Urban Area · Area profile
Mount Isa
69 km²
Life in Mount Isa is defined by a workforce that is heavily skewed towards mining and high-earning trades. It is a noticeably young community where the typical resident is just 31, and it has a very high proportion of children compared to the rest of the country. The town is marked by significant growth in its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which now makes up 21.4% of the residents. This mix of young families and industrial work creates a distinct regional hub in Queensland.
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The area is much younger than the national figure, with children making up 23.6% of the population. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is far larger than in most of Australia, and the number of people in de facto relationships has risen significantly since 2011.
While 74.1% of residents were born in Australia, the share of people born overseas has risen to 16.5%. This is still well below the national figure, with New Zealand and the Philippines being the most common birthplaces outside Australia.
English is the main language for 80.4% of residents, but the number of people using another language at home has risen to 9.8%. This is much higher than in most similar areas, though it remains far below the national average.
About 40.9% of the community report no religion, which is a sharp increase from 18.2% in 2011. This figure is roughly the same as the Queensland average, while 45.7% of residents identify as Christian.
Many residents have a Certificate III or IV, and the rate of people completing Year 12 is higher than in most similar areas. However, the share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is far below the national figure.
Typical incomes are well above the national and state figures, with 20.8% of people earning $2,000 or more a week. This high pay is consistent with the strong presence of the mining industry.
Residents generally report fewer long-term health conditions and mental health issues than the state and national averages. Only 3.3% of people need help with daily activities, which is among the lowest for its level.
A higher-than-average 29.1% of people provide unpaid care for children. In contrast, the number of people doing significant housework or providing general unpaid care is well below the national figure.
Family sizes are slightly larger than the national average, and one-parent families are much more common here. About 28.1% of people live alone, which is a little above the national figure.
Renters are far more common here than across Australia, making up 45.6% of households. Because so few people own their homes outright, the area has one of the lowest rates of full home ownership at this level.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Working from home is also very rare here, far below the national figure.
The population is quite mobile, with 43.5% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much more common here than in most similar areas, though this figure has fallen since 2011.
Employment is very strong, with a full-time work rate far above the national average and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Mining is the dominant industry, employing 30.5% of the workforce.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the Queensland average. While most homes are within a short walk of a park or school, very few are near groceries or health services.