Region (SA4) · Area profile
Western Australia - Outback (North)
926,023 km²
High weekly incomes and a strong mining presence define Western Australia - Outback (North). This is a young community where the typical resident is just 33, far younger than the national figure. It is a place of contrasts, where high-earning professionals live alongside a large First Nations population. The region's character is shaped by a mobile workforce and a landscape of vast distances, resulting in a community that is largely dependent on cars.
Despite high local incomes, the area's schools serve a less advantaged intake.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 24.9% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. This helps explain why the area is so young, with children under 15 making up 23.3% of the community.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 16.6% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the main language, though 16.7% of people use another language at home, a figure that is a little below the state average.
People with no religion make up 42.1% of the community, which is well above the national figure and has risen by 9.0 percentage points since 2016.
Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 43.4% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Weekly incomes are very high, with the typical family earning $2,795, which is well above the national figure of $2,120. This is consistent with the high number of full-time workers and the prevalence of mining jobs.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most of the country, with only 15.6% having a chronic condition, far below the national figure of 27.7%.
Unpaid care for children is common here, with 29.1% of people providing this support, while others who provide general unpaid care are well below the national average.
First Nations people are a significant part of the community, with 34.3% speaking a First Nations language, far above the national figure of 12.3%.
Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.8 people per household and a higher rate of one-parent families compared to the rest of the country.
Renting is very common, with 63.3% of households renting, far above the national figure of 30.6%. However, typical weekly rents are much lower than usual at just $200.
Car use is dominant, though 10.4% of homes have no vehicle, which is well above the national figure. Public transport is very limited, with only 5 routes serving the region.
The population is quite mobile, with 46.9% of people moving in the last five years, well above the national average.
The workforce is dominated by mining, which employs 22.9% of people. Full-time employment is very high at 71.4%, far above the national figure of 58.9%.
The population has grown by 6.0% since 2021, though this is well below the state growth rate of 10.7%.
The region is very hot, with an average maximum temperature of 36.0 degrees, which is a little above the state average.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.6, well below the state figure. Only 31% of homes are within a 10 minute walk of public transport.