Council (LGA) · Area profile
West Coast
9,584 km²
A typical resident of West Coast is 47, making this a noticeably older community than most other parts of Australia. The population has shrunk by about 9% since 2011, and the area is now marked by a high number of people living alone. It is a place where many residents own their homes outright and a significant proportion of the workforce is employed in mining. This creates a distinctive rural character with a population that is aging faster than the national average.
West Coast is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The area has a higher proportion of First Nations people than most other regions, at 8.1%. While the population is aging, with 20.9% of people aged 65 or over, there are far fewer children under 15 than usual.
Most residents have Australian or English ancestry, and 11% were born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, though the number of overseas-born residents has risen slightly since 2011.
English is the primary language for 85.9% of the community. Only 3.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average.
About 45.3% of residents have no religion, which is well above the national figure. This trend has grown significantly, rising by 19 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 9.3% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Just 29.4% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.
Incomes are among the lowest in the country, with a typical household earning $958 a week. This is far below the national figure of $1,746.
The community faces significant health challenges, with 34.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This includes high rates of arthritis and mental health conditions, and 9.2% of people need help with daily activities.
More people provide unpaid care here than in most other areas, at 13.1%. However, fewer people are caring for children compared to the state and national averages.
The First Nations community is older than the national average, with a typical age of 31. While the unemployment rate for First Nations people is much lower than most areas at 6.4%, Year 12 completion is far below the national figure.
Many people live alone here—42.6% of households—which is far above the national average of 25.6%. Because of this, there are fewer people per home than usual.
Housing is dominated by separate houses and high rates of outright ownership at 45.2%. Rent and mortgage payments are much lower than the national figures, with typical weekly rent at just $160.
Cars are the primary way to get around, and 63.7% of workers drive to work. Very few people use public transport, with only 0.3% commuting by it.
About 36.2% of the population moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 11.3% of the community, which is well below the national average.
The local economy relies heavily on mining, which employs 22% of the workforce. However, the unemployment rate is 9.6%, which is well above both the state and national figures.
The region ranks among the most disadvantaged in the country, with a very low overall advantage score. Population growth has also been negative since 2021.
This is a very wet region, with an average annual rainfall of 2,920mm, which is far above the Tasmanian average.
Despite the rural setting, many homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and parks, making it more walkable than many other Tasmanian areas.