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Iama Island vs Saibai Island

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 57 km apart · Iama Island profile · Saibai Island profile

Iama Island Saibai Island

Saibai Island and Iama Island are two residential areas in the Torres Strait, but they differ significantly in their workforce and social structures. Saibai Island has a much higher unemployment rate at 43.1% compared to just 3.6% in Iama Island. Saibai Island also has a much larger share of people caring for children unpaid (42.6% versus 22.4%) and more volunteers (24.4% versus 13.3%). In contrast, Iama Island has a far higher share of people in de facto relationships, at 26.3% compared to 15.8% in Saibai Island.

Both areas share very similar economic conditions, with typical weekly household incomes sitting around $885 to $922. They are also alike in their layout; both are car-dependent and have no public transport options. While most homes in Iama Island are within a 15-minute walk of a park, Saibai Island is far more likely to have health services within that same distance. Since 2011, the two areas have remained similar in their overall income levels, though the gap in employment and childcare roles remains stark.

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Where they differ most

Unemployment: 39.5 pts higher in Saibai Island Unpaid child care: 20.1 pts higher in Saibai Island Needs assistance: 6.2 pts higher in Saibai Island No car: 16.7 pts higher in Iama Island Separate houses: 9.1 pts higher in Iama Island

Demographics & Identity

Population in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +65 larger in Saibai Island gap narrowing
275 58th pct 340 60th pct
Median age in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +4 yrs older in Iama Island gap steady
29 yrs 4th pct 25 yrs 0th pct
First Nations in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +1.7 pts higher in Iama Island gap narrowing
87.3% 100th pct 85.6% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +1.0 pts higher in Saibai Island gap steady
4.0% 6th pct 5.0% 8th pct
Under 15 in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +9.2 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
28.7% 93rd pct 37.9% 100th pct
De facto in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +10.5 pts higher in Iama Island gap widening
26.3% 96th pct 15.8% 74th pct

Age structure

28.7% Children (0–14) +9.2 pts ▸ 37.9%
31.6% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +4.3 pts 27.4%
24.0% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +8.1 pts 15.9%
13.8% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.5 pts 12.4%
4.0% Seniors (65+) +1.0 pts ▸ 5.0%

Marital status

61.7% Never married +4.3 pts ▸ 66.0%
28.1% Married ◂ +0.8 pts 27.3%
8.7% Widowed ◂ +6.3 pts 2.4%
3.1% Divorced ◂ +3.1 pts 0.0%
3.1% Separated ◂ +0.7 pts 2.4%

Age & sex structure

Iama Island Saibai Island

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +5.1 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
5.8% 24th pct 10.9% 48th pct

Country of birth

86.5% Australia ◂ +5.4 pts 81.2%
0.0% England even 0.0%
0.0% India even 0.0%
0.0% China even 0.0%
0.0% New Zealand even 0.0%
0.0% Philippines even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%
0.0% Nepal even 0.0%
0.0% Italy even 0.0%
0.0% South Africa even 0.0%

Ancestry

2.5% Australian ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%
1.5% English +0.6 pts ▸ 2.1%
1.1% Scottish ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Irish even 0.0%
0.0% Chinese even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% German even 0.0%
0.0% Indian even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Dutch even 0.0%
0.0% Filipino even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +1.4 pts higher in Iama Island gap steady
90.2% 100th pct 88.8% 100th pct
Limited English in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +4.4 pts higher in Saibai Island gap narrowing
7.6% 96th pct 12.1% 100th pct

Language used at home

3.6% English only +2.8 pts ▸ 6.5%
0.0% Mandarin even 0.0%
0.0% Arabic even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%
0.0% Tagalog even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +5.7 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
5.5% 0th pct 11.2% 1st pct

Religious affiliation

87.3% Christianity ◂ +16.7 pts 70.6%
5.5% Not stated +11.0 pts ▸ 16.5%
5.5% No religion +5.7 pts ▸ 11.2%
0.0% Islam even 0.0%
0.0% Hinduism even 0.0%
0.0% Buddhism even 0.0%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%
0.0% Other religions even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +3.9 pts higher in Iama Island gap narrowing
51.6% 65th pct 47.7% 57th pct
Bachelor+ in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +4.2 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
1.5% 4th pct 5.7% 14th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Highest year of school

51.6% Year 12 ◂ +3.9 pts 47.7%
19.5% Year 10 ◂ +3.7 pts 15.7%
11.1% Year 9 or below +7.2 pts ▸ 18.3%
9.5% Year 11 +0.2 pts ▸ 9.6%

Highest qualification level

54.7% Certificate III / IV ◂ +25.1 pts 29.7%
15.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +6.9 pts 8.5%
11.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.7 pts ▸ 14.4%
2.2% Bachelor degree +8.0 pts ▸ 10.2%
0.0% Postgraduate degree even 0.0%
0.0% Graduate diploma / certificate even 0.0%

Field of qualification

21.9% Management & commerce ◂ +11.7 pts 10.2%
15.3% Engineering & related ◂ +11.1 pts 4.2%
13.9% Society & culture ◂ +5.4 pts 8.5%
7.3% Education +3.7 pts ▸ 11.0%
8.8% Architecture & building ◂ +1.1 pts 7.6%
6.6% Health +1.1 pts ▸ 7.6%
4.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%
3.6% Creative arts ◂ +3.6 pts 0.0%
0.0% Natural & physical sciences even 0.0%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%
0.0% Agriculture & environment even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +$59 higher in Saibai Island gap widening
$346 0th pct $405 4th pct
Household income in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +$37 higher in Saibai Island gap steady
$885 9th pct $922 10th pct
Family income in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +$7 higher in Iama Island gap narrowing
$819 2nd pct $812 1st pct
High earners in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +1.9 pts higher in Saibai Island gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 1.9% 20th pct
High-income homes in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +4.5 pts higher in Iama Island gap widening
4.5% 14th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Household income distribution

46.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.8 pts 45.5%
35.8% Under $650 ◂ +11.1 pts 24.7%
29.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +19.5 pts 10.4%
4.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.5 pts 0.0%
0.0% $4,000 or more even 0.0%

Personal income distribution

70.9% Under $650 ◂ +3.0 pts 67.9%
20.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.3 pts 19.1%
2.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.6 pts 1.9%
0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +5.8 pts higher in Iama Island
19.6% 13th pct 13.8% 6th pct
Mental health in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +0.9 pts higher in Saibai Island
0.0% 0th pct 0.9% 5th pct
Needs assistance in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +6.2 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
0.0% 0th pct 6.2% 67th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

12.0% Diabetes ◂ +2.3 pts 9.7%
6.9% Heart disease ◂ +6.9 pts 0.0%
5.5% Asthma ◂ +1.3 pts 4.1%
1.8% Other condition +0.8 pts ▸ 2.6%
1.8% Arthritis ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%
0.0% Cancer +1.8 pts ▸ 1.8%
1.1% Lung condition ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Mental health +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.0% Dementia even 0.0%
0.0% Stroke even 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

72.4% None ◂ +3.2 pts 69.1%
17.5% One condition ◂ +4.8 pts 12.6%
0.0% Three or more +1.8 pts ▸ 1.8%
1.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +11.1 pts higher in Saibai Island gap narrowing
13.3% 26th pct 24.4% 74th pct
Unpaid carers in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +7.7 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
6.6% 12th pct 14.4% 67th pct
Unpaid child care in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +20.1 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
22.4% 36th pct 42.6% 96th pct
Defence service in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +1.7 pts higher in Iama Island
8.1% 91st pct 6.4% 88th pct
Housework 15h+ in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +3.5 pts higher in Iama Island gap narrowing
18.4% 20th pct 14.8% 12th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +51 larger in Saibai Island
240 86th pct 291 86th pct
Median age in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +7 yrs older in Iama Island
27 yrs 54th pct 20 yrs 25th pct
Year 12 in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +9.8 pts higher in Iama Island
60.7% 87th pct 50.9% 73rd pct
Unemployment in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +35.9 pts higher in Saibai Island
4.1% 25th pct 40.0% 100th pct
Median income in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +$64 higher in Saibai Island
$346 11th pct $410 18th pct
Household income in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +$11 higher in Saibai Island
$900 14th pct $911 15th pct
Indigenous language in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +6.2 pts higher in Iama Island
98.3% 100th pct 92.1% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +0.3 larger in Saibai Island gap narrowing
3.3 91st pct 3.6 96th pct
One-parent in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +8.6 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
34.2% 100th pct 42.8% 100th pct
Living alone in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +11.4 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
11.9% 11th pct 23.4% 49th pct

Family composition

50.9% Couples with children +1.1 pts ▸ 51.9%
34.2% One-parent families +8.6 pts ▸ 42.8%
14.0% Couples without children ◂ +10.2 pts 3.9%
1.3% Other families ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

Household size

29.9% 2 people ◂ +19.5 pts 10.4%
16.4% 6 or more +9.6 pts ▸ 26.0%
11.9% 1 person +11.4 pts ▸ 23.4%
11.9% 3 people +10.1 pts ▸ 22.1%
14.9% 4 people +0.7 pts ▸ 15.6%
10.4% 5 people ◂ +0.1 pts 10.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +$35 higher in Iama Island gap widening
$150 14th pct $115 8th pct
People / bedroom in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +0.10 higher in Saibai Island gap steady
0.90 86th pct 1.00 89th pct
Renting in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +4.5 pts higher in Saibai Island gap narrowing
95.5% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Owned outright in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Separate houses in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +9.1 pts higher in Iama Island gap narrowing
100.0% 100th pct 90.9% 34th pct
3+ bedrooms in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +2.0 pts higher in Iama Island gap narrowing
85.1% 65th pct 83.1% 60th pct

How homes are owned or rented

95.5% Rented +7.1 pts ▸ 102.6%
7.5% Other tenure ◂ +7.5 pts 0.0%
0.0% Owned outright even 0.0%
0.0% Owned with a mortgage even 0.0%
0.0% Not stated even 0.0%

Types of homes

100.0% Separate house ◂ +9.1 pts 90.9%
0.0% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.8 pts ▸ 7.8%
0.0% Flat or apartment even 0.0%
0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

28.4% 4 bedrooms +19.7 pts ▸ 48.1%
31.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +5.4 pts 26.0%
25.4% 5 or more ◂ +16.3 pts 9.1%
16.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +12.5 pts 3.9%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%
0.0% 1 bedroom even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

101.6% Under $200 ◂ +1.6 pts 100.0%
0.0% $200–$349 even 0.0%
0.0% $350–$549 even 0.0%
0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%
0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +16.7 pts higher in Iama Island gap widening
70.0% 100th pct 53.3% 100th pct
Work from home in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT commute in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT stops in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

53.8% Walked ◂ +16.6 pts 37.2%
26.9% Car (driver) +8.0 pts ▸ 34.9%
7.7% Car (passenger) +8.6 pts ▸ 16.3%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bus even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%
0.0% Worked at home even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

70.0% No vehicle ◂ +16.7 pts 53.3%
28.6% 1 vehicle +0.8 pts ▸ 29.3%
0.0% 2 vehicles +5.3 pts ▸ 5.3%
0.0% 3 vehicles +4.0 pts ▸ 4.0%
0.0% 4 or more even 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +16.0 pts higher in Iama Island gap widening
26.0% 32nd pct 10.0% 4th pct
Recent arrivals in Iama Islandin Saibai Island
— 0.0% 0th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +39.5 pts higher in Saibai Island gap widening
3.6% 51st pct 43.1% 100th pct
Participation in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +14.6 pts higher in Iama Island gap narrowing
42.3% 11th pct 27.8% 0th pct
Full-time in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +1.1 pts higher in Iama Island gap widening
61.5% 67th pct 60.5% 62nd pct

Industries people work in

28.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +7.3 pts 20.9%
23.1% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 23.3%
12.8% Retail trade +5.8 pts ▸ 18.6%
11.5% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.2 pts 9.3%
7.7% Electricity, gas & water ◂ +7.7 pts 0.0%
6.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +6.4 pts 0.0%
3.8% Arts & recreation ◂ +3.8 pts 0.0%
0.0% Mining even 0.0%
0.0% Manufacturing even 0.0%
0.0% Construction even 0.0%
0.0% Wholesale trade even 0.0%
0.0% Accommodation & food even 0.0%

Occupations people work in

25.6% Professionals ◂ +0.1 pts 25.6%
16.7% Community & personal service +1.9 pts ▸ 18.6%
14.1% Managers ◂ +2.5 pts 11.6%
10.3% Sales workers +1.4 pts ▸ 11.6%
9.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +9.0 pts 0.0%
9.0% Labourers ◂ +9.0 pts 0.0%
7.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +7.7 pts 0.0%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 0.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +0.3 higher in Iama Island
1.3 61st pct 1.0 59th pct
Types ≤15 min in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +0.5 more in Iama Island
1.9 65th pct 1.5 62nd pct
15-min city in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Iama Islandin Saibai Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +19.6 pts higher in Iama Island
100.0% 100th pct 80.4% 74th pct
Walk to health in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +66.0 pts higher in Saibai Island
0.0% 0th pct 66.0% 89th pct
Amenities/1k in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +4.5 more in Saibai Island
7.3 35th pct 11.8 46th pct
Intersections/km² in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +9 higher in Iama Island
9 72nd pct 0 34th pct
Mean slope in Iama Islandin Saibai Island +5.3 pts higher in Iama Island
7.7% 68th pct 2.4% 3rd pct

Compare Iama Island with nearby areas

Burrar Islet Warraber Islet Poruma Island Guijar Islet Saibai Island Dauan Island Moa Island Torres Strait

Compare Saibai Island with nearby areas

Dauan Island Torres Strait Boigu Island Iama Island Mabuiag Island Poruma Island Burrar Islet Masig Island

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Iama Island vs Saibai Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL31379/iama-island/vs/SAL32503/saibai-island