idc-logo
svg rectangle color
RDA Darling Downs and South West RegionCommunity profile

RDA Darling Downs and South West Region

Household size

In 2021, 28% of households in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region contained only one person, compared with 27.2% in Western Downs Regional Council area, with the most dominant household size being 2 persons per household.

The size of households in general follows the life-cycle of families. Households are usually small at the stage of relationship formation (early marriage), and then increase in size with the advent of children. They later reduce in size again as these children reach adulthood and leave home. Household size can also be influenced by a lack (or abundance) of affordable housing. Overseas migrants and indigenous persons often have a tradition of living with extended family members which significantly affects household size.

Household size in Australia has generally declined since the 1970s, but the rate of decline has slowed in recent years.

An increasing household size in an area may indicate a lack of affordable housing opportunities for young people, an increase in the birth rate or an increase in family formation in the area. A declining household size may indicate children leaving the area when they leave home, an increase in retirees settling in the area, or an attraction of young singles and couples to the area.

For greater insight, the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region's Household Size data should be viewed in conjunction with Household Summary, Age Structure, Dwelling Type, Household Income and Language Spoken at Home.

Q:

Derived from the three Census questions:

'Name of each person including visitors who spent the night of Tuesday, 10 August 2021 in this dwelling', and 'Where does the person usually live?', and 'Name of each person who usually lives in this dwelling but was away on Tuesday, 10 August 2021.'

Household size
RDA Darling Downs and South West Region - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Number of persons usually residentNumber%Western Downs Regional Council area %Number%Western Downs Regional Council area %2016 to 2021
1 person28,87828.027.225,52626.825.6+3,352
2 persons37,61236.535.934,78536.536.2+2,827
3 persons13,99413.613.513,32014.013.9+674
4 persons12,64012.312.612,32612.913.4+314
5 persons6,3136.16.76,1566.57.3+157
6 or more persons3,6743.64.13,2693.43.7+405
Total classifiable households103,111100.0100.095,382100.0100.0+7,729
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
Household size - Summary
RDA Darling Downs and South West Region - Enumerated20212016Change
DwellingsNumber%Western Downs Regional Council area %Number%Western Downs Regional Council area %2016 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings111,572----103,720----+7,852
Persons in occupied private dwellings268,552----254,039----+14,513
Average household size (persons per dwelling)2.41--2.432.45--2.48-0.04
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

The 'Dwellings' table is enumerated data.

Dominant groups

Analysis of the number of persons usually resident in a household in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region compared with Western Downs Regional Council area shows that there were a higher proportion of lone person households, and a lower proportion of larger households (those with 4 persons or more). Overall there were 28.0% of lone person households, and 21.9% of larger households, compared with 27.2% and 23.4% respectively for Western Downs Regional Council area.

There were no major differences between RDA Darling Downs and South West Region and Western Downs Regional Council area in 2021.

Emerging groups

The number of households in RDA Darling Downs and South West Region increased by 7,729 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the number of persons usually resident in a household in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • 1 person (+3,352 households)
  • 2 persons (+2,827 households)
  • 3 persons (+674 households)
  • 6 or more persons (+405 households)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices. Stats NZ Data and the copyright in the Stats NZ Data remains the property of the Statistics New Zealand.

The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the Stats NZ Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. Stats NZ Data can be accessed on the Statistics New Zealand website at www.stats.govt.nz. Unless otherwise specified, content that Stats NZ produce is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. For further information see https://www.stats.govt.nz/about-us/copyright/.