excludes visitor only and other non-classifiable households.