Urban Area · Area profile
Perth
3,893 km²
A massive regional hub with over two million people, Perth is a growing city that blends a diverse international population with a highly educated workforce. It is a young community where the typical resident is 37, and it has seen a 26% population increase since 2011. The city is marked by high earning levels and a strong focus on family life, making it one of the most prominent urban centres in Western Australia.
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The community is slightly younger than the national average, with 19% of the population being children under 15. While the population has grown significantly, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is 2.0%, which is a little below the national figure.
This is a highly diverse area where 36.1% of people were born overseas, a figure well above the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the population of overseas-born residents has risen since 2011.
Reflecting its international character, 21% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is a little above the state average. This linguistic diversity has grown by 4 percentage points over the last decade.
A shift toward secularism is evident here, as the number of people reporting no religion rose 17 points since 2011 to reach 42.2%. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.
Perth has a highly qualified workforce, with 26.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Schooling levels are also well above the national average, with 62% of residents having completed Year 12.
Earnings are much higher than in most similar areas, with the typical family bringing in $2,259 a week. High-income earners are common, as 15.2% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly, which is a little above the national average.
Residents here are generally healthier than the national average, with only 26% reporting a long-term health condition. Similarly, the proportion of people needing help with daily activities is much lower than in most other areas.
Family care is a priority here, with 29.2% of people providing unpaid childcare, which is higher than the national average. However, the proportion of people doing significant unpaid housework is much lower than in most areas.
Homes tend to be larger, with an average of 2.6 people per household. Families with children make up 60% of the community, while 25% of people live alone.
Large homes are common, with 82.4% of dwellings having three or more bedrooms. While typical weekly rents are $350, the typical monthly mortgage payment is much higher than in most areas at $1,907.
Most people rely on cars, but 5.2% commute by public transport, which is a little above the national average. Working from home is relatively uncommon, with only 7.6% of the workforce doing so.
The population is quite mobile, with 39.4% of residents having moved in the last five years. However, the number of recent overseas arrivals fell 12 points since 2011 to 10.5%.
More people here are working or looking for work (65.2%) compared to the national figure. The most common industries for residents are health care and social assistance, followed by retail and construction.
The city is very walkable, with 93.7% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also easily reach parks, schools, and groceries within a 15-minute walk.