From the Newsroom

Clarence incomes and indigenous population increase Census data reveals

Rodney Stevens

 

Incomes have increased and the Indigenous population has grown across the Clarence Valley, while less people are getting married according to data from last year’s Census.

Conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS, the national Census is held every five years, with the 2021 study being the 18th time the nation’s population has been surveyed since its inception in 1911.

“Census data is used to help governments, businesses, not for profit and community organisations across the country make informed decisions, including helping governments to plan the provision of services,” an ABS spokesperson said.

The Independent compared the 2016 data for the Clarence Valley Local Government Area LGA with the 2021 figures released in the past week.

The data paints a picture of the changing face of the Clarence Valley, which has seen a rise in population from 50,671 in 2016 to 53,665 in 2021, with an even 50:50 split of men and women.

The median age of people across the LGA remained stable at 49, 11 years older than the national average of 38 which was also stable between Census’.

The Indigenous population of the Valley has grown from 6.3 per-cent to 8.1 per-cent, almost triple the national average of 3.2 per-cent of people of Indigenous heritage.

People of Irish and Scottish descent continue to grow in numbers across the LGA, from 9.1 and 8.6 per-cent respectively in 2016, to 11.7 and 11.6 per-cent of the population in 2021.

Across the Valley, the number of families has climbed from 13,536 to 14,440, while the average number of children per family dropped from 1.9 to 1.8.

Less couples are getting married in the Valley than in 2016, from 47.1 per-cent down to 44.5 per-cent, mirroring the national trend that saw married couples drop from 48.1 per-cent to 46.5 per-cent.

The numbers of separated, divorced and widowed people over the age of 15 remained steady in the LGA, reflecting national trends, but never married people grew from 29.5 per-cent to 32.3 per-cent of the local population. 

Almost 1000 new homes have been built in the Clarence Valley since 2016, increasing from 24,848 to 25,800 dwellings, each of which are occupied by 2.3 people per household, a number that remained steady since the last Census.

In line with inflation, Valley employees now earn more in 2021, which saw median household income rise from $910 to $1126, significantly less than the NSW median of $1829, or the national average of $1746.

Median weekly rent across the valley rose from $255 to $310, and home ownership increased from 44 per-cent to 45.2 per-cent, which was above the national average of 31 per-cent of people who own their own homes.

Religion is a less significant factor in an increasing number of Clarence Valley people’s lives, with an increase from 26.4 per-cent of people who were listed as non-religious to 38 per-cent in 2021.

Anglican remains the most popular religion in the region, down from 25.7 per-cent to 19.5 per-cent, followed by Catholicism, which fell from 20 per-cent to 17 per-cent, while 10 per-cent of people continued to not disclose their religious affiliation.

For the 2021 Census, the Australian government authorised the ABS to include long term health conditions, with arthritis, 14.3 per-cent and mental health, 11.4 per-cent the most prolific.

Both arthritis and mental health as long-term health conditions experienced by people across the valley exceeded the national averages of 8.5 per-cent and 8.8 per-cent.

The next Census is scheduled for 2026.