Western Australia - Outback (South)

First Nations people make up 9.6% of the population, which is well above the state and national figures. The area is also younger than most, with 19.5% of residents being children under 15, though this figure has fallen slightly since 2016.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (16.7%) than the state average of 32.2%. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, each accounting for over 35% of the population.

English is the dominant language, with only 9.2% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few residents speak little or no English, at just 0.8%.

A growing number of people report having no religion, now at 43.1% after rising 11 points since 2016. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 11.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state average at 40%.

Typical personal income is $877 a week, which is a little above the national figure. High earners are common, as 14.4% of people earn $2,000 or more per week, which is much higher than in most similar areas.

Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than the national average, with 25.2% affected. Similarly, the rate of people needing help with daily activities is much lower than in most areas.

Volunteer rates are higher than most areas at 16.9%, though this has fallen since 2016. Unpaid care for children is around the middle for its level, at 25.1%.

First Nations people are more likely to speak a traditional language here (20.5%) than in the rest of the state. However, they face higher unemployment (18.0%) and lower Year 12 completion rates (24.7%) compared to national figures.

Living alone is more common here than in most areas, with 29.1% of people in single-person households. One-parent families also make up a higher proportion of the community at 15.2%.

Detached houses are very common, making up 84.7% of all homes. Rents are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly rent of $255.

Most people rely on cars, as only 2.4% commute by public transport. Working from home is very rare here, at just 5.5%, which is far below the national figure.

The population is relatively stable, with 36.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is lower than most areas. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.6% of the community.

Full-time employment is much higher than in most areas at 64.6%. The workforce is heavily concentrated in mining, which is the most common industry at 15.0%.

Population growth since 2021 has been 3.5%, which is well below the state's growth rate of 10.7%.

The region is very dry and hot, with average annual rainfall of only 132mm, among the lowest for its level. Maximum temperatures are also among the highest.

Walkability is well below the state average, as far fewer homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, groceries, or schools.