1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/09/2010   
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Household economic wellbeing

Mean household net worth - life cycle group(a)(b)
Graph Image for Mean household net worth - life cycle group(a)(b)

Footnote(s): (a) As at 30 June. (b) Based on 2005-06 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index. (c) Dependent children.

Source(s): ABS Household Wealth and Wealth Distribution, 2005-06 (cat. no. 6554.0)

ONE PARENT FAMILIES

One parent families are considered to be at higher risk of economic disadvantage compared with several other family types. For example, in 2007-08, one parent families with dependent children had a mean equivalised disposable household income of $520 per week, and only 8% fully owned their home. Therefore a substantial proportion were making mortgage or rental payments from their gross incomes (ABS 2009a). Furthermore, almost half (44%) of one parent families with dependent children had no employed resident parent (ABS 2009b).

In 2007-08, one parent families with dependent children were almost twice as likely to be in the low income group as were couple families with dependent children (34% compared with 19%). Almost half (45%) of one parent families with dependent children received government pensions and allowances as their principal source of income. This was also the pattern in 2003-04.

The distribution of net worth also varied across household types. In 2005-06, one parent households with dependent children had a substantially lower mean household net worth than couple households with dependent children ($229,000 compared with $670,000).


Indicators of economic situation by household composition
2003-04
2007-08
Family composition of household
All persons in households
In low income group
All persons in households
In low income group
'000
%
'000
%
One family households
Couple family with dependent children
8 667.0
16.6
8 862.4
19.4
One parent family with dependent children
1 529.4
38.4
1 504.7
33.8
Couple only, reference person aged
15-44
1 122.7
3.9
1 180.4
*3.4
45-64
1 597.6
19.6
1 668.5
16.1
65 and over
1 313.4
52.4
1 434.3
48.7
Other one family households
2 391.7
12.2
2 791.2
12.4
Multiple family households
420.5
*18.3
583.8
*20.3
Non-family households
Lone person aged
15-24
76.5
*9.3
107.4
*9.2
25-44
553.7
7.1
499.9
5.4
45-64
614.9
13.4
659.4
13.6
65 and over
717.0
35.9
737.4
30.4
Group households
602.3
16.2
613.9
11.2
Total
19 606.6
20.0
20 643.1
19.9
* estimate has a relative standard error of between 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
Source: ABS Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia, 2007-08 (cat. no. 6523.0)

RELATED PAGES

  • Household economic wellbeing glossary
  • Household economic wellbeing references

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