Canberra

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 323,056 people were usually resident in Canberra: of these 49.3% were male and 50.7% were female. Of the total population 1.2% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 19.1% of people usually resident in Canberra were children aged 0-14 years, and 20.3% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 34 years.

In the 2006 Census, 89.6% of people usually resident in Canberra were Australian citizens, 21.7% were born overseas and 0.9% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 47.8% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Canberra were married, 10.9% were either separated or divorced, 4.1% were widowed and 37.1% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 73.0% of people usually resident in Canberra, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 4.0%, New Zealand 1.2%, China 1.1%, India 0.8% and Viet Nam 0.7%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Canberra were Catholic 28.1%, No Religion 23.3%, Anglican 16.7%, Uniting Church 4.0% and Presbyterian and Reformed 2.7%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Canberra were Mandarin 1.1%, Italian 1.1%, Vietnamese 0.9%, Cantonese 0.9% and Greek 0.8%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 81.0%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 181,948 people aged 15 years and over in Canberra were in the labour force. Of these 64.7% worked full-time, 25.8% worked part-time, 4.2% were away from work, 1.9% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 3.4% were unemployed. 66,859 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Canberra were Professionals 29.3%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 19.1%, Managers 15.4%, Technicians and Trades Workers 10.6%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.0%, Sales Workers 7.5%, Labourers 5.2% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 2.5%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Canberra, the most common responses for industry of employment included Central Government Administration 18.0%, Defence 5.4%, School Education 4.0%, Tertiary Education 3.7% and Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.5%.

In the 2006 Census in Canberra, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $723, the median family income was $1,773 and the median household income was $1,509.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 84,455 families in Canberra: of these 36.2% were couple families without children, 47.0% were couple families with children, 15.1% were one parent families and 1.6% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 122,819 occupied private dwellings were counted in Canberra.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Canberra, 75.0% were separate houses, 13.5% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 11.3% were flats, units or apartments and 0.2% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Canberra, 28.7% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 36.9% were owned with a mortgage and 28.6% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Canberra, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 41.1% were rented from a real estate agent, 26.5% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 30.8% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Canberra, the median weekly rent was $260. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500. The average people per household was 2.6 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Canberra, 67.9% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 22.1% were single (or lone) person households and 5.1% were group households.