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AustraliaCommunity profile

Australia

Number of cars per household

Analysis of car ownership in 2021, indicates 53% of households in Australia had access to two or more motor vehicles, compared to 53% in Australian Capital Territory.

The ability of the population to access services and employment is strongly influenced by access to transport. The number of motor vehicles per household in Australia quantifies access to private transport and will be influenced by Age Structure and Household Type, which determine the number of adults present; access to Public Transport; distance to shops, services, employment and education; and Household Income. Depending on these factors, car ownership can be seen as a measure of advantage or disadvantage, or a neutral socio-economic measure, which impacts on the environment and quality of life.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'How many registered motor vehicles owned or used by residents of this dwelling were garaged or parked at or near this dwelling on the night of 10 August 2021?'

Car ownership
Australia - Households (Enumerated)20211996Change
Number of carsNumber%Australian Capital Territory %Number%Australian Capital Territory %1996 to 2021
No motor vehicles691,8867.15.5756,09011.6---64,204
1 motor vehicle3,438,31935.137.92,588,59339.9--+849,726
2 motor vehicles3,395,10634.637.12,089,30432.2--+1,305,802
3 or more motor vehicles1,754,87617.915.8719,17711.1--+1,035,699
Not stated528,2075.43.7341,9295.3--+186,278
Total households9,808,394100.0100.06,495,093100.0--+3,313,301
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 1996 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the car ownership of the households in Australia in 2021 compared to Australian Capital Territory shows that 87.6% of the households owned at least one car, while 7.1% did not, compared with 90.9% and 5.5% respectively in Australian Capital Territory.

Of those that owned at least one vehicle, there was a smaller proportion who owned just one car; a smaller proportion who owned two cars; and a larger proportion who owned three cars or more.

Overall, 35.1% of the households owned one car; 34.6% owned two cars; and 17.9% owned three cars or more, compared with 37.9%; 37.1% and 15.8% respectively for Australian Capital Territory.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the household car ownership in Australia between 1996 and 2021 were:

  • 2 motor vehicles (+1,305,802 households)
  • 3 or more motor vehicles (+1,035,699 households)
  • 1 motor vehicle (+849,726 households)
  • No motor vehicles (-64,204 households)

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