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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Capital Cities

Number of bedrooms per dwelling

Dwellings with 3 bedrooms were the most common in Greater Capital Cities in 2021.

The Number of Bedrooms in a dwelling is an indicator of the size of dwellings, and when combined with Dwelling Type information, provides insight into the role Greater Capital Cities plays in the housing market. For example, an area of high density dwellings that are predominantly 1-2 bedroom are likely to attract students, single workers and young couples, whereas a high density area with dwellings that are predominantly 2-3 bedroom may attract more empty nesters and some families.

In combination with Household Type and Household Size, the Number of Bedrooms can also indicate issues around housing affordability, overcrowding and other socio-economic factors.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'How many bedrooms are there in this dwelling?'

Number of bedrooms per dwelling
Greater Capital Cities - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Number of bedroomsNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2016 to 2021
0 or 1 bedrooms390,4856.36.0324,9505.85.6+65,535
2 bedrooms1,220,79019.618.31,064,16519.017.9+156,625
3 bedrooms2,236,30235.937.22,102,61637.538.8+133,686
4 bedrooms1,666,40226.726.61,395,66824.924.7+270,734
5 bedrooms or more434,0567.06.5337,8126.05.6+96,244
Not stated288,8084.65.4379,4826.87.4-90,674
Total households6,236,843100.0100.05,604,693100.0100.0+632,150
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the number of bedrooms in dwellings in Greater Capital Cities in 2021 compared to Australia shows that there was a higher proportion of dwellings with 2 bedrooms or less, as well as a higher proportion of dwellings with 4 or more bedrooms.

Overall, 25.8% of households were in dwellings with 2 bedrooms or less, and 33.7% of 4 or more bedroom dwellings, compared with 24.3% and 33.1% for Australia respectively.

The major differences between the number of bedrooms per dwelling of Greater Capital Cities and Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of 2 bedroom dwellings (19.6% compared to 18.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of 3 bedroom dwellings (35.9% compared to 37.2%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the number of bedrooms per dwelling in Greater Capital Cities between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • 4 bedrooms (+270,734 dwellings)
  • 2 bedrooms (+156,625 dwellings)
  • 3 bedrooms (+133,686 dwellings)
  • 5 bedrooms or more (+96,244 dwellings)

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