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AustraliaCommunity profile

Regional Australia

Number of cars per household

Analysis of car ownership in 2021, indicates 55% of households in Regional Australia had access to two or more motor vehicles, compared to 54% in Regional WA.

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 Regional 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
Regional Australia - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Number of carsNumber%Regional WA %Number%Regional WA %2016 to 2021
No motor vehicles174,0345.14.7172,7955.64.9+1,239
1 motor vehicle1,129,04133.331.41,004,14632.328.8+124,895
2 motor vehicles1,185,66334.933.31,060,06234.133.0+125,601
3 or more motor vehicles676,89919.920.9562,14518.121.4+114,754
Not stated229,0996.79.8305,5339.811.9-76,434
Total households3,394,736100.0100.03,104,681100.0100.0+290,055
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 car ownership of the households in Regional Australia in 2021 compared to Regional WA shows that 88.1% of the households owned at least one car, while 5.1% did not, compared with 85.5% and 4.7% respectively in Regional WA.

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

Overall, 33.3% of the households owned one car; 34.9% owned two cars; and 19.9% owned three cars or more, compared with 31.4%; 33.3% and 20.9% respectively for Regional WA.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the household car ownership in Regional Australia between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • 2 motor vehicles (+125,601 households)
  • 1 motor vehicle (+124,895 households)
  • 3 or more motor vehicles (+114,754 households)
  • No motor vehicles (+1,239 households)

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