4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/07/2006   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All  
Contents >> Family and Community >> National and State Summary Tables

National and State Summary Tables

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY: NATIONAL SUMMARY
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Units
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
1Total households(a)
'000
6 668
6 762
6 910
7 015
7 127
7 250
7 367
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
2Lone-person households(a)
%
22.9
23.0
23.6
23.7
24.1
24.6
24.5
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
3Households with
three or more persons(a)
%
44.7
44.5
43.8
43.2
43.1
42.5
42.5
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
4Total families
'000
4 791
4 834
4 899
5 027
5 056
5 116
5 242
5 355
5 441
5 528
5 596
5Families with children
aged under 15 years
'000
2 100
2 092
2 130
2 160
2 166
2 172
2 179
2 211
2 191
2 224
2 229
6Couple families(b)
'000
4 051
4 080
4 090
4 158
4 197
4 265
4 349
4 423
4 526
4 550
4 660
7De facto couple families –
of all couple families
%
n.a.
10.1
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
12.4
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
8Couple-only families –
of all couple families(b)
%
r40.7
r41.4
r41.2
r41.9
r42.2
r42.9
r44.2
r44.8
r45.9
r46.2
46.0
9Couple-only families with female partner aged under 40 years – of all couple only families(b)
%
21.6
21.3
20.9
21.3
21.3
21.5
21.4
22.2
r22.6
r21.9
22.7
10Couple families with children aged under 15 – of all families
with children aged under 15(b)
%
81.5
81.6
80.0
78.4
78.8
79.1
78.4
77.0
78.3
76.9
78.6
11Lone-father families with children
aged under 15 – of all families
with children aged under 15
%
1.9
2.0
2.3
2.0
1.9
2.3
2.3
2.7
2.5
2.8
2.7
12Lone-mother families with children aged under 15 – of all families
with children aged under 15
%
16.6
16.3
17.7
19.5
19.3
18.6
19.3
20.3
19.3
20.3
18.7
13Families with at least one child
aged under 5 – of all families
with children aged under 15
%
47.4
47.7
47.8
46.2
45.0
r46.1
44.9
43.9
44.8
45.1
45.0
14Average family size – persons
no.
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
15Children aged under 15 living
in one-parent families –
of all children aged under 15
%
16.4
16.3
18.0
19.5
19.0
18.2
19.6
20.6
19.8
20.8
18.9
16Persons aged 20–24 living with parents – of all persons aged 20–24
%
r45.5
r45.0
r46.7
r48.4
r47.1
r45.2
45.6
45.6
45.0
46.8
47.1
17Persons aged 25–34 living with parents – of all persons aged 25–34
%
r10.8
10.7
r11.7
r12.5
r11.9
r12.2
12.4
12.5
11.6
12.5
11.9
18Persons aged 15–64 who live
alone – of all persons aged 15–64
%
r7.1
r7.3
r7.6
r7.7
r7.9
r8.1
r8.4
r8.4
r8.6
r8.7
8.5
19Persons aged 65 and over who
live alone – of all persons
aged 65 and over
%
r26.1
r26.2
r26.5
r25.5
r26.2
r27.3
r25.8
r26.8
r26.9
r25.3
26.2
20Children aged 0–17 with a natural parent living elsewhere – of all children aged 0–17(c)
%
n.a.
n.a.
21.2
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
r22.5
n.a.
n.a.
FAMILIES AND WORK
Units
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Couple families with
children aged under 15 years(b)
21Both parents employed –
of all couple families with
children aged under 15
%
56.2
54.5
54.4
55.6
54.9
56.3
56.8
57.2
57.7
r57.4
60.4
22Neither parent employed –
of all couple families with
children aged under 15
%
8.4
7.9
8.6
8.5
7.9
7.5
7.5
7.2
6.3
r6.3
5.3
23One-parent families with children
aged under 15, parent employed –
of all one-parent families with
children aged under 15
%
43.2
42.8
42.9
42.1
44.0
47.3
46.6
46.3
46.4
48.0
49.3
24Children aged under 15 living in families where no resident
parent is employed –
of all children aged under 15 (d)
%
18.2
16.2
18.6
17.7
n.a.
17.9
17.4
n.a.
16.2
15.7
n.a.
FAMILY FORMATION
Units
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Registered marriages
25Number of marriages
'000
109.4
106.1
106.7
110.6
114.3
113.4
103.1
105.4
106.4
111.0
n.y.a.
26Crude marriage rate
(per 1,000 population)
rate
6.1
5.8
5.8
5.9
6.0
5.9
5.3
5.4
5.4
5.5
n.y.a.
27Marriages where both partners married for the first time – of all marriages
%
67.5
66.4
66.6
66.7
66.9
66.6
66.9
66.3
66.4
67.2
n.y.a.
28Median age of males at first marriage
years
27.3
27.6
27.8
27.9
28.2
28.5
28.7
29.0
29.2
29.4
n.y.a.
29Median age of females at first marriage
years
25.3
25.7
25.9
26.2
26.4
26.7
26.9
27.1
27.3
27.5
n.y.a.
30Median age at remarriage –
divorced males
years
41.1
41.6
41.8
42.0
42.2
42.7
43.1
43.6
43.6
44.3
n.y.a.
31Median age at remarriage –
divorced females
years
37.6
38.0
38.2
38.4
38.6
39.1
39.5
39.8
40.2
40.7
n.y.a.
Divorce
32Number of divorces
'000
49.7
52.5
51.3
51.4
52.6
49.9
55.3
54.0
53.1
52.7
n.y.a.
33Crude divorce rate
(per 1,000 population)
rate
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.8
2.6
2.9
2.7
2.7
2.6
n.y.a.
34Median duration of marriage
until final separation
years
7.6
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9
8.2
8.3
8.6
8.7
8.7
n.y.a.
35Divorces involving children
aged under 18 years – of all divorces
%
n.a.
53.6
54.0
53.4
53.9
52.7
51.2
49.7
50.1
49.8
n.y.a.
36Children aged under 18
involved in divorce
'000
n.a.
52.5
51.7
51.6
53.4
49.6
53.4
50.5
49.9
49.3
n.y.a.
Fertility
37Births(e)
'000
256.2
253.8
251.8
249.6
248.9
249.6
246.4
251.0
251.2
254.2
n.y.a.
38Total fertility rate (per female)
rate
r1.82
1.80
1.78
1.76
r1.75
1.76
1.73
1.76
1.75
1.77
n.y.a.
39Births to mothers aged under 20 – of all births
%
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.7
4.7
4.6
4.8
4.6
4.3
4.3
n.y.a.
40Births to mothers aged 35 and over – of all births
%
13.7
14.6
15.3
16.1
16.8
17.4
17.8
18.4
19.1
19.9
n.y.a.
41Births outside marriage – of all births
%
26.6
27.4
28.1
28.7
29.2
29.2
30.7
31.3
31.6
32.2
n.y.a.
42Births outside marriage
acknowledged by father –
of all births outside marriage
%
83.3
84.2
85.5
87.1
88.2
88.2
87.9
88.0
88.2
89.2
n.y.a.
43Females aged 35 and over giving
birth for the first time – of all
females aged 35 and over giving birth
%
20.8
21.2
22.4
23.3
23.7
24.7
25.2
25.6
26.2
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
44Median age of mothers at first birth
years
26.9
27.1
27.3
27.5
27.6
27.9
28.0
28.0
28.0
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
CHILD CARE
Units
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
45Children aged under 3 using formal care – of all children aged under 3(f)(g)
%
n.a.
r21.1
n.a.
n.a.
r22.0
n.a.
n.a.
r25.0
n.a.
n.a.
28.2
46Children aged under 3 using informal care – of all children aged under 3(g)
%
n.a.
39.3
n.a.
n.a.
43.0
n.a.
n.a.
36.9
n.a.
n.a.
38.4
47Children aged 3–4 using formal care – of all children aged 3–4(f)(g)
%
n.a.
r27.4
n.a.
n.a.
r34.8
n.a.
n.a.
r41.4
n.a.
n.a.
45.5
48Children aged 3–4 using informal care – of all children aged 3–4(g)
%
n.a.
41.2
n.a.
n.a.
43.2
n.a.
n.a.
36.4
n.a.
n.a.
38.3
49Median weekly hours of care received by children aged under 3 – formal and informal combined(f)
hours
n.a.
12
n.a.
n.a.
11
n.a.
n.a.
r14
n.a.
n.a.
14
50
Median weekly hours of care
received by children aged 3–4 – formal and informal combined(f)
hours
n.a.
r13
n.a.
n.a.
14
n.a.
n.a.
16
n.a.
n.a.
16
COMMUNITY
Units
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
51Persons aged 18 and over –
volunteer rate in previous 12 months(h)
%
23.6
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
31.8
n.a.
34.4
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
52Carers for person with a disability – of all persons(i)
%
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
12.6
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
13.0
n.a.
n.a.
53Primary carers for person with severe/profound disability – of all persons(i)
%
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
2.4
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
2.4
n.a.
n.a.
58Persons aged 18 and over – attendance rate at any sporting event in previous 12 months
%
43.3
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
46.3
n.a.
n.a.
48.2
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
59Persons aged 18 and over – Participation rate in organised sport in previous 12 months(j)
%
n.a.
n.a.
26.5
28.3
30.3
28.9
n.a.
31.4
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
60Persons aged 18 and over –
attendance rate at live performances in previous 12 months
%
45.5
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
43.3
n.a.
n.a.
46.9
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.

(a) Data from 1995–2000 based on 1996 census. 2001 data based on 2001 census.
(b) From 2001 data includes both opposite-sex and same-sex couple families.
(c) Excludes children with no natural parent living in the household.
(d) Data for this indicator are derived from the Survey of Income and Housing; results are benchmarked by age for children aged 1–4 years and 5–14 years. These data are not necessarily consistent with data for indicator 15, which are derived from the Labour Force Survey and are not benchmarked for people aged less than 15 years.
(e) Based on registered births.
(f) Excludes preschool.
(g) Includes children who used a combination of formal and informal care.
(h) Differences in survey methods and question design influences such as question sequencing and question wording may account for some part of the differences observed in these time series data. For details of differences affecting the 1995 and 2000 estimates see Voluntary Work, Australia, 2000 (ABS cat. no. 4441.0).
(i) Excludes persons living in institutions.
(j) Data for the years from 1997–2000 were collected in four quarters of the financial year ending in year shown and for the year 2002 from March to July. Differences in survey methods and question design influences such as question sequencing and question wording may account for some part of the differences observed in these time series data. For details of differences between 2002 and previous years see Participation in Sport and Physical Activities, Australia (ABS cat. no. 4177.0).

Reference periods:
          Data for indicators 1–3 are at June 30.
          Data for indicators 4–6 and 8–19, 21–23 are at June.
          Data for indicator 7 are at census date.
          Data for indicator 20 are at April 1997 & June 2003.
          Data for indicator 24 are for financial year ending 30 June.
          Data for indicators 25–44 are for the calendar year.
          Data for indicators 45–50 are at March 1996, and June for 1999, 2002 and 2005.
          Data for indicator 51 are at June 1995, through 4 quarters of 2000, and March–July 2002.
          Data for indicators 52–53 are at April–June 1998 and August–November 2003.
          Data for indicators 58 and 60 are at March 1995, April 1999, and March–July 2002.
          Data for indicator 59 are collected through the financial year ending June 1997–2000 and at March–July 2002.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY: STATE SUMMARY
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Units
Years
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
1Total households(a)(b)
'000
2001
2 455
1 817
1 383
613
724
192
63
120
7 367
2Lone-person households(a)(b)
%
2001
23.9
24.4
23.8
28.0
24.7
27.7
21.3
23.8
24.5
3Households with three or more persons(a)(b)
%
2001
43.9
43.5
41.6
37.5
42.1
37.6
49.9
43.9
42.5
4Total families
'000
2005
1 844
1 387
1 122
428
553
136
39
87
5 596
5Families with children aged under
15 years
'000
2005
755
531
454
161
223
51
19
34
2 229
6Couple families(c)
'000
2005
1 528
1 153
942
357
463
113
31
73
4 660
7De facto couple families – of all couple families
%
2001
11.5
11.1
14.0
12.4
14.3
14.3
23.2
14.3
12.4
8Couple-only families – of all couple families(c)
%
2005
43.2
45.2
49.3
49.2
47.2
51.4
45.3
45.1
46.0
9Couple-only families with female partner aged under 40 years – of all couple only families(c)
%
2005
21.0
24.3
24.0
18.9
24.7
18.7
34.0
28.1
22.7
10Couple families with children aged under 15 – of all families with children aged under 15(c)
%
2005
78.6
80.5
78.1
76.2
78.4
74.5
73.1
79.4
78.6
11Lone-father families with children aged under 15 – of all families with children aged under 15
%
2005
3.0
2.6
2.4
2.9
2.1
3.4
4.8
1.4
2.7
12Lone-mother families with children aged under 15 – of all families with children aged under 15
%
2005
18.4
16.9
19.4
20.9
19.4
22.1
22.1
19.3
18.7
13Families with at least one child aged under 5 – of all families with children aged under 15
%
2005
44.4
45.2
46.5
43.4
46.2
39.9
41.4
41.8
45.0
14Average family size – persons
no.
2005
3.1
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.9
3.1
3.0
3.0
15Children aged under 15 living in one-parent families – of all children aged under 15
%
2005
18.1
18.1
19.6
21.4
19.3
21.2
25.1
17.9
18.9
16Persons aged 20–24 living with parents – of all persons aged 20–24
%
2005
52.3
52.6
34.7
48.8
41.9
43.5
26.8
44.3
47.1
17Persons aged 25–34 living with parents – of all persons aged 25–34
%
2005
13.9
14.3
6.8
10.9
9.8
10.6
9.9
11.3
11.9
18Persons aged 15–64 who live alone –
of all persons aged 15–64
%
2005
8.3
8.2
7.6
10.4
9.7
9.9
8.2
8.0
8.5
19Persons aged 65 and over who live alone – of all persons aged 65 and over
%
2005
25.5
25.6
24.0
32.6
28.2
27.9
24.6
25.6
26.2
20Children aged 0–17 with a natural parent living elsewhere – of all children 0–17(d)
%
2003
r21.8
r20.0
r24.6
r26.7
r21.2
r28.7
r21.3
r26.8
r22.5
FAMILIES AND WORK
Units
Years
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
Couple families with
children aged under 15 years(c)
21Both parents employed – of all couple families with children aged under 15
%
2005
60.1
60.0
61.6
62.6
55.2
58.1
76.8
76.0
60.4
22Neither parent employed – of all couple families with children aged under 15
%
2005
5.3
5.1
5.1
5.2
6.2
8.8
*2.6
*1.5
5.3
23One-parent families with children
aged under 15, parent employed –
of all one-parent families with children aged under 15
%
2005
52.0
46.3
46.2
50.3
53.2
42.0
43.5
62.0
49.3
24Children aged under 15 living in families where no resident parent is employed – of all children aged under 15(e)
%
2003–04
15.7
13.1
17.3
17.1
16.5
24.4
*15.4
*8.0
15.7
FAMILY FORMATION
Units
Years
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
Registered marriages
25Number of marriages
'000
2004
37.4
25.6
24.3
7.9
10.6
2.6
0.8
1.7
111.0
26Crude marriage rate (per 1,000 population)
rate
2004
5.6
5.2
6.3
5.1
5.4
5.5
3.9
5.3
5.5
27Marriages where both partners married for the first time – of all marriages
%
2004
69.2
69.9
63.6
65.1
66.1
58.6
61.3
67.8
67.2
28Median age of males at first marriage
years
2004
29.2
29.6
29.4
29.2
29.6
29.8
30.2
29.1
29.4
29Median age of females at first marriage
years
2004
27.4
28.0
27.3
27.0
27.6
27.9
28.1
27.3
27.5
30Median age at remarriage – divorced males
years
2004
43.8
43.8
44.1
45.6
45.5
44.2
45.8
44.4
44.3
31Median age at remarriage – divorced females
years
2004
40.4
39.7
40.3
43.0
41.8
41.8
41.7
41.0
40.7
Divorce
32Number of divorces
'000
2004
15.0
12.5
13.3
4.1
4.3
1.4
0.4
1.6
52.7
33Crude divorce rate (per 1,000 population)(f)
rate
2004
2.2
2.5
3.4
2.7
2.2
2.9
2.2
n.a.
2.6
34Median duration of marriage until final separation
years
2004
7.6
8.8
9.1
10.0
9.1
10.6
8.0
9.7
8.7
35Divorces involving children aged under 18 – of all divorces
%
2004
46.7
49.8
53.0
51.8
49.8
52.1
50.2
45.6
49.8
36Children aged under 18 involved in divorce
'000
2004
12.8
11.7
13.5
4.0
4.0
1.4
0.4
1.4
49.3
Fertility
37Births(g)
'000
2004
85.9
62.4
49.9
17.1
25.3
5.8
3.6
4.2
254.2
38Total fertility rate (per female)
rate
2004
1.79
1.70
1.81
1.71
1.81
1.93
2.24
1.64
1.77
39Births to mothers aged under 20 –
of all births
%
2004
3.9
2.7
5.8
4.0
5.4
6.8
11.3
2.3
4.3
40Births to mothers aged 35 and over –
of all births
%
2004
20.1
22.4
17.3
20.7
18.5
15.3
15.8
25.8
19.9
41Births outside marriage – of all births
%
2004
28.5
26.8
37.8
35.6
37.3
46.3
64.3
27.8
32.2
42Births outside marriage acknowledged by father – of all births outside marriage
%
2004
88.2
92.9
89.6
90.9
89.7
85.4
65.0
91.2
89.2
CHILD CARE
Units
Years
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT(h)
ACT
Aust.
45Children aged under 3 using formal care – of all children aged under 3(i)(j)
%
2005
25.9
23.4
36.9
25.3
28.9
32.3
*40.8
40.1
28.2
46Children aged under 3 using informal care – of all children aged under 3(j)
%
2005
41.9
37.3
32.5
43.5
37.3
38.3
*28.6
46.0
38.4
47Children aged 3–4 using formal care – of all children aged 3–4(i)(j)
%
2005
46.0
42.6
53.7
38.8
36.0
49.1
*42.6
58.6
45.5
48Children aged 3–4 using informal care – of all children aged 3–4(j)
%
2005
38.2
43.4
30.7
50.6
35.0
35.1
*29.4
35.3
38.3
49Median weekly hours of care received by children aged under 3 – formal and informal combined (i)
hours
2005
16
12
16
12
10
14
25
17
14
50Median weekly hours of care received by children aged 3–4 – formal and informal combined (i)
hours
2005
18
12
18
11
15
12
30
20
16
COMMUNITY
Units
Years
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT(h)
ACT
Aust.
51Persons aged 18 and over – volunteer rate in the previous 12 months
%
2002
33.4
33.3
35.7
34.7
35.6
37.0
39.5
41.4
34.4
52Carers for person with a disability – of all persons(k)
%
2003
11.4
14.1
14.3
14.8
12.7
14.8
n.a.
10.8
13.0
53Primary carers for person with severe/profound disability – of all persons(k)
%
2003
2.3
2.4
3.0
2.5
2.0
3.1
n.a.
1.2
2.4
54Contact with family or friends living outside the household in last week – of all persons aged 18 and over
%
2002
94.8
95.4
95.4
96.6
96.4
96.5
95.6
98.0
95.4
55Persons who feel unsafe or very unsafe at home alone after dark –
of all persons aged 18 and over
%
2002
7.4
8.6
8.7
9.5
10.5
7.4
10.1
6.5
8.4
56Could ask for small favours from persons living outside the household – of all persons aged 18 and over
%
2002
92.4
92.2
94.3
95.1
95.3
95.3
94.3
95.4
93.3
57Persons able to ask for support in time of crisis from persons living outside the household – of all persons aged 18 and over
%
2002
93.2
93.4
94.8
95.3
95.0
96.0
94.1
96.5
94.0
58Persons aged 18 and over – attendance rate at any sport in previous 12 months
%
2002
43.7
51.6
46.8
51.9
53.5
47.0
56.7
55.7
48.2
59Persons aged 18 and over –
participation rate in organised sport in previous 12 months
%
2002
31.1
32.2
32.3
30.7
38.2
32.2
36.6
40.8
31.4
60Persons aged 18 and over –
attendance rate at live performances in previous 12 months
%
2002
47.9
47.9
44.1
42.9
48.1
43.5
47.1
59.1
46.9
(a) Based on 2001 census data.
(b) Australian total does not include other territories.
(c) Includes both opposite-sex and same-sex couple families.
(d) Excludes children with no natural parent living in the household.
(e) Data for this indicator are derived from the Survey of Income and Housing; results are benchmarked by age for children aged 1–4 years and 5–14 years. These data are not necessarily consistent with data for indicator 15, which are derived from the Labour Force Survey and are not benchmarked for people aged less than 15 years.
(f) Based on the location of the Family Court where the divorce is granted and registered. Due to the large number of divorces granted in the Australian Capital Territory to usual residents of another state, the divorce rate for the Australian Capital Territory is not representative of the Australian Capital Territory population.
(g) Based on registered births.
(h) Estimates for the Northern Territory refer to mainly urban areas only.
(i) Excludes preschool.
(j) Includes children who used a combination of formal and informal care.
(k) Excludes persons living in institutions.

Reference periods:
    Data for indicators 1–3 are at June 30.
    Data for indicators 4–6, 8–19 and 21–23 are at June.
    Data for indicator 7 are at census date.
    Data for indicator 20 are at June 2003.
    Data for indicator 24 are for financial year ending 30 June.
    Data for indicators 25–42 are for the calendar year.
    Data for indicators 45–50 are at June 2005.
    Data for indicators 51 and 54–60 are at March–July 2002.
    Data for indicators 52–53 are at August–November 2003.



Previous PageNext Page