What makes an average Australian? The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released preliminary results ahead of the overall result due in June.
In the meantime, the 2016 Census has revealed the ‘typical’ Australian is a 38-year-old female who was born in Australia and is of English ancestry. She is married and lives in a couple family with two children and has completed Year 12. She lives in a house with three bedrooms and two motor vehicles.
While, ‘typical’ Australian male is 37-years-old – a year younger than the ‘typical’ female – and spends less than five hours a week on domestic work, while the ‘typical’ woman spends between five and 14 hours a week on housework.
Meanwhile, the age of the ‘typical’ Australian varies across the states and territories. The ‘typical’ Tasmanian is the oldest of all Australians at 42-years-old, while the ‘typical’ Northern Territorian is the youngest standing at 34-years-old.
In 2016, the ‘typical’ Australian home is owned with a mortgage, but this differs across the country. For example, the ‘typical’ home in Tasmania and New South Wales is owned outright, while the ‘typical’ Northern Territory home is rented. In 2006, the ‘typical’ Australian home was owned outright.
The census also revealed that an average Australian living in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia has at least one parent who was born overseas.
Migrants originating from New Zealand were drawn to Queensland, Indians to Victoria while the Chinese love New South Wales.
The first round of 2016 census information released on Tuesday, provides a preview of last year’s results and giving insight into what makes the ‘typical’ Australian at the national, state and territory level is in 2016.
The recent release includes data sets for all national, state/territory and capital cities, along with data sets for small population groups and small geographic areas such as suburbs and local government areas, showing that there’s nothing ‘typical’ about Australians at all.
The overall results of the census held on August 9 will be released on June 27.
| Median Age | 38 |
| Sex (Mode) | Female |
| Country of Birth of Person (Mode) | Australia |
| Country of Birth of Parents (Mode) | Both parents born in Australia |
| Language Spoken at Home (Mode) | English |
| Ancestry 1st Response (Mode) | English |
| Social Marital Status (Mode) | Married in a registered marriage |
| Family Composition (Mode) | Couple family with children |
| Count of All Children in Family (Mode) | Two children in family |
| Highest Year of School Completed (Mode) | Year 12 or equivalent |
| Unpaid Domestic Work: Number of Hours (Mode) | 5 to 14 hours |
| Number of Motor Vehicles (Mode) | Two vehicles |
| Number of Bedrooms in Private Dwelling (Mode) | Three bedrooms |
| Tenure Type (Dwelling Count) (Mode) | Owned with a mortgage |
