Region (SA4) · Area profile
Riverina
56,985 km²
Far fewer people were born overseas in Riverina than in the rest of New South Wales, with only 11.7% born abroad. This is a large regional area where detached houses are the norm and the typical resident is 39. It has a notable First Nations presence and a strong tradition of volunteering. While the population is growing, it remains a place where family homes are large and the pace of life is tied to a high rate of full-time employment.
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The area has a significant First Nations population at 6.6%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. It also has a higher proportion of seniors than most areas, with the number of people aged 65 and over rising to 19.2% since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia (81.0%), and the region has a much lower share of overseas-born people than the state average. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 83.0% of the community. While the use of other languages at home has risen to 9.6%, this is still far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.
Christianity remains the most common religion at 59.4%. The number of people reporting no religion has grown significantly since 2011, though at 27.4% it is still far below the national figure.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 15.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose to 41.8% between 2011 and 2021.
Typical household incomes are a little below the national figure, and only 15.6% of homes earn $3,000 or more a week. These figures have risen since 2011, with the typical family now earning $1,898 weekly.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.1% of people. Asthma and arthritis are the most frequently reported conditions.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, though the rate fell from 22.7% in 2011 to 17.5% in 2021. The region also has a higher-than-average number of former Defence Force members.
The First Nations community is relatively young, with a typical age of 22. While unemployment for this group is 10.7%, Year 12 completion is well below the national average at 29.0%.
Homes tend to be larger than usual, and more people live alone (28.0%) compared to the state average. Over half of all households are couples with children.
Detached houses are very common, making up 88.1% of all dwellings. This preference for larger homes is reflected in the fact that 79.9% of houses have three or more bedrooms, and typical rents are much lower than the state average.
Cars are essential for travel, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. Working from home is also far less common here than across Australia.
While fewer people have moved house in the last five years compared to the state, there has been a far higher number of recent arrivals from overseas, now accounting for 26.3% of the population.
Full-time employment is much higher than the national average at 63.1%, and the unemployment rate is among the lowest at this level. People mostly work in health care, agriculture, and manufacturing.
The population is growing slowly, with an increase of 1.3% since 2021, which is well below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.
The region experiences low rainfall and cool minimum temperatures, with an average minimum of 9.0 degrees, which is a little below the state average.
Daily amenities are harder to reach on foot, as only 42.6% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. This contributes to a walkability score that is well below the state average.