State Electorate · Area profile
Bega
9,707 km²
Typical family incomes in Bega are well below the national figure, reflecting a community with a more modest economic profile. The area is far older than most of Australia, with a large population of seniors and a dwindling number of children. This creates a quiet, residential character where nearly half of all homes are owned outright. It is a place of deep local roots, with very few overseas arrivals and a strong tradition of volunteering.
Bega is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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A typical resident is 53, making Bega far older than the national average. This is reflected in the high proportion of seniors, who make up 31% of the population, while children under 15 have fallen to 14.4%.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 13% born overseas—a figure far below the state and national averages. English and Australian ancestries are the most common.
English is the dominant language, spoken by 89.2% of people at home. Only 3.7% use another language, which is among the lowest rates for similar areas.
A large number of residents report no religion, accounting for 44.8% of the population. This figure has risen 20 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with 17.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While Year 12 completion has risen to 43.1%, it remains far below the national figure.
Incomes are among the lowest at this level; the typical household earns $1,183 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Long-term health conditions are common here, affecting 36.6% of people—well above the national average. Consequently, 7.1% of residents need help with daily activities.
Bega has a strong culture of giving, with 19.5% of people volunteering, a figure well above the national average. Many residents also provide unpaid care or have served in the Defence Force.
Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.2 people per dwelling. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 30.9% of households.
Housing is very stable, with 49.2% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure. Separate houses make up 83.9% of the stock, and typical weekly rents are $320.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.4% of people commuting by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 38.9% have two.
The population is relatively stable, with 37.2% moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are among the lowest for similar areas at 5.4%.
Working life is less common here than elsewhere, with only 47.7% of adults working or looking for work. However, the unemployment rate of 3.8% is lower than the national average.
Bega is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Only 40.3% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed, and many residents live far from shops and health services.