Changes in The Household Situation of Australians 19912006

Date

An examination of net transition probabilities by age and sex for Australia in the three intercensal periods, 1991-96, 1996-2001 and 2001-06 reveals the following:

  • The probabilities of remaining in the parents’ home rose for young people aged 17-18 in the 2001-06 period compared with the 1996-01 period. The rise was more evident for young women.
  • Between the 1991-96 and 1996-2001 periods for ages, 20-34, there was a distinct trend for young people to remain at home with parents rather than moving out into a couple relationship. However, for those aged 25-34, this movement was reversed in the 2001-06 period, that is, the probability of moving out and living in a couple relationship increased.
  • Also in the age range 25-34, the probability of moving out of ‘other’ living arrangements (group houses, living alone) into a couple living arrangement increased considerably between the 1996-2001 period and the 2001-06 period. In agreement with this trend, the recent ABS Family Characteristics and Transitions Survey (ABS 2008) shows a very considerable drop in the incidence of group households between 1997 and 2007, from 6 per cent to 3 per cent.
  • In the age range 35-59, the probability of being partnered fell from 1991-96 to 1996-01. However, in the 2001-06 period, this trend took a substantial turn in the other direction, that is, people were much more likely to partner or remain partnered. In agreement with this observation, the ABS Family Characteristics and Transitions Survey showed that, the proportion of children under age five that were living in a one parent family fell from 15.8 per cent in 1997 to 11.7 per cent in 2007.
  • At ages, 60-84, there is a long term trend from the 1991-96 period and continuing strongly to the 2001-06 period for people to be living in a couple relationship rather than in other living arrangements.
  • For all ages above 25 years, in the most recent intercensal period, there was a shift towards living as a couple away from other living arrangements. The ABS Family Characteristics and Transitions Survey showed that the proportion of households consisting of a couple without children increased from 24.5 per cent of all Australian households in 1997 to 28.8 per cent in 2007. In the same time frame, the proportion of lone person households remained unchanged at 25 per cent.
  • The Australian birth rate rose between 2001 and 2006.