CensusAtlas

Indicator

People who served in the Defence Force

Share of people aged 15+ who have ever served in the Australian Defence Force (currently or previously).

Australia over time

2.8% in 2021

Not directly comparable across censuses — shown per year only.

Explore on the map

See how defence service varies across Australia.

By block (sa1) By statistical area 2 (sa2) By postcode By council (lga) By sub-region (sa3) By region (sa4) By capital city By state / territory By australia By suburb / locality By urban area By urban centre By federal electorate By state electorate By section of state By section of state range By remoteness area

Highest areas

SA2 areas with the highest defence service (2021 Census).

  1. Duntroon 72.6%
  2. Majura 25.6%
  3. Seymour Surrounds 18.1%
  4. Alps - West 16.7%
  5. Lyons (NT) 15.7%
  6. Annandale (Qld) 15.7%

Related indicators

Volunteers View → People providing unpaid care View → People caring for children unpaid View → People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework View →

Frequently asked questions

What is People who served in the Defence Force in Australia?

At the 2021 Census, People who served in the Defence Force across Australia was 2.8%. It is expressed as a percentage of the relevant group.

How is People who served in the Defence Force measured?

Share of people aged 15+ who have ever served in the Australian Defence Force (currently or previously). It is calculated as a percentage of the relevant population or dwellings, so it can be compared fairly between large and small areas.

How does People who served in the Defence Force vary across Australia?

Across the 2,379 SA2 areas with data, People who served in the Defence Force ranges from 0.0% to 72.6%, with a typical (median) area at 2.8%. Most areas cluster toward the lower end, with a smaller number of much higher areas stretching the range.

Can People who served in the Defence Force be compared across censuses?

Not directly — definitions or boundaries changed between censuses, so year-to-year changes in People who served in the Defence Force should be read with caution.

Where can I see People who served in the Defence Force for my area?

Use the interactive map to compare People who served in the Defence Force down to block (sa1) and statistical area 2 (sa2) level, or search any suburb, postcode or council area to see its value in context against state and national figures.

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). People who served in the Defence Force [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/indicator/share-adf-service