5,534 ▼ -18.9%
Lower than 74% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 6,823
- 2016: 6,412
- 2021: 5,534
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Walgett - Lightning Ridge · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
Demographics & Identity in Walgett - Lightning Ridge
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
A shrinking and ageing population defines the current landscape of Walgett - Lightning Ridge. The area has lost nearly a fifth of its people since 2011, and the typical resident is now 44, which is noticeably older than the national figure. This shift is driven by a growing number of seniors and a steady decline in total residents.
5,534
▼ -18.9%
- 1–1: 40 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 12 areas
- 4–6: 6 areas
- 6–9: 9 areas
- 9–13: 10 areas
- 13–19: 7 areas
- 19–27: 17 areas
- 27–39: 6 areas
- 39–56: 5 areas
- 56–81: 4 areas
- 81–116: 1 area
- 116–168: 5 areas
- 168–242: 3 areas
- 242–349: 4 areas
- 349–503: 2 areas
- 503–725: 9 areas
- 725–1,045: 3 areas
- 1,045–1,506: 5 areas
- 1,506–2,171: 31 areas
- 2,171–3,130: 83 areas
- 3,130–4,513: 217 areas
- 4,513–6,507: 318 areas
- 6,507–9,382: 402 areas
- 9,382–13,526: 546 areas
- 13,526–19,501: 496 areas
- 19,501–28,116: 231 areas
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Walgett - Lightning Ridge — lower than 74% of areas.
| Walgett - Lightning Ridge | 5,534 |
|---|---|
| 2832, NSW | 2,149 |
| New South Wales | 8,072,163 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population shrank by 19% between 2011 and 2021, falling from 6,823 to 5,534 people. This decline is reflected in the typical age of residents, which rose by 3 years over the decade to 44.
44 yrs ▲ +7.3%
Older than 75% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 41 yrs
- 2016: 42 yrs
- 2021: 44 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
Seniors aged 65 and over make up 21.7% of the population, a figure well above the national average. While children under 15 represent 18.5%—about the same as across Australia—their share of the population has fallen by 2.8 points since 2011.
21.7% ▲ +34.6%
Higher than 74% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 16.1%
- 2016: 18.8%
- 2021: 21.7%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
18.5% ▼ -13.0%
Higher than 58% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 21.3%
- 2016: 20.1%
- 2021: 18.5%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →In Walgett - Lightning Ridge, the largest group is Older adults (45–64) at 28%, followed by Young adults (25–44) (22%) and Seniors (65+) (22%).
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
Indigenous identity is very strong here, with 22.6% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is far above the New South Wales average. Additionally, people in de facto relationships make up 14.8% of the area, a rate well above the national figure.
22.6% ▼ -23.8%
Higher than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 29.7%
- 2016: 31.1%
- 2021: 22.6%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
14.8% ▲ +0.5%
Higher than 79% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 14.8%
- 2016: 15.5%
- 2021: 14.8%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →In Walgett - Lightning Ridge, the largest group is Never married at 42%, followed by Married (35%) and Divorced (11%).
Age & sex structure
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Walgett - Lightning Ridge
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Demographics & Identity in Walgett - Lightning Ridge [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/105011096/walgett-lightning-ridge/topic/demographics-identity