Australia's Evolving Demographics: A Century of Change

Australia's demographics have undergone significant transformations since the first Census in 1911. The nation has seen its population swell and its typical resident shift dramatically.

The typical Australian has shifted from a 24-year-old male to a 38-year-old woman. The national population has grown from 4.4 million in 1911 to an estimated 27 million by June 2024.

Historical Census and First Nations Population

The inaugural 1911 Census recorded 4.4 million people. Notably, this count initially excluded most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with only 19,939 'full-blooded Australian Aboriginals' counted, predominantly men.

A full count of First Nations people was mandated after the landmark 1967 referendum. The 2021 Census marked a significant change, reporting that 3.2 percent of Australia's 25 million people identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, totaling approximately 812,000 residents.

Geographic Distribution and Housing Trends

As of June 2023, around 70 percent of residents were born in Australia. Tasmania boasts the highest proportion of Australian-born residents (79 percent), while Victoria has the lowest (65 percent).

Most Australians (73 percent) live in major cities, while a quarter reside in inner or outer regional areas. The remaining 1.9 percent live in remote areas.

Regarding housing, three-bedroom homes are the most common type nationally (37 percent). However, four-bedroom homes are more prevalent in Western Australia (37 percent).

Family Structures and Marital Status

Couples with children represent almost 30 percent of Australian families. This trend is consistent across most jurisdictions, with the exception of South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory, where childless couples are more common. The average number of children per family stands at 1.8, with 58 percent of families having two or more children.

Around one-third of Australians are married, making it the most common marital status in all regions except the Northern Territory, where 'not married' is more common (29 percent).

Income and Employment Snapshot

The median weekly wage for Australians before tax is $1,436, translating to $74,672 annually. For full-time workers, this median income rises to $1,887 per week ($98,124 annually).

Breaking down full-time income by gender:

• Full-time working men have a median weekly income of $1,994 ($103,688 annually).
• Full-time working women earn $1,758 per week ($91,416 annually).

Migration, Language, and Ancestry

Migration plays a significant role in Australia's demographic makeup. Approximately 48 percent of Australians have at least one parent born overseas, compared to 46 percent having both parents born in Australia. This varies by state, with Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory reporting higher proportions of Australian-born parents.

English remains the dominant language, spoken at home by around 72 percent of residents nationally, increasing to 86 percent in Tasmania. Mandarin is the second most common language nationally (2.7 percent), except in the Northern Territory, where Kriol holds this position.

The most common ancestry across Australia is English (32 percent), except in the Northern Territory, where Australian Aboriginal ancestry is 24 percent.

For those not born in Australia, England is the most common birthplace nationally (4 percent). However, common birthplaces vary considerably by state:

• New South Wales: China
• Victoria, ACT: India
• Queensland: New Zealand
• Northern Territory: The Philippines

Housing Tenure and Car Ownership

Owning a home with a mortgage is the most common housing tenure nationally (30 percent). This marks a shift from 2006, when outright ownership was the most common tenure.

Variations in housing tenure:

• In NSW and the Northern Territory, renting is more common (28.5 percent and 37.5 percent, respectively).
• In Tasmania, owning a home outright is more common (32 percent).

The typical Australian household owns two cars (34 percent). In NSW and the Northern Territory, however, owning one car is more common (35 percent and 32 percent, respectively).

Age and Gender Dynamics

The median age in Australia is 38, reflecting a continuous increase from 35.7 in 2001 and 24 in 1911. Tasmania has the highest median age (42), while the Northern Territory has the lowest (33).

Females constitute 51 percent of the Australian population. This trend is consistent across all states and territories, except the Northern Territory, where 50.5 percent of the population is male.

Regarding unpaid domestic duties:

• Among men aged 15 and over, 56 percent perform up to 14 hours weekly, while 27 percent perform none.
• Among women, 25 percent report no housework, but 46.15 percent complete between five and 29 hours of unpaid domestic duties weekly.