CensusAtlas

Indicator

One-parent families

Share of people who live in one-parent families.

Australia over time

14.1% in 2021 ▼ -0.2%

Explore on the map

See how one-parent 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 one-parent (2021 Census).

  1. Yarrabah 42.6%
  2. Bridgewater - Gagebrook 39.4%
  3. Palm Island 38.7%
  4. Halls Creek 36.8%
  5. Jervis Bay 36.8%
  6. Ravenswood 36.6%

Related indicators

Average household size View → People living alone View →

Frequently asked questions

What is One-parent families in Australia?

At the 2021 Census, One-parent families across Australia was 14.1%. It is expressed as a percentage of the relevant group.

How is One-parent families measured?

Share of people who live in one-parent families. 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 One-parent families vary across Australia?

Across the 2,354 SA2 areas with data, One-parent families ranges from 0.0% to 42.6%, with a typical (median) area at 13.2%. Most areas cluster toward the lower end, with a smaller number of much higher areas stretching the range.

Can One-parent families be compared across censuses?

Yes — One-parent families is measured consistently enough to compare across the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, so the trend over time is meaningful. Nationally it has fallen from 14.2% in 2011 to 14.1% in 2021.

Where can I see One-parent families for my area?

Use the interactive map to compare One-parent families 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). One-parent families [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/indicator/share-one-parent