Federal Electorate · Area profile
Canberra
312 km²
Spanning 311.9 square kilometres, Canberra is a highly educated and affluent hub of the Australian Capital Territory. The community is noticeably younger than the national average, with a typical resident aged 35. It is a place of high professional achievement and significant mobility, where many residents have moved in recently or arrived from overseas. This creates a distinct urban character defined by high incomes and a strong preference for secularism.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The typical resident is 35, making the area noticeably younger than the national figure. However, the population of children under 15 has fallen 4.4 points since 2011 and is now well below the national average of 18.2%.
About 28.6% of residents were born overseas, a figure that has risen 2.4 points since 2011. English is the most common ancestry at 33.6%, followed by Australian at 30.4%.
Language diversity is relatively high, with 22.0% of people using another language at home. English remains dominant at 72.7%, while Mandarin is the most common other language at 3.8%.
A majority of residents (50.7%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average of 38.9% and has risen 20 points since 2011.
This is an exceptionally well-qualified community where 52.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure of 26.3%. This high level of education is reflected in the 81.9% of residents who completed Year 12.
Incomes are very high, with 38.9% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, far above the national figure of 22.6%. The typical weekly family income of $3,220 is also well above the national average.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 10.3% of the population. Conversely, only 4.4% of people need help with daily activities, which is lower than most areas.
Volunteering is very common, with 22.9% of people pitching in, well above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a strong connection to the Defence Force, with 6.8% of residents having served.
Living arrangements are distinct, as 31.2% of people live alone, which is well above the national average. Consequently, homes are smaller, with a typical 2.3 people per home.
Renting is much more common here than elsewhere, with 38.0% of households renting. Typical weekly rents are $475, which is well above the national figure of $375.
Public transport use is higher than most areas, and 8.1% of homes have no motor vehicle. While 12.3% of people work from home, this is well below the national figure of 21.0%.
The area is highly transient; 53.1% of people moved house in the last five years, far above the national figure of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a significant 20.6% of the population.
Employment is strong, with 68.4% of adults working or looking for work and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. Public administration and safety is the largest industry, employing 32.8% of the workforce.
The area is very walkable, with a score of 7.8. Most residents have easy access to essentials, including 91.1% who live within a 15-minute walk of groceries.