People in Greater Perth who were born in South Africa

2016 Census Country of birth QuickStats
Area code 5GPER by 9225
People 35,267
Male 17,270
Female 17,997
Australian citizen 70.9%
Not an Australian citizen 27.3%
Families 15,448
Couples with children 9,056
Couples without children 5,089
One parent families 1,175
Other families 130
All private dwellings 18,685
Median monthly mortgage repayment $2,383
Median weekly rent paid $420

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People

demographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Demographics & education

People Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Male 17,270 49.0 345,029 49.1 553,138 49.7 963,536 49.6
Female 17,997 51.0 357,510 50.9 560,148 50.3 980,326 50.4

In the 2016 Census, there were 35,267 people in Greater Perth who were born in South Africa. Of these 49.0% were male and 51.0% were female.

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

Age
People
Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
0-14 years 3,444 9.8 52,289 7.4 300,108 27.0 370,325 19.1
15-24 years 5,703 16.2 71,883 10.2 167,154 15.0 253,558 13.0
25-34 years 5,141 14.6 127,751 18.2 156,268 14.0 306,680 15.8
35-44 years 6,976 19.8 118,705 16.9 136,246 12.2 272,610 14.0
45-54 years 6,954 19.7 116,855 16.6 124,934 11.2 258,693 13.3
55-64 years 3,919 11.1 91,948 13.1 106,511 9.6 212,965 11.0
65 years and over 3,122 8.9 123,109 17.5 122,069 11.0 269,027 13.8
Median age 40 -- 43 -- 30 -- 36 --

Of the population born in South Africa who usually live in Greater Perth, 9.8% were aged 0 - 14 years and 8.9% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of people in Greater Perth who were born in South Africa was 40 years.

View the data quality statement for Age (AGEP)
Registered marital status
People aged 15 years and over
Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Married 19,086 60.0 378,538 58.2 342,781 42.2 770,359 49.0
Separated 709 2.2 19,094 2.9 24,716 3.0 47,566 3.0
Divorced 1,961 6.2 50,791 7.8 67,931 8.4 129,398 8.2
Widowed 777 2.4 31,329 4.8 30,983 3.8 69,541 4.4
Never married 9,283 29.2 170,489 26.2 346,778 42.6 556,665 35.4

Of people in Greater Perth aged 15 years and over who were born in South Africa, 60.0% were married, 2.2% were separated, and 6.2% were divorced.

View the data quality statement for Registered marital status (MSTP)
Education Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Pre-school 120 0.3 2,571 0.4 21,040 1.9 23,779 1.2
Primary 1,918 5.4 28,847 4.1 134,344 12.1 164,145 8.4
Secondary 2,828 8.0 32,587 4.6 91,941 8.3 125,478 6.5
University or tertiary institution 2,916 8.3 41,999 6.0 56,996 5.1 99,596 5.1
Technical or further education 905 2.6 19,550 2.8 18,251 1.6 38,138 2.0
Other 381 1.1 8,807 1.3 7,058 0.6 16,011 0.8
Institution attended, type not stated 312 0.9 11,705 1.7 22,840 2.1 137,920 7.1
Not attending an educational institution 25,907 73.4 556,490 79.2 760,818 68.3 1,338,795 68.9

Of the population born in South Africa who usually live in Greater Perth, 26.6% were attending an educational institution. There were 5.4% in primary school, 8.0% in secondary school and 10.8% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Bachelor Degree level and above 10,818 34.0 190,062 29.2 168,579 20.7 360,855 22.9
Advanced Diploma and Diploma level 4,911 15.4 72,331 11.1 73,042 9.0 146,738 9.3
Certificate level IV 1,008 3.2 16,812 2.6 31,208 3.8 48,401 3.1
Certificate level III 3,879 12.2 82,286 12.7 122,599 15.1 207,925 13.2
Year 12 6,365 20.0 115,558 17.8 143,518 17.6 262,054 16.7
Year 11 942 3.0 27,324 4.2 52,159 6.4 80,533 5.1
Year 10 1,410 4.4 53,478 8.2 113,504 14.0 169,916 10.8
Certificate level II 0 0.0 325 0.0 351 0.0 685 0.0
Certificate level I 0 0.0 108 0.0 48 0.0 157 0.0
Year 9 or below 778 2.4 35,441 5.5 49,762 6.1 87,119 5.5
No educational attainment 15 0.0 7,477 1.1 1,209 0.1 8,896 0.6
Not stated 770 2.4 27,631 4.2 34,746 4.3 155,841 9.9

Of the population born in South Africa who usually live in Greater Perth, 20.0% reported having completed Year 12 as their highest level of educational attainment, 15.4% had completed a Certificate III or IV and 15.4% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Before 1941 9 0.0 899 0.1 -- -- -- --
1941 - 1950 16 0.0 7,565 1.1 -- -- -- --
1951 - 1960 97 0.3 23,350 3.3 -- -- -- --
1961 - 1970 438 1.2 63,470 9.0 -- -- -- --
1971 - 1980 1,620 4.6 59,474 8.5 -- -- -- --
1981 - 1990 3,571 10.1 89,447 12.7 -- -- -- --
1991 - 2000 5,130 14.6 77,562 11.0 -- -- -- --
2001 - 2005 5,451 15.5 63,753 9.1 -- -- -- --
2006 - 2010 11,069 31.4 136,513 19.4 -- -- -- --
2011 - 2016 7,306 20.7 160,405 22.8 -- -- -- --
Born in Australia -- -- -- -- 1,113,290 -- -- --

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa, 20.7% arrived in Australia from 2011 - 2016 and 31.4% from 2006 - 2010.

View the data quality statement for Year of arrival in Australia (YARP)
Citizenship Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Australian citizen 25,005 70.9 414,525 59.0 1,086,431 97.6 1,521,235 78.3
Not an Australian citizen 9,642 27.3 275,088 39.2 9,286 0.8 286,108 14.7

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa, 70.9% were Australian citizens.

View the data quality statement for Australian citizenship (CITP)
Birthplace of spouse or partner Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Spouse or partner born overseas 16,061 79.3 297,725 73.4 91,824 22.4 391,596 47.8
Spouse or partner born in Australia 3,250 16.0 91,827 22.6 300,784 73.4 393,746 48.1

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa and had a spouse or partner, 79.3% had a spouse or partner who was born overseas and 16.0% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
No Religion, so described 5,820 16.5 187,632 26.7 430,755 38.7 624,948 32.1
Christian, nfd 5,020 14.2 30,350 4.3 34,876 3.1 66,029 3.4
Catholic 4,825 13.7 155,801 22.2 266,953 24.0 428,418 22.0
Anglican 4,105 11.6 93,442 13.3 170,882 15.3 268,381 13.8
Baptist 3,028 8.6 15,031 2.1 17,266 1.6 32,755 1.7

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa, the most common responses to the religion question were No Religion, so described 16.5%, Christian, nfd 14.2%, Catholic 13.7%, Anglican 11.6% and Baptist 8.6%.

View the data quality statement for Religious affiliation (RELP)
English language proficiency Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Speaks English only 24,056 68.2 390,618 55.6 1,021,832 91.8 1,428,823 73.5
Speaks other language and speaks English:  null  null  null  null  null  null  null  null
Very well or well 11,014 31.2 264,623 37.7 67,470 6.1 336,213 17.3
Not well or not at all 69 0.2 42,599 6.1 13,165 1.2 56,445 2.9

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa, 68.2% spoke English only at home. A further 31.2% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Worked full-time 14,623 59.5 245,203 57.0 314,909 56.1 565,148 56.4
Worked part-time 7,068 28.8 128,560 29.9 174,762 31.1 306,272 30.6
Away from work 856 3.5 19,454 4.5 28,384 5.1 48,775 4.9
Unemployed 2,014 8.2 36,645 8.5 43,768 7.8 81,482 8.1
Not in the labour force 7,138 22.4 214,817 33.0 244,711 30.1 469,289 29.8

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa and who were in the labour force, 59.5% worked full-time, 28.8% worked part-time and 8.2% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
1-15 hours per week 2,761 12.2 42,054 10.7 69,787 13.5 112,853 12.3
16-24 hours per week 2,099 9.3 43,176 11.0 50,596 9.8 94,699 10.3
25-34 hours per week 2,211 9.8 43,333 11.0 54,377 10.5 98,721 10.7
35-39 hours per week 3,730 16.5 78,332 19.9 86,983 16.8 166,934 18.1
40 hours or more per week 10,887 48.3 166,870 42.4 227,924 44.0 398,213 43.3

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa and who were employed, 48.3% worked 40 hours or more per week and 16.5% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Professionals 6,936 30.8 90,312 23.0 112,907 21.8 204,472 22.2
Technicians and Trades Workers 3,303 14.6 62,080 15.8 79,989 15.4 143,621 15.6
Clerical and Administrative Workers 3,196 14.2 48,020 12.2 76,204 14.7 125,233 13.6
Managers 3,177 14.1 44,350 11.3 60,294 11.6 105,412 11.5
Community and Personal Service Workers 2,107 9.3 45,139 11.5 53,466 10.3 99,683 10.8

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa, the most common responses for occupation were Professionals 30.8%, Technicians and Trades Workers 14.6%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.2%, Managers 14.1% and Community and Personal Service Workers 9.3%.

View the data quality statement for Occupation (OCCP)
Industry of employment, top responses
Employed people aged 15 years and over
Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 848 3.8 17,799 4.5 17,040 3.3 35,137 3.8
Combined Primary and Secondary Education 558 2.5 4,376 1.1 7,626 1.5 12,074 1.3
Engineering Design and Engineering Consulting Services 552 2.5 5,554 1.4 5,382 1.0 10,985 1.2
Primary Education 529 2.4 6,394 1.6 16,125 3.1 22,680 2.5
Iron Ore Mining 503 2.2 6,474 1.6 10,522 2.0 17,088 1.9

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa, the most common responses for industry of employment were Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) 3.8%, Combined Primary and Secondary Education 2.5%, Engineering Design and Engineering Consulting Services 2.5%, Primary Education 2.4% and Iron Ore Mining 2.2%.

View the data quality statement for Industry of employment (INDP)
Median weekly income
People aged 15 years and over
Born in South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Personal 944 -- 705 -- 752 -- 728 --
Family 2,556 -- 1,944 -- 2,092 -- 1,955 --
Household 2,414 -- 1,748 -- 1,792 -- 1,643 --

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa, the personal weekly median income was $944. Family median weekly income was $2,556 and Household median weekly income was $2,414.

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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Car 15,754 69.8 268,230 68.2 360,074 69.5 634,501 69.0
Bus or train 2,054 9.1 38,422 9.8 34,922 6.7 73,965 8.0
Other 1,812 8.0 35,160 8.9 40,347 7.8 76,166 8.3

In Greater Perth 69.8% of employed people who were born in South Africa travelled to work on census day by car, while 9.1% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Did unpaid domestic work (last week) 25,750 80.9 466,037 71.7 626,627 77.1 1,104,256 70.2
Cared for child/children (last two weeks) 10,875 34.2 199,673 30.7 247,248 30.4 451,741 28.7
Provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability (last two weeks) 2,493 7.8 60,962 9.4 92,890 11.4 156,231 9.9
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months) 7,650 24.0 108,660 16.7 170,238 20.9 281,373 17.9

In Greater Perth 80.9% of people who were born in South Africa did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, and 34.2% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Less than 5 hours per week 9,395 29.5 144,734 22.3 217,798 26.8 366,095 23.3
5 to 14 hours per week 10,348 32.5 180,311 27.7 232,170 28.6 416,518 26.5
15 to 29 hours per week 3,531 11.1 78,231 12.0 97,647 12.0 177,897 11.3
30 hours or more per week 2,476 7.8 62,762 9.7 79,011 9.7 143,749 9.1

In Greater Perth of people who were born in South Africa and who did unpaid domestic work in the week before the census, 32.5% worked 5 to 14 hours, 11.1% worked 15 to 29 hours and 7.8% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Couple family without children 5,089 32.9 115,039 39.4 75,771 34.9 193,034 37.5
Couple family with children 9,056 58.6 143,684 49.3 92,783 42.7 238,521 46.3
One parent family 1,175 7.6 29,175 10.0 43,560 20.0 74,556 14.5
Other family 130 0.8 3,759 1.3 5,286 2.4 9,214 1.8
Families with a child under 5 2,813 18.2 51,173 17.5 40,445 18.6 91,618 17.8
Families with a child aged 0-15 years 7,110 46.0 113,600 39.0 91,690 42.2 205,292 39.8

These statistics are for families in Greater Perth. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in South Africa. Of these families, 58.6% were couple families with children, 32.9% were couple families without children and 7.6% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Both employed, worked full-time 3,700 26.2 51,509 19.9 33,517 19.9 85,462 19.8
Both employed, worked part-time 473 3.3 11,148 4.3 6,200 3.7 17,492 4.1
One employed full-time, one part-time 3,708 26.2 55,058 21.3 40,652 24.1 96,267 22.3
One employed full-time, other not working 2,781 19.7 46,762 18.1 25,582 15.2 72,827 16.9
One employed part-time, other not working 653 4.6 16,997 6.6 8,735 5.2 25,951 6.0
Both not working 1,190 8.4 46,292 17.9 26,304 15.6 74,085 17.2
Other (includes away from work) 644 4.6 13,078 5.1 9,583 5.7 22,903 5.3
Labour force status not stated (by one or both parents in a couple family) 998 7.1 17,884 6.9 17,990 10.7 36,569 8.5

These statistics are for families in Greater Perth. They are for families where the reference person and/or their spouse or partner was born in South Africa. Of these families, 26.2% of families had both parents working full-time, 26.2% of families had one parent working full-time and one parent working part-time, and 8.4% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Separate house 15,059 80.6 282,343 76.6 395,440 80.1 530,833 76.9
Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc 2,628 14.1 58,063 15.8 71,075 14.4 110,152 16.0
Flat or apartment 942 5.0 26,201 7.1 24,323 4.9 45,418 6.6
Other dwelling 17 0.1 952 0.3 1,510 0.3 2,245 0.3

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Perth. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in South Africa, 80.6% were a separate house, 5.0% were a flat or apartment, and 14.1% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
None (includes bedsitters) 18 0.1 679 0.2 769 0.2 1,347 0.2
1 bedroom 349 1.9 11,830 3.2 12,314 2.5 23,141 3.4
2 bedrooms 1,629 8.7 42,296 11.5 53,028 10.7 84,552 12.2
3 bedrooms 5,828 31.2 132,116 35.9 181,657 36.8 255,369 37.0
4 or more bedrooms 10,659 57.0 174,946 47.5 238,108 48.3 312,296 45.2
Number of bedrooms not stated 201 1.1 6,516 1.8 7,550 1.5 13,577 2.0

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Perth. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in South Africa, 8.7% had two bedrooms, 31.2% had three bedrooms and 57.0% 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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
Owned outright 3,065 16.4 101,954 27.7 131,811 26.7 193,636 28.1
Owned with a mortgage 9,750 52.2 153,644 41.7 227,424 46.1 289,273 41.9
Rented 5,534 29.6 102,189 27.7 120,426 24.4 184,428 26.7
Other tenure type 98 0.5 3,119 0.8 4,800 1.0 7,319 1.1
Tenure type not stated 243 1.3 7,478 2.0 8,967 1.8 15,620 2.3
Median monthly mortgage repayment 2,383 -- 2,026 -- 2,000 -- 2,000 --
Median weekly rent paid 420 -- 380 -- 365 -- 360 --

These statistics are for occupied private dwellings in Greater Perth. For the dwellings that were occupied on census night by a person or persons who were born in South Africa, 16.4% were owned outright, 52.2% were owned with a mortgage and 29.6% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383 and the median weekly rent paid was $420.

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 South Africa % Born in South Africa All overseas born % All overseas born Australian born % Australian born Total % Total
One family households 15,597 83.4 281,848 76.5 372,585 75.5 492,358 71.3
Multiple family households 402 2.2 8,663 2.4 9,215 1.9 11,284 1.6
Single (or lone) person households 2,024 10.8 62,011 16.8 93,386 18.9 159,002 23.0
Group households 669 3.6 15,869 4.3 18,244 3.7 27,644 4.0

All occupants of a private dwelling complete one census form and are counted as a household. 'Born in South Africa' includes households in Greater Perth where at least one person was born in South Africa. Of those households, 83.4% were one family households and 10.8% 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.