People in Australian Capital Territory who were born in Sri Lanka

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 8ACTE by 7107
People 2,777
Male 1,366
Female 1,411
Australian citizen 70.2%
Not an Australian citizen 28.4%
Families 1,147
Couples with children 690
Couples without children 366
One parent families 75
Other families 19
All private dwellings 1,367
Median monthly mortgage repayment $2,167
Median weekly rent paid $380

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 1,366 49.2 50,552 48.1 133,811 49.6 195,432 49.2
Female 1,411 50.8 54,483 51.9 135,878 50.4 201,425 50.8

In the 2016 Census, there were 2,777 people in Australian Capital Territory who were born in Sri Lanka. Of these 49.2% were male and 50.8% were female.

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

Age
People
Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 199 7.2 6,957 6.6 64,680 24.0 74,445 18.8
15-24 years 227 8.2 12,542 11.9 40,493 15.0 55,821 14.1
25-34 years 517 18.7 20,520 19.5 41,461 15.4 66,008 16.6
35-44 years 607 21.9 18,673 17.8 36,534 13.5 58,298 14.7
45-54 years 479 17.3 15,306 14.6 32,832 12.2 50,915 12.8
55-64 years 388 14.0 13,012 12.4 26,013 9.6 41,426 10.4
65 years and over 353 12.7 18,025 17.2 27,678 10.3 49,939 12.6
Median age 41 -- 41 -- 32 -- 35 --

Of the population born in Sri Lanka who usually live in Australian Capital Territory, 7.2% were aged 0 - 14 years and 12.7% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Australian Capital Territory who were born in Sri Lanka was 41 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 1,867 72.6 57,109 58.2 89,096 43.5 154,526 47.9
Separated 43 1.7 2,483 2.5 5,079 2.5 8,112 2.5
Divorced 73 2.8 7,204 7.3 16,331 8.0 25,267 7.8
Widowed 92 3.6 4,672 4.8 6,517 3.2 12,531 3.9
Never married 495 19.3 26,616 27.1 87,986 42.9 121,970 37.8

Of people in Australian Capital Territory aged 15 years and over who were born in Sri Lanka, 72.6% were married, 1.7% were separated, and 2.8% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 13 0.5 473 0.5 5,415 2.0 5,901 1.5
Primary 109 3.9 3,887 3.7 28,804 10.7 32,804 8.3
Secondary 128 4.6 3,805 3.6 20,282 7.5 24,183 6.1
University or tertiary institution 263 9.5 13,288 12.7 20,827 7.7 34,226 8.6
Technical or further education 94 3.4 2,773 2.6 5,340 2.0 8,158 2.1
Other 35 1.3 1,248 1.2 1,895 0.7 3,163 0.8
Institution attended, type not stated 28 1.0 1,319 1.3 2,961 1.1 23,021 5.8
Not attending an educational institution 2,096 75.8 78,246 74.5 184,174 68.3 265,404 66.9

Of the population born in Sri Lanka who usually live in Australian Capital Territory, 24.2% were attending an educational institution. There were 3.9% in primary school, 4.6% in secondary school and 12.9% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 1,446 56.2 46,502 47.4 72,724 35.5 119,795 37.2
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 333 12.9 8,974 9.1 20,559 10.0 29,724 9.2
Certificate level IV 34 1.3 1,728 1.8 7,669 3.7 9,454 2.9
Certificate level III 112 4.3 5,794 5.9 19,652 9.6 25,710 8.0
Year 12 340 13.2 17,122 17.5 40,218 19.6 57,755 17.9
Year 11 40 1.6 1,786 1.8 7,014 3.4 8,880 2.8
Year 10 84 3.3 4,977 5.1 17,312 8.4 22,569 7.0
Certificate level II 0 0.0 36 0.0 106 0.1 140 0.0
Certificate level I 0 0.0 5 0.0 22 0.0 30 0.0
Year 9 or below 43 1.7 4,729 4.8 9,567 4.7 14,545 4.5
No educational attainment 3 0.1 913 0.9 218 0.1 1,151 0.4
Not stated 70 2.7 2,854 2.9 4,874 2.4 24,832 7.7

Of the population born in Sri Lanka who usually live in Australian Capital Territory, 13.2% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 5.7% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 12.9% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 3 0.1 121 0.1 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 3 0.1 1,607 1.5 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 16 0.6 5,206 5.0 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 66 2.4 9,936 9.5 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 110 4.0 9,268 8.8 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 512 18.4 11,978 11.4 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 532 19.1 12,353 11.8 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 276 9.9 9,678 9.2 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 615 22.1 16,069 15.3 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 616 22.2 25,923 24.7 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 269,693 -- -- --

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka, 22.2% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 22.1% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 1,946 70.2 67,881 64.6 265,004 98.3 335,575 84.6
Not an Australian citizen 788 28.4 35,356 33.7 929 0.3 36,489 9.2

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka, 70.2% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 1,629 90.2 40,061 68.0 17,139 16.0 57,406 34.4
Spouse or partner born in Australia 143 7.9 17,138 29.1 87,279 81.3 104,650 62.8

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka and had a spouse or partner, 90.2% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 7.9% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Buddhism 1,284 46.4 7,305 7.0 2,517 0.9 9,908 2.5
Hinduism 543 19.6 8,009 7.6 2,160 0.8 10,208 2.6
Catholic 416 15.0 19,786 18.8 67,849 25.2 88,544 22.3
No Religion, so described 142 5.1 32,467 30.9 110,315 40.9 143,549 36.2
Anglican 99 3.6 7,241 6.9 34,947 13.0 42,688 10.8

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka, the most common responses to the religion question were Buddhism 46.4%, Hinduism 19.6%, Catholic 15.0%, No Religion, so described 5.1% and Anglican 3.6%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 527 19.0 39,730 37.8 247,015 91.6 288,639 72.7
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 2,134 76.9 57,094 54.4 18,350 6.8 76,179 19.2
Not well or not at all 95 3.4 7,600 7.2 2,828 1.0 10,552 2.7

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka, 19.0% spoke English only at home. A further 76.9% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 1,324 67.5 39,248 62.3 96,933 64.1 136,935 63.5
Worked part-time 433 22.1 16,809 26.7 39,841 26.3 57,001 26.4
Away from work 94 4.8 3,063 4.9 8,281 5.5 11,485 5.3
Unemployed 110 5.6 3,861 6.1 6,232 4.1 10,167 4.7
Not in the labour force 598 23.3 34,393 35.1 52,738 25.7 88,427 27.4

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka and who were in the labour force, 67.5% worked full-time, 22.1% worked part-time and 5.6% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 141 7.6 5,543 9.4 14,909 10.3 20,570 10.0
16-24 hours per week 136 7.4 5,458 9.2 10,920 7.5 16,484 8.0
25-34 hours per week 160 8.6 5,809 9.8 14,009 9.7 19,945 9.7
35-39 hours per week 675 36.5 15,679 26.5 30,973 21.4 46,914 22.8
40 hours or more per week 648 35.0 23,570 39.9 65,961 45.5 90,022 43.8

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka and who were employed, 35.0% worked 40 hours or more per week and 36.5% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Professionals 719 39.2 20,443 34.6 41,966 28.9 62,658 30.5
Clerical and Administrative Workers 306 16.7 8,078 13.7 26,371 18.2 34,637 16.9
Managers 219 11.9 8,013 13.6 24,603 17.0 32,758 15.9
Community and Personal Service Workers 217 11.8 6,772 11.5 14,741 10.2 21,657 10.5
Technicians and Trades Workers 142 7.7 5,192 8.8 14,282 9.8 19,620 9.6

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka, the most common responses for occupation were Professionals 39.2%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 16.7%, Managers 11.9%, Community and Personal Service Workers 11.8% and Technicians and Trades Workers 7.7%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Central Government Administration 420 23.6 9,182 15.6 28,453 19.6 37,779 18.4
Child Care Services 82 4.6 1,175 2.0 1,577 1.1 2,771 1.3
Defence 80 4.5 2,018 3.4 8,676 6.0 10,738 5.2
Computer System Design and Related Services 76 4.3 2,302 3.9 3,700 2.6 6,009 2.9
Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 76 4.3 2,711 4.6 3,805 2.6 6,555 3.2

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka, the most common responses for industry of employment were Central Government Administration 23.6%, Child Care Services 4.6%, Defence 4.5%, Computer System Design and Related Services 4.3% and Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 4.3%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 1,065 -- 820 -- 1,088 -- 1,000 --
Family 2,456 -- 2,301 -- 2,628 -- 2,445 --
Household 2,378 -- 2,094 -- 2,220 -- 2,070 --

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka, the personal weekly median income was $1,065. Family median weekly income was $2,456 and Household median weekly income was $2,378.

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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 1,342 72.9 40,473 68.5 102,240 70.5 143,594 69.9
Bus or train 194 10.5 4,996 8.5 7,312 5.0 12,380 6.0
Other 127 6.9 6,855 11.6 15,306 10.6 22,267 10.8

In Australian Capital Territory 72.9% of employed people who were born in Sri Lanka travelled to work on census day by car, while 10.5% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 1,968 76.5 72,046 73.5 172,765 84.3 246,420 76.4
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 825 32.0 29,788 30.4 62,773 30.6 93,202 28.9
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 302 11.7 10,804 11.0 25,744 12.6 36,896 11.4
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 655 25.5 19,983 20.4 54,656 26.7 75,017 23.3

In Australian Capital Territory 76.5% of people who were born in Sri Lanka did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 32.0% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 516 20.0 21,738 22.2 60,150 29.3 82,357 25.5
5 to 14 hours per week 788 30.6 29,841 30.4 71,593 34.9 102,080 31.7
15 to 29 hours per week 388 15.1 12,422 12.7 26,695 13.0 39,392 12.2
30 hours or more per week 278 10.8 8,049 8.2 14,325 7.0 22,602 7.0

In Australian Capital Territory of people who were born in Sri Lanka and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 30.6% worked 5 to 14 hours, 15.1% worked 15 to 29 hours and 10.8% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 366 31.9 17,135 39.3 21,018 36.5 38,438 37.7
Couple family with children 690 60.2 21,936 50.3 25,801 44.8 48,008 47.1
One parent family 75 6.5 4,128 9.5 9,778 17.0 14,129 13.8
Other family 19 1.7 444 1.0 996 1.7 1,461 1.4
Families with a child under 5 237 20.5 8,427 19.3 10,955 19.0 19,385 19.0
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 524 45.4 17,656 40.4 24,192 42.0 41,845 41.0

These statistics are for families in Australian Capital Territory. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Sri Lanka. Of these families, 60.2% were couple families with children, 31.9% were couple families without children and 6.5% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 387 37.0 10,879 27.8 15,376 32.8 26,341 30.5
Both employed, worked part-time 24 2.3 1,476 3.8 1,481 3.2 2,981 3.4
One employed full-time, one part-time 203 19.4 7,375 18.9 10,459 22.3 17,892 20.7
One employed full-time, other not working 156 14.9 6,208 15.9 5,141 11.0 11,401 13.2
One employed part-time, other not working 52 5.0 2,225 5.7 1,799 3.8 4,054 4.7
Both not working 119 11.4 6,766 17.3 6,078 13.0 13,020 15.1
Other (includes away from work) 65 6.2 2,180 5.6 3,303 7.1 5,516 6.4
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 41 3.9 1,974 5.1 3,171 6.8 5,231 6.1

These statistics are for families in Australian Capital Territory. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Sri Lanka. Of these families, 37.0% of families had both parents working full-time, 19.4% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 11.4% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 921 67.4 37,431 65.4 81,488 70.2 95,520 67.0
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 248 18.1 10,288 18.0 19,482 16.8 25,280 17.7
Flat or apartment 193 14.1 9,335 16.3 14,837 12.8 21,405 15.0
Other dwelling 0 0.0 48 0.1 155 0.1 194 0.1

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australian Capital Territory. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Sri Lanka, 67.4% were a separate house, 14.1% were a flat or apartment, and 18.1% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 3 0.2 127 0.2 199 0.2 301 0.2
1 bedroom 81 5.9 4,142 7.2 6,719 5.8 10,198 7.1
2 bedrooms 193 14.1 8,796 15.4 15,575 13.4 21,301 14.9
3 bedrooms 445 32.5 21,330 37.3 47,118 40.6 56,674 39.7
4 or more bedrooms 629 45.9 21,774 38.0 44,855 38.6 51,557 36.1
Number of bedrooms not stated 19 1.4 1,065 1.9 1,684 1.4 2,637 1.8

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australian Capital Territory. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Sri Lanka, 14.1% had two bedrooms, 32.5% had three bedrooms and 45.9% 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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 244 17.9 15,873 27.7 30,404 26.2 38,555 27.0
Owned with a mortgage 671 49.2 20,743 36.2 48,664 41.9 54,832 38.4
Rented 424 31.1 19,084 33.3 34,420 29.6 45,346 31.8
Other tenure type 6 0.4 339 0.6 706 0.6 952 0.7
Tenure type not stated 19 1.4 1,192 2.1 1,949 1.7 2,984 2.1
Median monthly mortgage repayment 2,167 -- 2,110 -- 2,100 -- 2,058 --
Median weekly rent paid 380 -- 388 -- 390 -- 380 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australian Capital Territory. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Sri Lanka, 17.9% were owned outright, 49.2% were owned with a mortgage and 31.1% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167 and the median weekly rent paid was $380.

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 Sri Lanka % Born in Sri Lanka All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 1,115 81.9 43,043 75.2 84,351 72.6 98,633 69.1
Multiple family households 31 2.3 1,177 2.1 1,461 1.3 1,678 1.2
Single (or lone) person households 153 11.2 9,774 17.1 25,057 21.6 35,413 24.8
Group households 63 4.6 3,241 5.7 5,282 4.5 6,938 4.9

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in Sri Lanka' includes households in Australian Capital Territory where at least one person was born in Sri Lanka. Of those households, 81.9% were one family households and 11.2% 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.