# Mount Isa

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: Queensland › Rest of Qld › Mount Isa › 4825 crosses QLD/NT

Area: 69 km²

A shrinking population of 18,317 defines Mount Isa, which has lost about 11% of its residents since 2011. It is a young community where the typical resident is just 31, far younger than the national figure of 38. The town is shaped by a strong mining presence and a significant First Nations community, creating a place with high typical incomes but some gaps in education. It remains a distinct regional hub in Queensland with a workforce that is remarkably active.

## Demographics & Identity

The area has a very young profile, with 23.6% of people under 15 and a typical age of 31. First Nations people make up 21.4% of the population, a figure that has risen 6.5 points since 2011 and is far above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 18,317 | -11.0% since 2011 |
| Median age | 31 yrs | +3.3% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 21.4% | +43.3% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 8.1% | +32.3% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 23.6% | -3.0% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 19.1% | +4.2% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 32.3%, Children (0–14) 23.6%, Older adults (45–64) 22.4%, Youth (15–24) 13.6%, Seniors (65+) 8.1%

**Marital status** — Never married 48.6%, Married 37.1%, Divorced 7.5%, Separated 3.4%, Widowed 3.4%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 16.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 16.5% | +11.7% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 74.1%, New Zealand 4.3%, Philippines 2.7%, England 1.2%, South Africa 1.1%, India 0.8%, China 0.2%, Italy 0.2%, Nepal 0.1%, Vietnam 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 33.4%, English 28.5%, Irish 8.9%, Scottish 7.2%, German 4.4%, Filipino 3.9%, Italian 2.6%, Chinese 1.4%, Dutch 1.1%, Indian 0.9%, Greek 0.3%, Vietnamese 0.2%

## Language

English is the main language for 80.4% of people. Those using another language at home make up 9.8% of the community, which is far below the national average of 22.3%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 9.8% | +31.0% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.7% | +2.4% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 80.4%, Tagalog 1.0%, Mandarin 0.3%, Punjabi 0.3%, Italian 0.2%, Hindi 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Cantonese 0.1%, Arabic 0.1%, Greek 0.1%

## Religion

People with no religion now make up 40.9% of the population, a sharp increase of 21 points since 2011. This is about the same as the Queensland figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 40.9% | +103.4% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 45.7%, No religion 40.9%, Not stated 11.1%, Hinduism 0.6%, Other religions 0.6%, Buddhism 0.6%, Islam 0.4%, Judaism 0.0%

## Education & Qualifications

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with 49.7% of residents completing Year 12. This is well below the national figure, and only 14.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 49.7% | +24.1% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 14.5% | +32.5% since 2011 |
| Schools | 13 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 3.00 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 13 | — |
| School enrolments | 3,623 | — |
| Average school size | 279 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 890 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 49.7%, Year 10 21.4%, Year 9 or below 9.5%, Year 11 7.5%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 39.1%, Bachelor degree 17.5%, Advanced diploma / diploma 9.9%, Postgraduate degree 4.4%, Certificate I / II 2.6%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.6%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 24.7%, Management & commerce 11.7%, Health 9.8%, Society & culture 8.8%, Education 7.8%, Food, hospitality & personal services 4.6%, Architecture & building 4.0%, Natural & physical sciences 1.6%, Agriculture & environment 1.2%, Information technology 1.1%, Creative arts 1.0%

## Income

Household incomes are much higher than usual, with 29.9% of homes earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical family income of $2,652 per week is well above the national figure of $2,120.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $1,158 | +22.0% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $2,236 | +6.4% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,652 | +9.5% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 20.8% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 29.9% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 31.8%, $650–$1,499 17.2%, $3,000–$3,999 15.0%, $4,000 or more 14.8%, Under $650 11.1%

**Personal income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 29.3%, Under $650 28.2%, $650–$1,499 25.9%, $3,000 or more 5.3%

## Health & Disability

Residents report much better health than most areas; only 20.7% have a long-term health condition, compared to 27.7% nationally. Mental health conditions are also much lower than the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 20.7% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 5.5% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 3.3% | +56.0% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Asthma 7.0%, Mental health 5.5%, Other condition 5.3%, Diabetes 4.7%, Arthritis 4.4%, Heart disease 3.0%, Cancer 1.5%, Lung condition 1.2%, Stroke 0.5%, Dementia 0.4%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 66.5%, One condition 14.8%, Two conditions 4.0%, Three or more 1.8%

## Community Participation

Care for children is common, with 29.1% of people providing unpaid childcare. However, providing other types of unpaid care is among the lowest in the region at 7.2%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 13.8% | -15.4% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 7.2% | +12.4% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 29.1% | +0.4% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.8% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 17.5% | -9.5% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people number 3,919, and the community has a high unemployment rate of 16.1%. Year 12 completion is also much lower than most areas at 33.2%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 3,919 | — |
| First Nations median age | 24 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 33.2% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 16.1% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $556 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,549 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 4.8% | — |

## Family & Households

Homes are slightly larger than average with 2.6 people per home. One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 18.9% of households.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.6 | -3.7% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 18.9% | +27.6% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 28.1% | +20.1% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 57.5%, Couples without children 22.2%, One-parent families 18.9%, Other families 1.4%

**Household size** — 2 people 30.8%, 1 person 28.1%, 3 people 14.7%, 4 people 14.3%, 5 people 7.2%, 6 or more 4.9%

## Housing & Dwellings

Renting is far more common than the national average at 45.6%. While typical weekly rents are much lower than usual at $275, very few people own their homes outright.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $275 | +10.0% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,546 | -22.7% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.90 | -25.0% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 45.6% | +4.9% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 16.2% | -10.8% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 75.1% | +0.1% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 71.4% | +3.4% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Rented 45.6%, Owned with a mortgage 30.0%, Owned outright 16.2%, Not stated 4.4%, Other tenure 3.7%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 75.1%, Townhouse / semi-detached 15.9%, Flat or apartment 4.2%, Other dwelling 4.1%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 47.8%, 4 bedrooms 19.4%, 2 bedrooms 16.8%, 1 bedroom 6.9%, 5 or more 4.2%, Studio / none 0.4%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 31.3%, $350–$549 29.4%, Under $200 28.8%, $550–$749 4.9%, $750 or more 0.5%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 41.1%, $1,800–$2,999 27.4%, Under $1,000 17.0%, $3,000 or more 6.8%

## Transport & Vehicles

The town is heavily reliant on cars, as 0.2% of people use public transport to commute. Almost no one works from home, with only 2.0% doing so.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 7.6% | -6.7% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 2.0% | +34.2% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.2% | -57.7% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 0 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 0.00 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 0.0 | — |
| Public transport routes | 0 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 70.5%, Car (passenger) 7.7%, Walked 4.2%, Worked at home 2.0%, Bicycle 0.8%, Bus 0.2%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 39.1%, 1 vehicle 34.1%, 3 vehicles 12.6%, No vehicle 7.6%, 4 or more 6.5%

## Migration & Movement

The population is quite mobile, with 43.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 18.5% of the community, which is well above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 43.5% | -6.7% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 18.5% | -44.3% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Mining is a major employer for 30.5% of the workforce. Employment rates are very high, with 73.2% of people working full-time, far above the national figure of 58.9%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | -2.5% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 68.5% | +2.2% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 73.2% | -4.2% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Mining 30.5%, Health care & social assistance 12.6%, Education & training 8.4%, Retail trade 7.5%, Public administration & safety 6.8%, Accommodation & food 6.0%, Construction 4.2%, Other services 4.0%, Transport & warehousing 3.3%, Manufacturing 2.9%, Administrative & support 2.7%, Wholesale trade 2.0%, Professional & technical 1.6%, Rental & real estate 1.1%, Electricity, gas & water 0.9%, Finance & insurance 0.5%, Media & telecommunications 0.4%, Arts & recreation 0.4%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.3%

**Occupations people work in** — Technicians & trades 21.0%, Professionals 17.3%, Machinery operators & drivers 15.3%, Clerical & administrative 11.0%, Community & personal service 10.2%, Labourers 8.9%, Managers 7.6%, Sales workers 6.5%

## Economy & Advantage

The area has a low overall advantage score of 956 and has seen a population decline of 3.4% since 2021, which is far below the state growth rate.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 4 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 4 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 2 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 3 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 956 | — |
| Population estimate | 18,162 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | -3.4% | — |
| Businesses | 978 | — |

## Environment & Climate

The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees and relatively low annual rainfall of 459mm.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 459 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 33.5 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 18.6 | — |

## Walkability

Most residents are car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 2.7. While most people can walk to a park or school, very few have easy walking access to groceries or health services.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 2.7 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 3.0 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 23.7% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 26.5% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 82.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 92.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 22.4% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 5.6 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 27 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 3.8% | — |

## Schools serving Mount Isa

13 schools, 3,623 students, average ICSEA 890.

By sector: Government 9, Catholic 4

By type: Primary 8, Secondary 3, Combined 2

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mount Isa Flexible School | Catholic | Secondary | 0.7 km | 53 |
| Sunset State School | Government | Primary | 0.9 km | 257 |
| Mount Isa School of the Air | Government | Combined | 1.0 km | 175 |
| St Kieran's Catholic School | Catholic | Primary | 1.1 km | 140 |
| Mount Isa Special School | Government | Combined | 1.1 km | 35 |
| Townview State School | Government | Primary | 2.3 km | 209 |
| Good Shepherd Catholic College | Catholic | Secondary | 2.4 km | 434 |
| Mount Isa Central State School | Government | Primary | 2.7 km | 211 |
| Barkly Highway State School | Government | Primary | 3.0 km | 266 |
| Healy State School | Government | Primary | 3.4 km | 217 |

## Nearby areas

[Mount Isa Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315021406/mount-isa-surrounds) · [Carpentaria](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315021404/carpentaria) · [Northern Highlands](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315021407/northern-highlands) · [Far Central West](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315031410/far-central-west) · [Barkly](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/702021055/barkly) · [Croydon - Etheridge](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315011397/croydon-etheridge) · [Sandover - Plenty](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/702011052/sandover-plenty) · [Longreach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315031412/longreach)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/315021405/mount-isa