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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 51% in Greater Capital Cities.

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)20212011Change
Number of carsNumber%Greater Capital Cities %Number%Greater Capital Cities %2011 to 2021
No motor vehicles691,8867.18.1686,7978.49.3+5,089
1 motor vehicle3,438,31935.136.02,845,72534.834.9+592,594
2 motor vehicles3,395,10634.634.42,827,58634.634.3+567,520
3 or more motor vehicles1,754,87617.916.81,287,62315.715.1+467,253
Not stated528,2075.44.7534,0196.56.4-5,812
Total households9,808,394100.0100.08,181,750100.0100.0+1,626,644
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 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 Greater Capital Cities shows that 87.6% of the households owned at least one car, while 7.1% did not, compared with 87.2% and 8.1% respectively in Greater Capital Cities.

Of those that owned at least one vehicle, there was a smaller proportion who owned just one car; a similar 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 36.0%; 34.4% and 16.8% respectively for Greater Capital Cities.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the household car ownership in Australia between 2011 and 2021 were:

  • 1 motor vehicle (+592,594 households)
  • 2 motor vehicles (+567,520 households)
  • 3 or more motor vehicles (+467,253 households)
  • No motor vehicles (+5,089 households)

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