People in Australia who were born in Nigeria

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 0 by 9124
People 8,493
Male 5,051
Female 3,442
Australian citizen 43.6%
Not an Australian citizen 53.5%
Families 3,380
Couples with children 2,261
Couples without children 767
One parent families 283
Other families 64
All private dwellings 4,682
Median monthly mortgage repayment $2,167
Median weekly rent paid $350

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 5,051 59.5 2,997,173 48.6 7,735,362 49.5 11,546,638 49.3
Female 3,442 40.5 3,166,493 51.4 7,880,175 50.5 11,855,248 50.7

In the 2016 Census, there were 8,493 people in Australia who were born in Nigeria. Of these 59.5% were male and 40.5% were female.

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

Age
People
Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 867 10.2 366,872 6.0 3,777,875 24.2 4,364,607 18.7
15-24 years 846 10.0 612,643 9.9 2,197,847 14.1 2,988,390 12.8
25-34 years 2,561 30.2 1,130,884 18.3 1,994,601 12.8 3,368,449 14.4
35-44 years 2,280 26.8 1,021,528 16.6 1,911,355 12.2 3,144,935 13.4
45-54 years 1,286 15.1 961,980 15.6 1,920,340 12.3 3,105,007 13.3
55-64 years 532 6.3 840,595 13.6 1,704,198 10.9 2,753,734 11.8
65 years and over 121 1.4 1,229,161 19.9 2,109,310 13.5 3,676,765 15.7
Median age 34 -- 44 -- 34 -- 38 --

Of the population born in Nigeria who usually live in Australia, 10.2% were aged 0 - 14 years and 1.4% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Australia who were born in Nigeria was 34 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 4,655 61.1 3,362,174 58.0 5,158,710 43.6 9,148,218 48.1
Separated 283 3.7 178,867 3.1 376,863 3.2 608,059 3.2
Divorced 363 4.8 464,766 8.0 1,021,844 8.6 1,626,890 8.5
Widowed 82 1.1 326,987 5.6 560,940 4.7 985,204 5.2
Never married 2,235 29.3 1,463,996 25.3 4,719,302 39.9 6,668,910 35.0

Of people in Australia aged 15 years and over who were born in Nigeria, 61.1% were married, 3.7% were separated, and 4.8% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 69 0.8 21,982 0.4 323,754 2.1 347,621 1.5
Primary 451 5.3 197,196 3.2 1,717,830 11.0 1,926,880 8.2
Secondary 386 4.5 224,770 3.6 1,211,676 7.8 1,446,506 6.2
University or tertiary institution 1,889 22.3 440,789 7.2 713,008 4.6 1,160,630 5.0
Technical or further education 511 6.0 152,909 2.5 267,689 1.7 424,870 1.8
Other 162 1.9 97,890 1.6 98,429 0.6 198,383 0.8
Institution attended, type not stated 179 2.1 117,292 1.9 329,449 2.1 1,707,023 7.3
Not attending an educational institution 4,837 57.0 4,910,840 79.7 10,953,685 70.1 16,189,980 69.2

Of the population born in Nigeria who usually live in Australia, 43.0% were attending an educational institution. There were 5.3% in primary school, 4.5% in secondary school and 28.3% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 4,627 60.6 1,830,410 31.6 2,320,141 19.6 4,181,406 22.0
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 866 11.3 587,176 10.1 1,079,954 9.1 1,687,893 8.9
Certificate level IV 190 2.5 120,064 2.1 425,836 3.6 551,767 2.9
Certificate level III 369 4.8 565,803 9.8 1,831,323 15.5 2,442,203 12.8
Year 12 801 10.5 1,051,623 18.1 1,902,337 16.1 2,994,097 15.7
Year 11 91 1.2 200,856 3.5 724,761 6.1 941,531 4.9
Year 10 129 1.7 418,929 7.2 1,588,715 13.4 2,054,331 10.8
Certificate level II 0 0.0 3,313 0.1 9,848 0.1 13,454 0.1
Certificate level I 0 0.0 863 0.0 1,266 0.0 2,176 0.0
Year 9 or below 102 1.3 458,176 7.9 1,027,299 8.7 1,529,897 8.0
No educational attainment 29 0.4 114,870 2.0 26,748 0.2 145,844 0.8
Not stated 257 3.4 264,618 4.6 570,419 4.8 1,974,794 10.4

Of the population born in Nigeria who usually live in Australia, 10.5% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 7.3% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 11.3% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 0 0.0 9,289 0.2 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 3 0.0 84,378 1.4 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 24 0.3 321,721 5.2 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 168 2.0 590,106 9.6 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 156 1.8 541,319 8.8 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 341 4.0 768,312 12.5 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 723 8.5 766,940 12.4 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 773 9.1 559,084 9.1 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 1,795 21.1 985,332 16.0 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 4,247 50.0 1,324,426 21.5 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 15,615,531 -- -- --

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria, 50.0% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 21.1% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 3,705 43.6 3,652,290 59.3 15,304,785 98.0 19,278,834 82.4
Not an Australian citizen 4,547 53.5 2,402,591 39.0 86,884 0.6 2,507,458 10.7

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria, 43.6% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 3,570 81.3 2,533,692 72.3 874,386 14.5 3,432,017 35.9
Spouse or partner born in Australia 689 15.7 874,386 25.0 4,975,104 82.7 5,872,893 61.4

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria and had a spouse or partner, 81.3% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 15.7% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pentecostal 2,148 25.3 91,349 1.5 165,897 1.1 260,558 1.1
Catholic 1,862 22.0 1,306,565 21.2 3,895,007 24.9 5,291,834 22.6
Christian, nfd 1,221 14.4 211,734 3.4 391,430 2.5 612,371 2.6
Anglican 864 10.2 535,049 8.7 2,504,891 16.0 3,101,185 13.3
Islam 431 5.1 372,165 6.0 219,936 1.4 604,240 2.6

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria, the most common responses to the religion question were Pentecostal 25.3%, Catholic 22.0%, Christian, nfd 14.4%, Anglican 10.2% and Islam 5.1%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 3,332 39.2 2,581,282 41.9 14,190,672 90.9 17,020,421 72.7
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 4,962 58.4 2,885,219 46.8 1,122,966 7.2 4,068,598 17.4
Not well or not at all 75 0.9 648,470 10.5 157,704 1.0 819,925 3.5

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria, 39.2% spoke English only at home. A further 58.4% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 3,039 48.3 2,052,828 58.4 4,491,739 57.5 6,623,065 57.7
Worked part-time 2,195 34.9 1,025,198 29.2 2,421,402 31.0 3,491,503 30.4
Away from work 300 4.8 158,027 4.5 397,088 5.1 569,276 5.0
Unemployed 763 12.1 277,586 7.9 498,013 6.4 787,452 6.9
Not in the labour force 1,266 16.6 2,221,922 38.3 3,913,066 33.1 6,297,600 33.1

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria and who were in the labour force, 48.3% worked full-time, 34.9% worked part-time and 12.1% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 621 11.2 313,561 9.7 890,779 12.2 1,218,823 11.4
16-24 hours per week 916 16.5 358,890 11.1 706,291 9.7 1,079,236 10.1
25-34 hours per week 659 11.9 352,748 10.9 824,331 11.3 1,193,445 11.2
35-39 hours per week 1,025 18.5 705,848 21.8 1,300,092 17.8 2,031,263 19.0
40 hours or more per week 2,015 36.4 1,346,985 41.6 3,191,643 43.7 4,591,801 43.0

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria and who were employed, 36.4% worked 40 hours or more per week and 18.5% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Professionals 1,850 33.4 815,695 25.2 1,536,662 21.0 2,370,966 22.2
Community and Personal Service Workers 1,539 27.8 351,854 10.9 789,597 10.8 1,157,003 10.8
Labourers 618 11.1 354,542 11.0 638,102 8.7 1,011,520 9.5
Clerical and Administrative Workers 381 6.9 393,619 12.2 1,040,953 14.2 1,449,681 13.6
Machinery Operators and Drivers 337 6.1 210,138 6.5 447,114 6.1 670,106 6.3

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria, the most common responses for occupation were Professionals 33.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 27.8%, Labourers 11.1%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 6.9% and Machinery Operators and Drivers 6.1%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Aged Care Residential Services 723 13.3 90,571 2.8 117,174 1.6 211,621 2.0
Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 484 8.9 141,550 4.4 265,609 3.6 411,808 3.9
Other Social Assistance Services 453 8.3 44,886 1.4 110,902 1.5 158,230 1.5
General Practice Medical Services 356 6.6 38,065 1.2 56,921 0.8 96,014 0.9
Higher Education 150 2.8 61,774 1.9 93,269 1.3 155,985 1.5

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria, the most common responses for industry of employment were Aged Care Residential Services 13.3%, Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 8.9%, Other Social Assistance Services 8.3%, General Practice Medical Services 6.6% and Higher Education 2.8%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 773 -- 615 -- 688 -- 662 --
Family 2,045 -- 1,725 -- 1,834 -- 1,734 --
Household 1,891 -- 1,562 -- 1,539 -- 1,438 --

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria, the personal weekly median income was $773. Family median weekly income was $2,045 and Household median weekly income was $1,891.

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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 3,671 66.4 1,986,872 61.4 5,009,484 68.5 7,090,101 66.4
Bus or train 769 13.9 453,292 14.0 454,116 6.2 915,328 8.6
Other 464 8.4 381,664 11.8 672,865 9.2 1,066,965 10.0

In Australia 66.4% of employed people who were born in Nigeria travelled to work on census day by car, while 13.9% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 5,500 72.1 3,964,948 68.4 9,000,198 76.0 13,143,914 69.0
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 3,191 41.9 1,677,392 28.9 3,507,061 29.6 5,259,400 27.6
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 771 10.1 613,990 10.6 1,489,817 12.6 2,145,203 11.3
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 2,188 28.7 941,091 16.2 2,634,097 22.3 3,620,726 19.0

In Australia 72.1% of people who were born in Nigeria did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 41.9% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 2,068 27.1 1,234,900 21.3 3,013,177 25.5 4,298,593 22.6
5 to 14 hours per week 2,043 26.8 1,509,217 26.0 3,371,602 28.5 4,944,578 26.0
15 to 29 hours per week 702 9.2 678,501 11.7 1,479,061 12.5 2,189,776 11.5
30 hours or more per week 686 9.0 542,335 9.4 1,136,359 9.6 1,710,970 9.0

In Australia of people who were born in Nigeria and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 26.8% worked 5 to 14 hours, 9.2% worked 15 to 29 hours and 9.0% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 767 22.7 1,012,440 39.3 1,240,422 36.6 2,291,987 37.8
Couple family with children 2,261 66.9 1,248,241 48.4 1,434,939 42.3 2,716,224 44.7
One parent family 283 8.4 282,463 11.0 648,590 19.1 959,543 15.8
Other family 64 1.9 34,059 1.3 65,896 1.9 102,559 1.7
Families with a child under 5 1,270 37.7 446,733 17.3 591,182 17.4 1,037,904 17.1
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 2,160 63.9 977,697 37.9 1,379,763 40.7 2,357,465 38.8

These statistics are for families in Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Nigeria. Of these families, 66.9% were couple families with children, 22.7% were couple families without children and 8.4% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 730 24.1 475,278 21.0 600,260 22.4 1,084,006 21.6
Both employed, worked part-time 230 7.6 97,948 4.3 103,266 3.9 203,596 4.1
One employed full-time, one part-time 711 23.5 424,478 18.8 652,771 24.4 1,086,460 21.7
One employed full-time, other not working 556 18.4 390,307 17.3 352,203 13.2 749,886 15.0
One employed part-time, other not working 263 8.7 156,274 6.9 141,852 5.3 302,037 6.0
Both not working 167 5.5 492,423 21.8 488,403 18.3 1,006,697 20.1
Other (includes away from work) 210 6.9 107,664 4.8 152,346 5.7 264,145 5.3
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 161 5.3 116,299 5.1 184,264 6.9 311,381 6.2

These statistics are for families in Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Nigeria. Of these families, 24.1% of families had both parents working full-time, 23.5% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 5.5% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 2,665 56.9 2,212,954 67.1 5,074,866 76.9 6,041,788 72.9
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 1,014 21.7 466,800 14.1 779,497 11.8 1,055,016 12.7
Flat or apartment 951 20.3 585,471 17.7 668,862 10.1 1,087,434 13.1
Other dwelling 22 0.5 20,721 0.6 48,617 0.7 64,425 0.8

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Nigeria, 56.9% were a separate house, 20.3% were a flat or apartment, and 21.7% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 16 0.3 17,187 0.5 23,956 0.4 39,769 0.5
1 bedroom 246 5.3 176,922 5.4 254,884 3.9 411,252 5.0
2 bedrooms 1,031 22.0 658,470 20.0 1,119,772 17.0 1,562,759 18.9
3 bedrooms 1,527 32.6 1,264,755 38.3 2,787,246 42.2 3,403,190 41.1
4 or more bedrooms 1,706 36.5 1,110,865 33.7 2,287,725 34.7 2,670,758 32.2
Number of bedrooms not stated 152 3.2 71,635 2.2 126,102 1.9 198,351 2.4

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Nigeria, 22.0% had two bedrooms, 32.6% had three bedrooms and 36.5% 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 389 8.3 970,425 29.4 2,013,505 30.5 2,565,695 31.0
Owned with a mortgage 1,438 30.7 1,122,252 34.0 2,474,999 37.5 2,855,222 34.5
Rented 2,693 57.5 1,099,840 33.3 1,907,007 28.9 2,561,302 30.9
Other tenure type 15 0.3 25,380 0.8 59,681 0.9 78,994 1.0
Tenure type not stated 149 3.2 81,928 2.5 144,494 2.2 224,869 2.7
Median monthly mortgage repayment 2,167 -- 1,950 -- 1,742 -- 1,755 --
Median weekly rent paid 350 -- 370 -- 330 -- 335 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Nigeria, 8.3% were owned outright, 30.7% were owned with a mortgage and 57.5% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167 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 Nigeria % Born in Nigeria All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 3,508 74.9 2,465,248 74.7 4,809,352 72.9 5,751,635 69.4
Multiple family households 95 2.0 101,470 3.1 137,593 2.1 155,992 1.9
Single (or lone) person households 537 11.5 559,665 17.0 1,403,935 21.3 2,023,542 24.4
Group households 546 11.7 173,452 5.3 248,803 3.8 354,917 4.3

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in Nigeria' includes households in Australia where at least one person was born in Nigeria. Of those households, 74.9% were one family households and 11.5% 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.