The Census records a person’s usual address at three points in time: at the time of the Census, one year before the Census and five years before the Census. The place where a person stayed on Census Night is also captured as place of enumeration. This provides a rich dataset with information on the count and characteristics of people who moved within Australia, people who moved from overseas, and people who did not move at all in the period before each Census.
For more information on the Location variables, including data use considerations, visit the 2021 Census dictionary: Location.
Just over half (53.1%) of Australia’s population lived at the same address in the five years prior to the 2021 Census, which was consistent with previous censuses. In 2021, people were slightly more likely to have moved elsewhere in Australia than compared to the five years prior to the 2011 and 2016 Census.
In 2021, most people lived at the same address as the year before. 14.3% of the population changed their address within Australia in the year prior to the 2021 Census, a slight increase compared to movement one year prior to the 2011 and 2016 Census.
To explore data on population movement in different areas, see our interactive map.
Interactive map
Image
Description
How to use
- To interact with the map visit 2021 Census - Population movement in Australia.
- If the map page does not load, please try again later.
- Use the tabs across the top of the map to view different years of data. On mobile devices click on the word 'Experience' where the map should appear and a new tab will open. Best viewed on a desktop or tablet device.
- You can search for locations using names, addresses, suburbs or SA3 names. Capital cities of Australia can also be found in the Bookmark menu
- Click on a region of interest to view data and graphs about that region.
Geographic areas
The boundaries used in this map are Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) boundaries according to the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3.