People in Greater Melbourne who were born in Iran

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 2GMEL by 4203
People 15,728
Male 8,603
Female 7,125
Australian citizen 40.0%
Not an Australian citizen 58.3%
Families 5,477
Couples with children 2,892
Couples without children 1,869
One parent families 565
Other families 146
All private dwellings 8,014
Median monthly mortgage repayment $2,118
Median weekly rent paid $350

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 8,603 54.7 738,906 48.6 1,322,366 49.3 2,199,597 49.0
Female 7,125 45.3 781,344 51.4 1,361,718 50.7 2,285,616 51.0

In the 2016 Census, there were 15,728 people in Greater Melbourne who were born in Iran. Of these 54.7% were male and 45.3% were female.

View the data quality statements for: Place of Usual Residence (PURP) Country of birth of person (BPLP)

Age
People
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 1,673 10.6 88,035 5.8 692,777 25.8 819,696 18.3
15-24 years 1,723 11.0 167,349 11.0 402,435 15.0 602,383 13.4
25-34 years 4,989 31.7 309,454 20.4 372,554 13.9 730,345 16.3
35-44 years 3,916 24.9 253,778 16.7 346,115 12.9 639,084 14.2
45-54 years 1,698 10.8 217,347 14.3 333,204 12.4 587,317 13.1
55-64 years 980 6.2 192,089 12.6 252,873 9.4 476,902 10.6
65 years and over 752 4.8 292,188 19.2 284,125 10.6 629,487 14.0
Median age 34 -- 42 -- 31 -- 36 --

Of the population born in Iran who usually live in Greater Melbourne, 10.6% were aged 0 - 14 years and 4.8% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Greater Melbourne who were born in Iran was 34 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 7,969 56.7 839,703 58.6 823,702 41.4 1,772,724 48.4
Separated 537 3.8 41,002 2.9 54,783 2.8 103,965 2.8
Divorced 845 6.0 99,050 6.9 151,886 7.6 272,040 7.4
Widowed 237 1.7 82,571 5.8 75,727 3.8 173,566 4.7
Never married 4,479 31.8 369,877 25.8 885,214 44.5 1,343,230 36.6

Of people in Greater Melbourne aged 15 years and over who were born in Iran, 56.7% were married, 3.8% were separated, and 6.0% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 90 0.6 6,054 0.4 66,580 2.5 73,041 1.6
Primary 948 6.0 46,500 3.1 304,964 11.4 353,773 7.9
Secondary 947 6.0 54,284 3.6 217,839 8.1 274,054 6.1
University or tertiary institution 1,576 10.0 128,037 8.4 157,455 5.9 287,125 6.4
Technical or further education 691 4.4 36,191 2.4 43,917 1.6 80,863 1.8
Other 585 3.7 29,682 2.0 19,687 0.7 49,898 1.1
Institution attended, type not stated 477 3.0 28,212 1.9 45,235 1.7 289,156 6.4
Not attending an educational institution 10,424 66.2 1,191,295 78.4 1,828,402 68.1 3,077,303 68.6

Of the population born in Iran who usually live in Greater Melbourne, 33.8% were attending an educational institution. There were 6.0% in primary school, 6.0% in secondary school and 14.4% in a tertiary or technical institution.

View the data quality statement for Educational institution attendee status (TYSTAP)
Level of highest educational attainment
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 5,815 41.4 476,627 33.3 522,582 26.2 1,006,208 27.5
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 1,270 9.0 141,683 9.9 201,226 10.1 347,014 9.5
Certificate level IV 202 1.4 26,268 1.8 69,557 3.5 96,787 2.6
Certificate level III 831 5.9 110,128 7.7 256,226 12.9 373,322 10.2
Year 12 2,864 20.4 266,361 18.6 356,086 17.9 630,941 17.2
Year 11 460 3.3 51,591 3.6 148,662 7.5 203,582 5.6
Year 10 450 3.2 76,855 5.4 166,118 8.3 248,009 6.8
Certificate level II 18 0.1 837 0.1 1,123 0.1 1,999 0.1
Certificate level I 3 0.0 222 0.0 161 0.0 387 0.0
Year 9 or below 927 6.6 144,621 10.1 141,989 7.1 294,678 8.0
No educational attainment 372 2.6 37,248 2.6 4,987 0.3 43,515 1.2
Not stated 497 3.5 61,306 4.3 75,305 3.8 331,859 9.1

Of the population born in Iran who usually live in Greater Melbourne, 20.4% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 7.3% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 9.0% had completed an Advanced Diploma or Diploma.

View the data quality statement for Level of highest educational attainment (HEAP)

Cultural & language diversity

Year of arrival Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 0 0.0 2,014 0.1 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 13 0.1 17,391 1.1 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 15 0.1 84,946 5.6 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 72 0.5 140,296 9.2 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 220 1.4 118,643 7.8 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 1,331 8.5 181,111 11.9 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 1,174 7.5 180,171 11.9 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 984 6.3 139,040 9.1 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 2,724 17.3 249,780 16.4 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 8,793 55.9 356,641 23.5 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 2,684,080 -- -- --

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran, 55.9% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 17.3% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 6,287 40.0 882,758 58.1 2,629,244 98.0 3,568,816 79.6
Not an Australian citizen 9,176 58.3 613,262 40.3 20,506 0.8 638,201 14.2

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran, 40.0% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 7,384 91.9 670,684 77.7 172,894 17.6 848,357 45.8
Spouse or partner born in Australia 480 6.0 172,892 20.0 786,331 80.1 962,432 51.9

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran and had a spouse or partner, 91.9% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 6.0% had a spouse or partner born in Australia.

Note: Total does not include those spouses or partners who did not state their country of birth.

View the data quality statements for: Country of birth of person (BPLP) Relationship in household (RLHP) Family/household reference person indicator (RPIP)

Religious affiliation, top responses
Results may include 'nfd' for 'not further defined'
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Islam 5,429 34.5 114,488 7.5 67,791 2.5 186,654 4.2
No Religion, so described 4,800 30.5 380,049 25.0 996,574 37.1 1,391,233 31.0
Baha'i 1,500 9.5 1,888 0.1 662 0.0 2,577 0.1
Catholic 400 2.5 329,088 21.6 703,050 26.2 1,050,312 23.4
Christian, nfd 343 2.2 50,099 3.3 64,480 2.4 116,344 2.6

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran, the most common responses to the religion question were Islam 34.5%, No Religion, so described 30.5%, Baha'i 9.5%, Catholic 2.5% and Christian, nfd 2.2%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 896 5.7 461,859 30.4 2,284,754 85.1 2,781,188 62.0
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 11,772 74.8 844,460 55.5 334,475 12.5 1,198,085 26.7
Not well or not at all 2,910 18.5 202,613 13.3 44,050 1.6 251,543 5.6

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran, 5.7% spoke English only at home. A further 74.8% spoke another language but also spoke English very well or well.

View the data quality statement for Proficiency in spoken English/language (ENGLP)

Employment

Employment
Labour force, people aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 4,303 51.0 491,360 58.0 809,894 58.1 1,315,635 58.0
Worked part-time 2,106 25.0 246,309 29.1 441,068 31.6 695,178 30.6
Away from work 277 3.3 37,195 4.4 64,836 4.6 104,679 4.6
Unemployed 1,750 20.7 72,462 8.6 79,210 5.7 153,625 6.8
Not in the labour force 5,522 39.3 569,448 39.8 581,610 29.2 1,179,140 32.2

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran and who were in the labour force, 51.0% worked full-time, 25.0% worked part-time and 20.7% were unemployed.

The ABS Labour Force Survey provides the official estimates of Australia's unemployment rate. More information about Census and labour force status is provided in Understanding the Census and Census Data.

View the data quality statement for Labour force status (LFSP)
Employment - hours worked
Labour force, people aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 733 11.0 75,578 9.8 169,383 12.9 247,403 11.7
16-24 hours per week 646 9.7 87,489 11.3 129,431 9.8 219,460 10.4
25-34 hours per week 730 10.9 83,237 10.7 142,250 10.8 228,318 10.8
35-39 hours per week 1,445 21.6 176,184 22.7 225,279 17.1 406,480 19.2
40 hours or more per week 2,851 42.6 315,172 40.7 584,617 44.4 909,156 43.0

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran and who were employed, 42.6% worked 40 hours or more per week and 21.6% worked 35-39 hours per week.

View the data quality statement for Hours worked (HRSP)
Occupation, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Professionals 2,462 36.8 200,195 25.8 324,236 24.6 528,261 25.0
Technicians and Trades Workers 1,157 17.3 92,059 11.9 170,977 13.0 266,855 12.6
Community and Personal Service Workers 676 10.1 81,527 10.5 132,284 10.1 216,447 10.2
Managers 627 9.4 96,328 12.4 180,742 13.7 279,601 13.2
Clerical and Administrative Workers 475 7.1 94,154 12.2 195,958 14.9 293,226 13.9

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran, the most common responses for occupation were Professionals 36.8%, Technicians and Trades Workers 17.3%, Community and Personal Service Workers 10.1%, Managers 9.4% and Clerical and Administrative Workers 7.1%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Higher Education 449 6.7 16,330 2.1 22,351 1.7 38,919 1.8
Painting and Decorating Services 319 4.8 3,811 0.5 3,795 0.3 7,761 0.4
Computer System Design and Related Services 275 4.1 25,029 3.2 21,608 1.6 46,837 2.2
Child Care Services 200 3.0 13,136 1.7 11,685 0.9 25,109 1.2
Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 192 2.9 30,863 4.0 47,571 3.6 79,180 3.7

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran, the most common responses for industry of employment were Higher Education 6.7%, Painting and Decorating Services 4.8%, Computer System Design and Related Services 4.1%, Child Care Services 3.0% and Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 2.9%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 455 -- 568 -- 750 -- 673 --
Family 1,350 -- 1,659 -- 2,084 -- 1,826 --
Household 1,257 -- 1,501 -- 1,742 -- 1,542 --

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran, the personal weekly median income was $455. Family median weekly income was $1,350 and Household median weekly income was $1,257.

Median personal weekly income for persons aged 15 years and over born in the selected country. Excludes those who did not state an income.

Family for the selected country of birth is determined by the reference person and/or their spouse/partner's response to country of birth. Median family income excludes families where at least one family member aged 15 years and over did not state an income.

Household for the selected country of birth is determined by the response of any household member (enumerated in the dwelling) to country of birth. Median household income excludes households where at least one member aged 15 years and over did not state an income.

View the data quality statements for: Total personal income (INCP) Total family income (FINF) Total household income (HIND)

Travel to work
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 4,280 64.0 472,059 60.9 871,853 66.3 1,360,705 64.3
Bus or train 827 12.4 95,644 12.3 100,929 7.7 198,432 9.4
Other 945 14.1 114,295 14.8 148,471 11.3 265,178 12.5

In Greater Melbourne 64.0% of employed people who were born in Iran travelled to work on census day by car, while 12.4% travelled by bus or train.

View the data quality statement for Method of travel to work (MTWP)
Unpaid work
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 7,495 53.3 946,807 66.1 1,523,581 76.5 2,500,489 68.2
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 3,702 26.3 414,440 28.9 581,551 29.2 1,009,000 27.5
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 1,428 10.2 154,722 10.8 251,503 12.6 413,611 11.3
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 2,436 17.3 213,351 14.9 425,535 21.4 645,439 17.6

In Greater Melbourne 53.3% of people who were born in Iran did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 26.3% cared for a child or children in the two weeks before the census.

View the data quality statements for: Unpaid domestic work (DOMP) Unpaid child care (CHCAREP) Unpaid assistance (UNCAREP) Voluntary work (VOLWP)

Unpaid domestic work, number of hours
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 2,424 17.2 309,069 21.6 577,595 29.0 896,253 24.5
5 to 14 hours per week 2,762 19.6 354,321 24.7 563,609 28.3 928,683 25.3
15 to 29 hours per week 1,237 8.8 156,447 10.9 222,560 11.2 383,944 10.5
30 hours or more per week 1,075 7.6 126,973 8.9 159,812 8.0 291,605 8.0

In Greater Melbourne of people who were born in Iran and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 19.6% worked 5 to 14 hours, 8.8% worked 15 to 29 hours and 7.6% worked 30 hours or more.

View the data quality statement for Unpaid domestic work, number of hours (DOMP)

Families

family composition | employment status of couple families

Family composition

For information on how migrant families are classified, see the User guide for QuickStats

Family composition Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 1,869 34.1 222,393 36.1 172,184 32.6 400,693 34.5
Couple family with children 2,892 52.8 310,537 50.5 246,060 46.6 563,155 48.5
One parent family 565 10.3 72,148 11.7 97,698 18.5 174,769 15.0
Other family 146 2.7 10,437 1.7 12,134 2.3 23,028 2.0
Families with a child under 5 1,403 25.6 114,731 18.6 93,757 17.8 208,494 17.9
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 2,571 47.0 238,546 38.8 220,599 41.8 459,144 39.5

These statistics are for families in Greater Melbourne. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Iran. Of these families, 52.8% were couple families with children, 34.1% were couple families without children and 10.3% were one parent families.

Note: Totals for families with a child under 5 and for families with a child aged 0-15 years does not include those families where the reference person and/or their spouse/partner did not state their country of birth.

View the data quality statement for Family composition (FMCF)

Employment status of couple families

Employment status of couple families
Labour force, people aged 15 years and over
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 784 16.5 110,161 20.7 99,420 23.8 211,039 21.9
Both employed, worked part-time 161 3.4 22,269 4.2 15,667 3.7 38,293 4.0
One employed full-time, one part-time 657 13.8 98,916 18.6 117,564 28.1 218,082 22.6
One employed full-time, other not working 1,058 22.2 97,504 18.3 61,103 14.6 160,094 16.6
One employed part-time, other not working 436 9.2 37,202 7.0 20,636 4.9 58,500 6.1
Both not working 1,263 26.5 116,751 21.9 55,534 13.3 176,901 18.4
Other (includes away from work) 194 4.1 24,751 4.6 23,777 5.7 49,288 5.1
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 206 4.3 25,370 4.8 24,541 5.9 51,648 5.4

These statistics are for families in Greater Melbourne. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Iran. Of these families, 16.5% of families had both parents working full-time, 13.8% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 26.5% of families stated that both parents were not working.

View the data quality statement for Labour force status of parents / partners in families (LFSF)

Dwellings

dwelling structure | mortgage & rent | household composition

Dwelling structure

For information on how migrant households are classified, see the User guide for QuickStats

Dwelling tables exclude visitor only and other non-classifiable households

Dwelling structure
Occupied private dwellings
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 4,024 50.2 519,796 66.0 836,192 71.8 1,067,637 67.8
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 1,855 23.1 131,437 16.7 189,884 16.3 264,404 16.8
Flat or apartment 2,069 25.8 130,726 16.6 131,811 11.3 231,297 14.7
Other dwelling 21 0.3 2,901 0.4 4,332 0.4 6,400 0.4

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Melbourne. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Iran, 50.2% were a separate house, 25.8% were a flat or apartment, and 23.1% were a semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc.

View the data quality statement for Dwelling structure (STRD)
Number of bedrooms
Occupied private dwellings
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 121 1.5 3,935 0.5 3,179 0.3 6,732 0.4
1 bedroom 857 10.7 45,891 5.8 49,225 4.2 90,018 5.7
2 bedrooms 2,256 28.1 155,219 19.7 213,998 18.4 319,669 20.3
3 bedrooms 2,831 35.3 325,106 41.3 502,420 43.1 662,460 42.1
4 or more bedrooms 1,698 21.1 239,609 30.4 376,179 32.3 459,373 29.2
Number of bedrooms not stated 267 3.3 17,598 2.2 20,217 1.7 36,215 2.3

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Melbourne. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Iran, 28.1% had two bedrooms, 35.3% had three bedrooms and 21.1% had four or more bedrooms.

View the data quality statement for Number of bedrooms in a private dwelling (BEDD)

Mortgage & rent

Mortgage and rent
Occupied private dwellings
Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 660 8.2 235,287 29.9 343,317 29.5 479,374 30.4
Owned with a mortgage 2,061 25.7 269,052 34.2 475,545 40.8 567,574 36.0
Rented 4,959 61.8 257,241 32.7 313,426 26.9 472,462 30.0
Other tenure type 44 0.5 5,105 0.6 8,952 0.8 12,777 0.8
Tenure type not stated 296 3.7 20,674 2.6 23,983 2.1 42,294 2.7
Median monthly mortgage repayment 2,118 -- 1,870 -- 1,800 -- 1,800 --
Median weekly rent paid 350 -- 351 -- 351 -- 350 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Melbourne. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Iran, 8.2% were owned outright, 25.7% were owned with a mortgage and 61.8% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,118 and the median weekly rent paid was $350.

Median monthly mortgage repayment relates only to occupied private dwellings that are owned with a mortgage (including those being purchased under a rent/buy scheme). It excludes 'visitor only' and 'other non-classifiable' households and dwellings that did not state a monthly repayment value.

Median weekly rent paid relates to occupied private dwellings being rented (including rent-free accommodation). It excludes 'visitor only' and 'other non-classifiable' households and dwellings that did not state a weekly payment value.

View the data quality statements for: Tenure type (TEND) Rent weekly payments (RNTD) Mortgage monthly repayments (MRED)

Household composition

Household composition Born in Iran % Born in Iran All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 5,857 73.0 584,453 74.2 866,756 74.4 1,098,635 69.8
Multiple family households 150 1.9 24,611 3.1 26,083 2.2 30,920 2.0
Single (or lone) person households 1,210 15.1 132,615 16.8 224,392 19.3 366,005 23.2
Group households 807 10.1 45,676 5.8 47,995 4.1 78,913 5.0

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in Iran' includes households in Greater Melbourne where at least one person was born in Iran. Of those households, 73.0% were one family households and 15.1% were lone person households.

View the data quality statement for Household composition (HHCD)

Small random adjustments have been made to all cell values to protect the confidentiality of data. These adjustments may cause the sum of rows or columns to differ by small amounts from the table totals. For further information, go to the User Guide for QuickStats.

Data reported for Australia and Other Territories now includes Norfolk Island, following an amendment to the Acts Interpretation Act, 1901. Because Norfolk Island has not previously been included in the Census, any 2011 benchmarks will not include Norfolk Island.