Central Darling

The community is older than the state and national average, with a typical age of 42 and a growing number of seniors. While children under 15 make up 17.8% of the population, the area has a much higher rate of de facto relationships than most other regions.

Born-overseas residents make up just 3.7% of the population, a figure far below the national average. Most people identify with Australian or English ancestry, and the number of people born overseas has fallen since 2011.

English is the dominant language here, with only 1.6% of people using another language at home. This is far below the state and national figures, and the trend has continued to decline over the last decade.

Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 41.5%, though the number of people reporting no religion has risen by 19 points since 2011 to reach 36%.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 23.3% of residents completing Year 12. Only 8.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure.

Incomes are among the lowest in the region, with a typical weekly household income of $988. Very few households earn $3,000 or more a week, though typical personal and family incomes have all risen slightly since 2011.

The area reports fewer long-term health conditions and mental health issues than most other regions. Only 4.1% of people need help with daily activities, which is a little below the national average.

Volunteerism is lower than in most areas, and there has been a significant drop in the number of people providing unpaid childcare or housework since 2011.

First Nations people are a central part of the community, though they face significant hardship with a typical household income of $907 and an unemployment rate of 15.7%, which is well above the national figure.

The area has a very high number of people living alone (39.9%) and a far higher rate of one-parent families than the state average. Typical home sizes are slightly smaller than the national average.

Renting is much more common here than in most areas, though 38.4% of homes are owned outright. Rents are very low, with a typical weekly cost of $153, and most people live in separate houses.

Residents are heavily reliant on cars, as 0.0% of people commute by public transport. However, 15.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national average.

The population is very stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the rest of the country. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen sharply since 2011.

Full-time employment is far above the state average, yet the overall number of adults working or looking for work is among the lowest at this level. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries.

The region is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the country, scoring 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. Population growth has been very low, barely reaching 0.9% since 2021.

The environment is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 27.3°C and annual rainfall of 315mm, both of which are far below or above the state averages.

The area has some of the highest recorded offence rates at this level, particularly for assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft, although the overall crime rate fell by 13.7% over five years.

The region is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Many homes are far from groceries, health services, and public transport.