Urban Centre · Area profile
Jigalong
14 km²
Daily life in Jigalong is shaped by a very young population and a strong Aboriginal identity. About 93% of the 289 residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and with a typical age of just 21, the community is far younger than the rest of Australia. This is a place where children make up over a third of the population and many people live in large, multi-generational households. It is a small, tight community in the East Pilbara where traditional family structures and local languages remain central to life.
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The community is exceptionally young, with 34.6% of people under 15 and a typical age of 21, which is 17 years younger than the national figure. This youthfulness is reflected in the home sizes, where 4.2 people per home is far above the state and national averages.
Almost everyone here was born in Australia, with 96.2% of residents born locally. Only 2.1% of the population were born overseas, which is far below the figures for Western Australia and the rest of the country.
A vast majority of residents, 89.3%, use a language other than English at home, a figure far above the national average. Additionally, 10.7% of people speak little or no English, which has risen 11 points since 2016.
Christianity is the most common faith at 67.1%, while 15.2% of residents report having no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is far below the state and national figures, though it has risen since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 6.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more people have completed Year 12 since 2011, rising 16 points to 30.5%.
Typical incomes are among the lowest in the region, with the usual weekly household income at $837 and personal income at $268. No households in the community earn $3,000 or more per week.
The community reports far fewer long-term health conditions than the state or nation, with only 13.1% of people affected. Mental health conditions are also very low at 1.4%, well below the national figure of 8.8%.
Unpaid care is a major part of local life, with 63.1% of people caring for children and 58.3% doing significant housework. Both figures are far above the national average and have risen sharply since 2011.
Large families are common, with 44.1% of homes being one-parent families, far above the state average. This helps explain why homes are crowded, with 24.1% of households containing six or more people.
All homes are separate houses, and 91.4% are rented, which is far above the national figure. While 98.3% of homes have three or more bedrooms, the typical weekly rent is very low at $80.
Getting around is often done without a car, as 48.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, far above the state average. Among those who work, 42.9% walk to their jobs.
The population is relatively stable, with 26.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very low at 3.8%.
Unemployment is very high at 40.2%, far above the national rate of 5.1%. For those working, the most common industries are agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by education and health care.
The area has 13.8 walkable amenities per 1,000 residents, which is a little below the state average. Most of these amenities are parks, which make up 50% of the available services.