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Mer Island vs Ugar Island

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 72 km apart · Mer Island profile · Ugar Island profile

Mer Island Ugar Island

Mer Island and Ugar Island are two small, remote areas in the Torres Strait. Ugar Island is sparsely populated, with just 69 residents, and has a much higher share of one-parent families at 62.0% compared to 16.5% on Mer Island. There are also stark differences in daily life: 35.7% of people on Ugar Island do at least 15 hours of unpaid housework weekly, while only 2.6% do so on Mer Island. Additionally, volunteering is far more common on Ugar Island, where 28.6% of residents volunteer, compared to 6.6% on Mer Island.

These two areas share a very strong First Nations identity, with over 90% of the population in both being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. They are also very similar in their lack of public transport and typical family incomes. While they share many traits, a gap is widening in how they access local amenities; for example, 100% of homes on Ugar Island are within a 15-minute walk of a park, whereas no homes on Mer Island have this access.

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Where they differ most

Housework 15h+: 33.1 pts higher in Ugar Island One-parent: 45.5 pts higher in Ugar Island Volunteering: 22.0 pts higher in Ugar Island Population: 337 larger in Mer Island Unpaid carers: 5.8 pts higher in Ugar Island

Demographics & Identity

Population in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +337 larger in Mer Island gap steady
406 62nd pct 69 33rd pct
Median age in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +2 yrs older in Ugar Island gap narrowing
27 yrs 0th pct 29 yrs 4th pct
First Nations in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +0.7 pts higher in Ugar Island gap steady
90.6% 100th pct 91.3% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +2.9 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
10.1% 16th pct 7.2% 11th pct
Under 15 in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +9.9 pts higher in Ugar Island gap narrowing
26.4% 90th pct 36.2% 100th pct
De facto in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +7.3 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
36.8% 100th pct 29.4% 100th pct

Age structure

26.4% Children (0–14) +9.9 pts ▸ 36.2%
25.6% Young adults (25–44) +7.7 pts ▸ 33.3%
21.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +16.8 pts 4.3%
20.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +20.4 pts 0.0%
10.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.9 pts 7.2%

Marital status

74.7% Never married +1.5 pts ▸ 76.2%
17.1% Married ◂ +2.8 pts 14.3%
4.9% Widowed +7.0 pts ▸ 11.9%
3.0% Separated ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%
1.0% Divorced ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

Age & sex structure

Mer Island Ugar Island

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +1.5 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
1.5% 7th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Country of birth

92.6% Australia +1.6 pts ▸ 94.2%
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

1.2% Australian ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%
0.7% Scottish ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%
0.0% English even 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 Mer Islandin Ugar Island +1.9 pts higher in Ugar Island gap steady
87.9% 100th pct 89.9% 100th pct
Limited English in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +10.7 pts higher in Ugar Island gap widening
21.2% 100th pct 31.9% 100th pct

Language used at home

6.4% English only ◂ +6.4 pts 0.0%
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 Mer Islandin Ugar Island +5.8 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
10.1% 0th pct 4.3% 0th pct

Religious affiliation

84.7% Christianity ◂ +6.5 pts 78.3%
5.4% Not stated +10.5 pts ▸ 15.9%
10.1% No religion ◂ +5.8 pts 4.3%
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 Mer Islandin Ugar Island +4.3 pts higher in Ugar Island gap narrowing
40.7% 38th pct 45.0% 50th pct
Bachelor+ in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +4.9 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
4.9% 12th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Highest year of school

40.7% Year 12 +4.3 pts ▸ 45.0%
14.9% Year 9 or below +10.1 pts ▸ 25.0%
20.7% Year 10 ◂ +8.2 pts 12.5%
14.6% Year 11 ◂ +4.6 pts 10.0%

Highest qualification level

43.9% Certificate III / IV +12.3 pts ▸ 56.3%
7.3% Certificate I / II +11.4 pts ▸ 18.8%
8.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +8.1 pts 0.0%
7.3% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +7.3 pts 0.0%
4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +4.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Postgraduate degree even 0.0%

Field of qualification

10.6% Engineering & related +26.9 pts ▸ 37.5%
15.4% Management & commerce +15.8 pts ▸ 31.3%
13.0% Education +5.7 pts ▸ 18.8%
8.1% Architecture & building ◂ +8.1 pts 0.0%
7.3% Society & culture ◂ +7.3 pts 0.0%
6.5% Health ◂ +6.5 pts 0.0%
6.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +6.5 pts 0.0%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +4.9 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 Mer Islandin Ugar Island +$167 higher in Ugar Island gap widening
$351 0th pct $518 14th pct
Household income in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +$362 higher in Mer Island gap widening
$1,262 29th pct $900 10th pct
Family income in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +$43 higher in Ugar Island gap narrowing
$906 4th pct $949 5th pct
High earners in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +2.0 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
2.0% 20th pct 0.0% 0th pct
High-income homes in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
0.0% 0th pct —

Household income distribution

35.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +35.6 pts 0.0%
31.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +14.4 pts 16.7%
18.4% Under $650 ◂ +18.4 pts 0.0%
0.0% $3,000–$3,999 even 0.0%
0.0% $4,000 or more even 0.0%

Personal income distribution

75.3% Under $650 ◂ +18.2 pts 57.1%
13.5% $650–$1,499 +5.6 pts ▸ 19.0%
3.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%
0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +1.6 pts higher in Mer Island
19.0% 12th pct 17.4% 10th pct
Mental health in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +1.2 pts higher in Mer Island
1.2% 7th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Needs assistance in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +2.6 pts higher in Ugar Island gap narrowing
4.7% 51st pct 7.2% 76th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

12.1% Diabetes ◂ +6.3 pts 5.8%
3.9% Asthma +0.4 pts ▸ 4.3%
3.9% Arthritis ◂ +3.9 pts 0.0%
3.0% Other condition ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%
2.5% Heart disease ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%
1.2% Mental health ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%
0.0% Cancer even 0.0%
0.0% Dementia even 0.0%
0.0% Lung condition even 0.0%
0.0% Stroke even 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

74.1% None +7.0 pts ▸ 81.2%
15.8% One condition +1.6 pts ▸ 17.4%
3.9% Two conditions ◂ +3.9 pts 0.0%
0.0% Three or more even 0.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +22.0 pts higher in Ugar Island gap steady
6.6% 7th pct 28.6% 83rd pct
Unpaid carers in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +5.8 pts higher in Ugar Island gap steady
10.9% 31st pct 16.7% 82nd pct
Unpaid child care in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +4.6 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
26.0% 54th pct 21.4% 32nd pct
Defence service in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +7.5 pts higher in Mer Island
7.5% 90th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Housework 15h+ in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +33.1 pts higher in Ugar Island gap widening
2.6% 0th pct 35.7% 90th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +305 larger in Mer Island
368 86th pct 63 80th pct
Median age in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +3 yrs older in Ugar Island
27 yrs 54th pct 30 yrs 63rd pct
Year 12 in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +2.1 pts higher in Mer Island
42.1% 55th pct 40.0% 50th pct
Unemployment in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
8.9% 43rd pct —
Median income in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +$171 higher in Ugar Island
$347 11th pct $518 35th pct
Household income in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +$362 higher in Mer Island
$1,262 29th pct $900 14th pct
Indigenous language in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +5.2 pts higher in Ugar Island
94.8% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +0.5 larger in Mer Island gap narrowing
3.9 100th pct 3.4 93rd pct
One-parent in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +45.5 pts higher in Ugar Island gap widening
16.5% 77th pct 62.0% 100th pct
Living alone in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
16.1% 23rd pct —

Family composition

63.9% Couples with children ◂ +35.9 pts 28.0%
16.5% One-parent families +45.5 pts ▸ 62.0%
15.0% Couples without children ◂ +1.0 pts 14.0%
2.4% Other families ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%

Household size

10.3% 3 people +23.0 pts ▸ 33.3%
27.6% 6 or more +5.7 pts ▸ 33.3%
16.1% 1 person +6.1 pts ▸ 22.2%
17.2% 2 people ◂ +17.2 pts 0.0%
5.7% 4 people +10.9 pts ▸ 16.7%
9.2% 5 people ◂ +9.2 pts 0.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +$31 higher in Mer Island gap steady
$150 14th pct $119 9th pct
Mortgage in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
$1,084 18th pct —
People / bedroom in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +0.20 higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
1.10 93rd pct 0.90 86th pct
Renting in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
92.0% 100th pct —
Owned outright in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
0.0% 0th pct —
Separate houses in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
92.0% 37th pct —
3+ bedrooms in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
83.9% 62nd pct —

How homes are owned or rented

92.0% Rented +8.0 pts ▸ 100.0%
6.9% Other tenure ◂ +6.9 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

92.0% Separate house +8.0 pts ▸ 100.0%
0.0% Townhouse / semi-detached even 0.0%
0.0% Flat or apartment even 0.0%
0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

20.7% 3 bedrooms +34.9 pts ▸ 55.6%
37.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +37.9 pts 0.0%
25.3% 5 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 22.2%
12.6% 2 bedrooms +4.0 pts ▸ 16.7%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%
0.0% 1 bedroom even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

92.5% Under $200 ◂ +3.6 pts 88.9%
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 Mer Islandin Ugar Island
48.2% 100th pct —
Work from home in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
0.0% 0th pct —
PT commute in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
9.9% 100th pct —
PT stops in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

30.8% Walked +51.6 pts ▸ 82.4%
31.9% Car (driver) ◂ +31.9 pts 0.0%
23.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +23.1 pts 0.0%
9.9% Bus ◂ +9.9 pts 0.0%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%
0.0% Worked at home even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

48.2% No vehicle +1.8 pts ▸ 50.0%
41.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.1 pts 38.9%
0.0% 3 vehicles +16.7 pts ▸ 16.7%
14.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +14.5 pts 0.0%
0.0% 4 or more even 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +1.8 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
22.8% 23rd pct 21.1% 18th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Mer Islandin Ugar Island gap narrowing
7.9% 87th pct —
Participation in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +4.9 pts higher in Ugar Island gap widening
33.2% 4th pct 38.1% 8th pct
Full-time in Mer Islandin Ugar Island
47.3% 11th pct —

Industries people work in

41.8% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.6 pts 41.2%
16.5% Education & training ◂ +16.5 pts 0.0%
14.3% Retail trade ◂ +14.3 pts 0.0%
7.7% Administrative & support ◂ +7.7 pts 0.0%
6.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +6.6 pts 0.0%
5.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.5 pts 0.0%
4.4% Construction ◂ +4.4 pts 0.0%
3.3% Electricity, gas & water ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%
0.0% Mining even 0.0%
0.0% Manufacturing even 0.0%
0.0% Wholesale trade even 0.0%
0.0% Accommodation & food even 0.0%

Occupations people work in

24.2% Professionals ◂ +6.5 pts 17.6%
7.7% Managers +10.0 pts ▸ 17.6%
16.5% Community & personal service ◂ +16.5 pts 0.0%
16.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +16.5 pts 0.0%
16.5% Labourers ◂ +16.5 pts 0.0%
11.0% Technicians & trades ◂ +11.0 pts 0.0%
8.8% Sales workers ◂ +8.8 pts 0.0%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 0.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +1.1 higher in Ugar Island
0.0 0th pct 1.1 59th pct
Types ≤15 min in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +1.0 more in Ugar Island
0.0 0th pct 1.0 59th pct
15-min city in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +100.0 pts higher in Ugar Island
0.0% 0th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Walk to health in Mer Islandin Ugar Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +19.1 more in Ugar Island
9.9 41st pct 29.0 72nd pct
Intersections/km² in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +9 higher in Ugar Island
7 72nd pct 17 73rd pct
Mean slope in Mer Islandin Ugar Island +5.7 pts higher in Mer Island
11.1% 86th pct 5.4% 47th pct

Compare Mer Island with nearby areas

Waua Islet Dowar Islet Erub Island Ugar Island Masig Island Poruma Island Burrar Islet Warraber Islet

Compare Ugar Island with nearby areas

Erub Island Masig Island Dowar Islet Mer Island Waua Islet Poruma Island Iama Island Saibai Island

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Mer Island vs Ugar Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL31806/mer-island/vs/SAL32893/ugar-island