Murray and Mallee

The population is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with a quarter of residents aged 65 or over. This trend has accelerated since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 2.6 percentage points.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, making up nearly 80% of the population.

English is the primary language for 85% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home is far below both the state and national figures.

A large number of residents report no religion, a figure that has risen by 20 percentage points since 2011. This is now a more common status than Christianity, though both remain the dominant groups.

Education levels are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 9% of adults holding a bachelor degree. While Year 12 completion rose by 8.1 percentage points since 2011, it remains far below the national figure.

Typical incomes are well below the state and national averages, and the area has some of the lowest rates of high-earning households. However, typical weekly household income rose by $300 since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 34.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities are also among the highest in the region.

Volunteering is much more common here than elsewhere in Australia, though this fell by 4.9 percentage points since 2011. Unpaid care for others is also more frequent than the national average.

The First Nations community is larger than in 76% of similar areas, with a typical age of 24. However, they face higher unemployment and lower school completion rates than the wider population.

Living alone is much more common here than in most areas, with 31.8% of households consisting of one person. This is consistent with the older age profile of the region.

Separate houses are far more common here than across Australia, and 38.4% of homes are owned outright. Rents are also much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $220.

The region is heavily reliant on cars, with a very low 0.8% of people commuting by public transport. The drive time to the city is much higher than in most similar areas.

Residents are less likely to have moved in the last five years compared to most of the country. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.7% of the population, a figure that has fallen slightly since 2011.

Agriculture is a major employer, accounting for 18.9% of jobs. The proportion of adults working or looking for work is much lower than the state and national averages.

The population grew by 2.6% since 2021, which is a much lower growth rate than the South Australian average of 5.6%.

The area is among the lowest for annual rainfall in its group, though it is far wetter than the state average. Minimum temperatures are also well below the state figure.

The region is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.