Sunshine Coast

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 184,662 people were usually resident in Sunshine Coast: of these 48.3% were male and 51.7% were female. Of the total population 1.1% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 18.5% of people usually resident in Sunshine Coast were children aged 0-14 years, and 30.5% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 41 years.

In the 2006 Census, 86.0% of people usually resident in Sunshine Coast were Australian citizens, 19.0% were born overseas and 3.3% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 51.2% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Sunshine Coast were married, 14.0% were either separated or divorced, 6.6% were widowed and 28.2% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 74.3% of people usually resident in Sunshine Coast, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 6.3%, New Zealand 5.0%, Scotland 0.8%, Germany 0.7% and South Africa 0.6%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Sunshine Coast were Anglican 22.7%, No Religion 21.3%, Catholic 20.9%, Uniting Church 6.9% and Presbyterian and Reformed 4.0%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Sunshine Coast were German 0.6%, Italian 0.3%, Dutch 0.3%, French 0.3% and Spanish 0.2%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 91.0%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 84,930 people aged 15 years and over in Sunshine Coast were in the labour force. Of these 55.2% worked full-time, 33.2% worked part-time, 3.4% were away from work, 2.3% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 5.8% were unemployed. 55,884 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Sunshine Coast were Technicians and Trades Workers 16.8%, Professionals 16.4%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 13.7%, Sales Workers 13.5%, Managers 12.5%, Labourers 11.2%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.8% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 4.5%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Sunshine Coast, the most common responses for industry of employment included Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 5.2%, School Education 4.8%, Residential Building Construction 3.8%, Accommodation 3.2% and Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.7%.

In the 2006 Census in Sunshine Coast, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $439, the median family income was $1,056 and the median household income was $886.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 51,185 families in Sunshine Coast: of these 46.0% were couple families without children, 36.6% were couple families with children, 16.3% were one parent families and 1.2% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 81,732 occupied private dwellings were counted in Sunshine Coast.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Sunshine Coast, 62.9% were separate houses, 13.3% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 20.6% were flats, units or apartments and 3.2% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Sunshine Coast, 33.0% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 25.3% were owned with a mortgage and 31.9% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Sunshine Coast, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 57.0% were rented from a real estate agent, 7.4% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 33.2% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Sunshine Coast, the median weekly rent was $245. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,387. The average people per household was 2.4 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Sunshine Coast, 61.8% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 21.2% were single (or lone) person households and 3.8% were group households.