Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Christmas Island
136 km²
High income levels distinguish Christmas Island, where typical weekly family earnings are well above the national figure. This remote territory has a diverse population with a strong overseas influence and a young age profile. Most residents work full-time in public administration or mining, contributing to a prosperous community. It is a place where high pay is common, though housing is more limited than on the mainland.
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The community is noticeably younger than other territories, with a typical age of 38. Only 13.4% of people are seniors, which is well below the national figure of 17.2%.
Born overseas, 43.7% of residents come from outside Australia, a figure far above the national average. Chinese, Australian, and English are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is high, with 44.7% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure, and 12.2% of residents speak little or no English.
Religious patterns are unusual for Australia, as only 19.9% of people report no religion, which is far below the national figure. Islam is the most common faith at 22.1%.
Qualification levels are lower than most areas, with only 11.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Incomes are very high here; the typical weekly family income is $2,659, which is well above the national figure. About 28% of households earn $3,000 or more each week.
Residents report very good health, with only 14% having a long-term health condition, far below the national rate of 27.7%. Only 1.5% need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care and housework are less common here than elsewhere, with only 5.6% providing unpaid care. Volunteers make up 16% of the population.
There are 10 First Nations people in the area. This group is much older than the national average, with a typical age of 60 and very high personal incomes.
Family structures vary, with 65% of households being couples with children. A high proportion of people live alone, at 31%, which is well above the national figure.
Renters make up 48.3% of the community, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Typical weekly rent is much lower than elsewhere, at just $150.
Most people rely on cars, though 6.4% commute by public transport, which is well above the national average. About 7.5% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The population is relatively stable, with 24.7% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
Employment is strong and stable, with 71.1% of people working full-time. The unemployment rate is very low at 1.5%, well below the national figure.
The area is mostly car-dependent, though 83.4% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far above other territories.