Far South West

The population is noticeably older than the state and national average, with the typical resident aged 42. While children under 15 make up 20.5% of the community, the number of seniors has risen to 17.8% since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 5.3% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common following Australian.

English is the primary language for 91.4% of the community. Only 2.5% of people use another language at home, and very few speak little or no English, both of which are far below national levels.

Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 58.8%. The proportion of people reporting no religion has risen significantly by 20 points since 2011 to reach 32.8%.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 39.4% of residents completing Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 9.7%, far below the national figure of 26.3%.

Typical weekly household incomes are among the lowest at this level at $1,110, well below the national figure of $1,746. However, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose 7 points since 2011.

A higher than average 31.3% of residents live with a long-term health condition, with asthma and arthritis being the most common. Mental health conditions are reported by 7.3% of people, which is lower than most areas.

Volunteering is very common here, with 26.5% of people helping out, a figure far above the national average. Conversely, rates of unpaid childcare and housework are lower than in most other areas.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, though they face challenges with a typical household income of $890, far below the state average. The median age for First Nations residents is 27, which is noticeably older than the state and national figures.

A high 36.5% of people live alone, far above the national average. Family sizes are slightly smaller than usual, with a typical 2.3 people per home.

Home ownership is strong, with 40.1% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Rent is very low here, with a typical weekly payment of $130, and 88.6% of dwellings are separate houses.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes available. About 9.6% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is higher than in most areas.

Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.7% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure. About 36.4% of residents moved in the last five years, a figure that fell slightly since 2011.

Full-time employment is very high at 72.0%, far above the national average. Work is concentrated in agriculture, forestry and fishing, as well as public administration and safety.

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged, with an overall advantage score of 913. Population growth since 2021 has been very low at 1.5%, well below the state figure.

The region is quite dry, with average annual rainfall of 265mm, well below the Queensland average. Minimum temperatures are much higher than in most other areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.6. While there are no public transport options within walking distance, residents have better access to health services than people in other parts of the state.