Western Australia

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 1,959,088 people were usually resident in Western Australia: of these 49.8% were male and 50.2% were female. Of the total population 3.0% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 20.2% of people usually resident in Western Australia were children aged 0-14 years, and 22.9% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 36 years.

In the 2006 Census, 83.5% of people usually resident in Western Australia were Australian citizens, 27.1% were born overseas and 1.1% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 49.5% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Western Australia were married, 11.6% were either separated or divorced, 5.1% were widowed and 33.7% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 65.3% of people usually resident in Western Australia, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 8.9%, New Zealand 2.4%, Scotland 1.2%, South Africa 1.1% and Italy 1.1%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Western Australia were Catholic 23.7%, No Religion 22.9%, Anglican 20.4%, Uniting Church 3.8% and Presbyterian and Reformed 2.2%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Western Australia were Italian 1.7%, Mandarin 0.8%, Cantonese 0.8%, Vietnamese 0.7% and Arabic 0.4%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 81.8%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 972,791 people aged 15 years and over in Western Australia were in the labour force. Of these 61.0% worked full-time, 28.4% worked part-time, 4.1% were away from work, 2.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 3.8% were unemployed. 478,244 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Western Australia were Professionals 18.6%, Technicians and Trades Workers 16.4%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.5%, Managers 12.5%, Labourers 10.9%, Sales Workers 9.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 8.9% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 7.3%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Western Australia, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 4.9%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.7%, Hospitals 3.1%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.5% and Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services 2.1%.

In the 2006 Census in Western Australia, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $500, the median family income was $1,246 and the median household income was $1,066.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 511,917 families in Western Australia: of these 38.3% were couple families without children, 45.1% were couple families with children, 14.8% were one parent families and 1.7% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 757,989 occupied private dwellings were counted in Western Australia.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Western Australia, 79.0% were separate houses, 10.5% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 8.1% were flats, units or apartments and 2.4% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Western Australia, 30.2% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 35.1% were owned with a mortgage and 26.0% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Western Australia, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 40.6% were rented from a real estate agent, 14.7% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 41.5% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Western Australia, the median weekly rent was $170. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,213. The average people per household was 2.5 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Western Australia, 66.5% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 22.9% were single (or lone) person households and 3.3% were group households.