Perth

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 1,445,078 people were usually resident in Perth: of these 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female. Of the total population 1.5% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 19.5% of people usually resident in Perth were children aged 0-14 years, and 22.7% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 36 years.

In the 2006 Census, 82.7% of people usually resident in Perth were Australian citizens, 31.3% were born overseas and 1.1% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 49.0% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Perth were married, 11.5% were either separated or divorced, 5.2% were widowed and 34.3% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 61.5% of people usually resident in Perth, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 9.9%, New Zealand 2.4%, Scotland 1.4%, Malaysia 1.3% and South Africa 1.3%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Perth were Catholic 24.9%, No Religion 22.2%, Anglican 19.8%, Uniting Church 3.5% and Presbyterian and Reformed 2.3%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Perth were Italian 2.0%, Mandarin 1.1%, Cantonese 1.1%, Vietnamese 0.9% and Arabic 0.5%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 79.9%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 730,634 people aged 15 years and over in Perth were in the labour force. Of these 61.0% worked full-time, 28.8% worked part-time, 3.9% were away from work, 2.6% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 3.6% were unemployed. 354,549 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Perth were Professionals 20.6%, Technicians and Trades Workers 16.0%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 15.7%, Managers 11.2%, Sales Workers 9.8%, Labourers 9.7%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.1% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.3%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Perth, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 4.6%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.0%, Hospitals 3.4%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.5% and Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services 2.4%.

In the 2006 Census in Perth, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $513, the median family income was $1,298 and the median household income was $1,086.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 381,643 families in Perth: of these 37.1% were couple families without children, 45.8% were couple families with children, 15.2% were one parent families and 1.9% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 560,070 occupied private dwellings were counted in Perth.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Perth, 78.1% were separate houses, 11.9% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 9.4% were flats, units or apartments and 0.6% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Perth, 29.6% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 37.6% were owned with a mortgage and 24.7% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Perth, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 45.5% were rented from a real estate agent, 13.6% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 38.4% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Perth, the median weekly rent was $180. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300. The average people per household was 2.5 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Perth, 67.2% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 23.6% were single (or lone) person households and 3.6% were group households.