Perth

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 1,256,035 people were usually resident in Perth: of these 49.2% were male and 50.8% were female. Of the total population 1.4% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 19.0% of people usually resident in Perth 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, 82.7% of people usually resident in Perth were Australian citizens, 32.0% were born overseas and 1.2% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 48.2% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Perth were married, 11.5% were either separated or divorced, 5.3% were widowed and 35.0% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 60.9% of people usually resident in Perth, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 9.3%, New Zealand 2.4%, Malaysia 1.5%, Italy 1.4% and Scotland 1.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Perth were Catholic 25.8%, No Religion 21.6%, Anglican 19.2%, Uniting Church 3.5% and Buddhism 2.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Perth were Italian 2.2%, Mandarin 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.0% and Arabic 0.6%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 78.8%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 642,335 people aged 15 years and over in Perth were in the labour force. Of these 61.0% worked full-time, 29.0% worked part-time, 3.8% were away from work, 2.6% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 3.6% were unemployed. 307,542 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Perth were Professionals 21.7%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 15.9%, Technicians and Trades Workers 15.3%, Managers 11.2%, Sales Workers 9.9%, Labourers 9.5%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.0% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.0%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Perth, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 4.6%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.1%, Hospitals 3.6%, Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services 2.6% and Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.5%.

In the 2006 Census in Perth, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $517, the median family income was $1,313 and the median household income was $1,087.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 330,869 families in Perth: of these 36.9% were couple families without children, 45.5% were couple families with children, 15.5% were one parent families and 2.1% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 492,770 occupied private dwellings were counted in Perth.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Perth, 76.5% were separate houses, 12.9% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 10.0% were flats, units or apartments and 0.5% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Perth, 29.7% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 36.9% were owned with a mortgage and 25.3% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Perth, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 45.5% were rented from a real estate agent, 14.0% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 38.2% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Perth, the median weekly rent was $180. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300. 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 Perth, 66.2% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 24.4% were single (or lone) person households and 3.8% were group households.