The ‘average’ Australian is a 37 year old woman with two kids, a mortgage and lives in a house in one of Australia’s capital cities.

ABS Director of Social and Progress Reporting Jane Griffin-Warwicke said "while we know that no single person is average in all respects, the Census shows that if there was an average Australian, they would be a married woman, living with her husband and two children in a three bedroom house in a suburb of one of Australia's capital cities.

They have lived in that house for at least five years, and have a mortgage where they pay $1800 a month.

“The average Australian was also born in Australia, as were both of her parents.

“We can also use Census data to look at how the average has changed over time. For example 50 years ago the average Australian was a 29 year old man, and 100 years ago the average Australian was a 24 year old man," she said.

 

SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AVERAGE AUSTRALIAN, 1911-2011
 

1911

1961

2011

Sex

Male

Male

Female

Age

24

29

37

Born

Australia

Australia

Australia

Job(a)

Farmer

Clerk

Sales Assistant

 

SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AVERAGE AUSTRALIAN, 2011
 

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Sex

Female

Female

Female

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Age

37

37

36

39

36

40

31

34

Born

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Job(a)

Sales Assistant

Sales Assistant

Sales Assistant

Sales Assistant

Truck Driver

Sales Assistant

Defence Force Member - Other Ranks

General Clerk