People in Western Australia who were born in Somalia

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 5 by 9224
People 1,335
Male 632
Female 703
Australian citizen 58.5%
Not an Australian citizen 37.3%
Families 570
Couples with children 343
Couples without children 39
One parent families 172
Other families 17
All private dwellings 652
Median monthly mortgage repayment $1,821
Median weekly rent paid $350

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 632 47.3 393,619 49.3 748,850 50.2 1,238,419 50.0
Female 703 52.7 404,078 50.7 744,012 49.8 1,235,994 50.0

In the 2016 Census, there were 1,335 people in Western Australia who were born in Somalia. Of these 47.3% were male and 52.7% were female.

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

Age
People
Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 39 2.9 58,364 7.3 392,238 26.3 476,683 19.3
15-24 years 200 14.9 78,343 9.8 212,344 14.2 310,329 12.5
25-34 years 424 31.7 142,452 17.9 205,429 13.8 379,178 15.3
35-44 years 290 21.7 134,096 16.8 185,175 12.4 345,038 13.9
45-54 years 258 19.3 134,541 16.9 174,736 11.7 334,959 13.5
55-64 years 84 6.3 107,003 13.4 152,633 10.2 282,042 11.4
65 years and over 43 3.2 142,895 17.9 170,303 11.4 346,185 14.0
Median age 35 -- 43 -- 31 -- 36 --

Of the population born in Somalia who usually live in Western Australia, 2.9% were aged 0 - 14 years and 3.2% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Western Australia who were born in Somalia was 35 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 727 56.2 429,018 58.0 475,214 43.2 975,062 48.8
Separated 72 5.6 22,468 3.0 35,022 3.2 63,205 3.2
Divorced 113 8.7 59,722 8.1 92,252 8.4 167,361 8.4
Widowed 35 2.7 35,816 4.8 43,155 3.9 88,619 4.4
Never married 347 26.8 192,307 26.0 454,983 41.3 703,482 35.2

Of people in Western Australia aged 15 years and over who were born in Somalia, 56.2% were married, 5.6% were separated, and 8.7% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 0 0.0 2,851 0.4 27,181 1.8 30,247 1.2
Primary 16 1.2 32,077 4.0 176,460 11.8 209,889 8.5
Secondary 47 3.5 36,021 4.5 119,694 8.0 157,010 6.3
University or tertiary institution 129 9.7 43,888 5.5 62,255 4.2 106,815 4.3
Technical or further education 126 9.4 21,570 2.7 24,808 1.7 46,832 1.9
Other 49 3.7 9,462 1.2 8,896 0.6 18,547 0.7
Institution attended, type not stated 71 5.3 14,385 1.8 35,084 2.4 197,644 8.0
Not attending an educational institution 898 67.2 637,431 79.9 1,038,475 69.6 1,707,427 69.0

Of the population born in Somalia who usually live in Western Australia, 32.8% were attending an educational institution. There were 1.2% in primary school, 3.5% in secondary school and 19.1% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 173 13.3 208,359 28.2 199,118 18.1 410,272 20.5
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 123 9.4 81,935 11.1 93,775 8.5 177,631 8.9
Certificate level IV 31 2.4 19,777 2.7 42,283 3.8 62,656 3.1
Certificate level III 132 10.1 97,371 13.2 177,478 16.1 279,448 14.0
Year 12 311 23.9 129,354 17.5 185,139 16.8 318,674 16.0
Year 11 57 4.4 31,886 4.3 74,248 6.7 107,858 5.4
Year 10 84 6.5 63,503 8.6 166,815 15.2 235,001 11.8
Certificate level II 15 1.2 350 0.0 574 0.1 940 0.0
Certificate level I 0 0.0 118 0.0 93 0.0 209 0.0
Year 9 or below 98 7.5 40,311 5.5 74,731 6.8 117,996 5.9
No educational attainment 159 12.2 8,124 1.1 2,180 0.2 10,572 0.5
Not stated 84 6.5 33,521 4.5 53,925 4.9 220,701 11.0

Of the population born in Somalia who usually live in Western Australia, 23.9% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 12.4% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 9.4% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 0 0.0 1,114 0.1 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 0 0.0 9,370 1.2 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 0 0.0 28,147 3.5 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 0 0.0 76,057 9.5 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 4 0.3 69,730 8.7 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 21 1.6 100,048 12.5 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 439 33.0 85,588 10.7 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 207 15.6 70,587 8.8 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 305 22.9 152,870 19.2 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 293 22.0 179,579 22.5 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 1,492,859 -- -- --

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia, 22.0% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 22.9% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 780 58.5 466,878 58.5 1,458,017 97.7 1,954,676 79.0
Not an Australian citizen 497 37.3 316,135 39.6 11,003 0.7 329,277 13.3

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia, 58.5% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 610 94.4 326,693 71.6 111,504 19.9 441,076 43.2
Spouse or partner born in Australia 15 2.3 111,503 24.4 424,219 75.8 537,586 52.7

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia and had a spouse or partner, 94.4% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 2.3% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Islam 1,254 93.9 34,590 4.3 15,208 1.0 50,649 2.0
No Religion, so described 18 1.3 216,644 27.2 577,485 38.7 804,268 32.5
Anglican 3 0.2 109,788 13.8 238,816 16.0 354,790 14.3

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia, the most common responses to the religion question were Islam 93.9%, No Religion, so described 1.3% and Anglican 0.2%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 76 5.7 457,404 57.3 1,378,685 92.4 1,861,041 75.2
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 1,022 76.2 289,005 36.2 82,585 5.5 376,555 15.2
Not well or not at all 205 15.3 45,330 5.7 15,217 1.0 61,311 2.5

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia, 5.7% spoke English only at home. A further 76.2% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 330 40.6 281,613 57.6 425,881 56.7 715,287 57.0
Worked part-time 233 28.7 144,552 29.6 227,674 30.3 376,590 30.0
Away from work 55 6.8 23,053 4.7 41,357 5.5 65,859 5.2
Unemployed 195 24.0 39,868 8.2 56,599 7.5 97,966 7.8
Not in the labour force 441 34.1 243,618 33.0 337,997 30.7 595,448 29.8

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia and who were in the labour force, 40.6% worked full-time, 28.7% worked part-time and 24.0% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 90 14.6 47,324 10.5 89,399 12.9 138,263 11.9
16-24 hours per week 47 7.6 47,917 10.7 65,589 9.4 114,814 9.9
25-34 hours per week 96 15.6 49,311 11.0 72,683 10.5 123,517 10.7
35-39 hours per week 101 16.4 86,420 19.2 110,180 15.9 198,785 17.2
40 hours or more per week 228 37.0 195,195 43.5 315,702 45.4 516,501 44.6

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia and who were employed, 37.0% worked 40 hours or more per week and 16.4% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Machinery Operators and Drivers 188 30.8 31,837 7.1 53,156 7.6 86,392 7.5
Community and Personal Service Workers 155 25.4 51,139 11.4 70,198 10.1 122,889 10.6
Labourers 84 13.8 49,987 11.1 60,774 8.7 112,599 9.7
Professionals 65 10.7 99,655 22.2 135,901 19.6 237,230 20.5
Clerical and Administrative Workers 31 5.1 53,143 11.8 95,833 13.8 150,408 13.0

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia, the most common responses for occupation were Machinery Operators and Drivers 30.8%, Community and Personal Service Workers 25.4%, Labourers 13.8%, Professionals 10.7% and Clerical and Administrative Workers 5.1%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Child Care Services 121 21.8 4,307 1.0 5,290 0.8 9,696 0.8
Taxi and Other Road Transport 75 13.5 2,064 0.5 671 0.1 2,771 0.2
Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 24 4.3 19,814 4.4 21,486 3.1 41,706 3.6
Supermarket and Grocery Stores 21 3.8 9,969 2.2 17,809 2.6 28,080 2.4
Aged Care Residential Services 20 3.6 12,593 2.8 8,236 1.2 21,177 1.8

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia, the most common responses for industry of employment were Child Care Services 21.8%, Taxi and Other Road Transport 13.5%, Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 4.3%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 3.8% and Aged Care Residential Services 3.6%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 435 -- 713 -- 737 -- 724 --
Family 1,013 -- 1,928 -- 2,009 -- 1,910 --
Household 1,054 -- 1,728 -- 1,719 -- 1,595 --

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia, the personal weekly median income was $435. Family median weekly income was $1,013 and Household median weekly income was $1,054.

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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 431 71.5 304,917 67.9 477,778 68.8 791,997 68.4
Bus or train 26 4.3 42,061 9.4 42,030 6.0 84,830 7.3
Other 74 12.3 42,136 9.4 58,650 8.4 101,939 8.8

In Western Australia 71.5% of employed people who were born in Somalia travelled to work on census day by car, while 4.3% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 653 50.3 528,541 71.5 841,411 76.4 1,387,280 69.4
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 521 40.2 223,886 30.3 337,191 30.6 568,406 28.5
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 173 13.3 68,875 9.3 124,060 11.3 196,328 9.8
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 174 13.4 128,435 17.4 246,758 22.4 379,578 19.0

In Western Australia 50.3% of people who were born in Somalia did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 40.2% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 213 16.3 161,683 21.9 280,986 25.5 447,726 22.4
5 to 14 hours per week 213 16.3 204,567 27.7 311,130 28.3 521,733 26.1
15 to 29 hours per week 93 7.1 89,780 12.1 135,377 12.3 228,248 11.4
30 hours or more per week 140 10.7 72,507 9.8 113,922 10.4 189,571 9.5

In Western Australia of people who were born in Somalia and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 16.3% worked 5 to 14 hours, 7.1% worked 15 to 29 hours and 10.7% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 39 6.8 135,249 40.7 109,174 36.1 247,841 38.5
Couple family with children 343 60.2 160,664 48.4 128,460 42.4 292,133 45.3
One parent family 172 30.2 32,221 9.7 58,496 19.3 93,344 14.5
Other family 17 3.0 3,982 1.2 6,642 2.2 10,869 1.7
Families with a child under 5 256 44.6 57,453 17.3 56,976 18.8 114,433 17.8
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 431 75.6 128,059 38.6 128,966 42.6 257,023 39.9

These statistics are for families in Western Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Somalia. Of these families, 60.2% were couple families with children, 6.8% were couple families without children and 30.2% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 37 9.6 59,028 19.9 47,192 19.9 106,951 19.8
Both employed, worked part-time 10 2.6 12,952 4.4 9,008 3.8 22,177 4.1
One employed full-time, one part-time 29 7.5 62,828 21.2 56,209 23.7 119,913 22.2
One employed full-time, other not working 102 26.5 52,555 17.8 35,278 14.8 88,558 16.4
One employed part-time, other not working 62 16.1 19,254 6.5 12,330 5.2 31,917 5.9
Both not working 72 18.7 53,518 18.1 38,074 16.0 93,686 17.4
Other (includes away from work) 33 8.6 15,379 5.2 14,199 6.0 29,973 5.6
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 40 10.4 20,399 6.9 25,352 10.7 46,793 8.7

These statistics are for families in Western Australia. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in Somalia. Of these families, 9.6% of families had both parents working full-time, 7.5% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 18.7% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 459 70.4 328,329 77.9 528,061 82.3 685,824 79.1
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 149 22.9 62,283 14.8 80,173 12.5 122,562 14.1
Flat or apartment 44 6.7 27,559 6.5 26,853 4.2 49,086 5.7
Other dwelling 0 0.0 2,231 0.5 4,559 0.7 6,314 0.7

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Western Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Somalia, 70.4% were a separate house, 6.7% were a flat or apartment, and 22.9% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 8 1.2 1,021 0.2 1,560 0.2 2,452 0.3
1 bedroom 13 2.0 13,969 3.3 17,273 2.7 30,043 3.5
2 bedrooms 55 8.3 49,496 11.7 70,325 11.0 107,035 12.3
3 bedrooms 243 36.7 153,436 36.4 242,621 37.8 327,662 37.8
4 or more bedrooms 285 43.0 196,059 46.5 299,188 46.6 381,319 44.0
Number of bedrooms not stated 59 8.9 7,682 1.8 10,799 1.7 18,272 2.1

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Western Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Somalia, 8.3% had two bedrooms, 36.7% had three bedrooms and 43.0% 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 32 4.9 117,887 28.0 175,998 27.4 247,050 28.5
Owned with a mortgage 56 8.5 170,205 40.4 275,993 43.0 344,014 39.7
Rented 511 78.0 121,115 28.7 170,853 26.6 245,705 28.3
Other tenure type 0 0.0 3,645 0.9 6,293 1.0 9,181 1.1
Tenure type not stated 56 8.5 8,808 2.1 12,620 2.0 20,823 2.4
Median monthly mortgage repayment 1,821 -- 2,000 -- 1,985 -- 1,993 --
Median weekly rent paid 350 -- 360 -- 340 -- 347 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Western Australia. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in Somalia, 4.9% were owned outright, 8.5% were owned with a mortgage and 78.0% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,821 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 Somalia % Born in Somalia All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 541 82.5 321,923 76.3 481,331 75.0 616,131 71.1
Multiple family households 25 3.8 9,534 2.3 11,549 1.8 13,754 1.6
Single (or lone) person households 57 8.7 72,397 17.2 126,565 19.7 204,202 23.6
Group households 33 5.0 17,814 4.2 22,321 3.5 32,692 3.8

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in Somalia' includes households in Western Australia where at least one person was born in Somalia. Of those households, 82.5% were one family households and 8.7% 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.