Melbourne

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 3,371,888 people were usually resident in Melbourne: of these 48.9% were male and 51.1% were female. Of the total population 0.4% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 18.6% of people usually resident in Melbourne were children aged 0-14 years, and 23.3% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 36 years.

In the 2006 Census, 84.2% of people usually resident in Melbourne were Australian citizens, 29.8% were born overseas and 0.9% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 49.0% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Melbourne were married, 10.2% were either separated or divorced, 5.7% were widowed and 35.1% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 63.3% of people usually resident in Melbourne, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.4%, Italy 2.1%, Viet Nam 1.7%, China 1.6% and Greece 1.5%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Melbourne were Catholic 28.5%, No Religion 19.6%, Anglican 11.8%, Eastern Orthodox 6.2% and Uniting Church 3.9%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Melbourne were Italian 3.5%, Greek 3.4%, Vietnamese 2.1%, Cantonese 1.9% and Mandarin 1.8%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 66.8%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 1,670,753 people aged 15 years and over in Melbourne were in the labour force. Of these 61.1% worked full-time, 27.7% worked part-time, 3.2% were away from work, 2.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 5.4% were unemployed. 893,151 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Melbourne were Professionals 23.2%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 15.9%, Technicians and Trades Workers 13.3%, Managers 12.4%, Sales Workers 10.3%, Labourers 8.6%, Community and Personal Service Workers 8.1% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.2%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Melbourne, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 4.1%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.8%, Hospitals 3.4%, Legal and Accounting Services 2.5% and Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.3%.

In the 2006 Census in Melbourne, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $481, the median family income was $1,246 and the median household income was $1,079.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 879,272 families in Melbourne: of these 34.2% were couple families without children, 48.2% were couple families with children, 15.4% were one parent families and 2.2% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 1,275,520 occupied private dwellings were counted in Melbourne.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Melbourne, 70.6% were separate houses, 12.0% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 16.9% were flats, units or apartments and 0.5% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Melbourne, 33.2% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 33.9% were owned with a mortgage and 25.0% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Melbourne, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 62.2% were rented from a real estate agent, 11.1% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 24.4% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Melbourne, the median weekly rent was $201. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,330. 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 Melbourne, 67.6% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 22.9% were single (or lone) person households and 4.4% were group households.