Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Mer Island

4 km²

Mer Island stands out for a population that overwhelmingly rents, with a younger age profile than most.

It's also marked by fewer university graduates than most areas and household incomes a little below the norm.

Open map →

📍 Mer Island, Suburb / Locality

Demographics & Identity

Total population406▲ +11.2%since 2011 Median age27 yrs▲ +12.5%since 2011 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population90.6%People aged 65 and over10.1%Children under 1526.4%People in a de facto relationship36.8%▲ +7.6%since 2011

Age & sex structure

Age structure

In Mer Island, the largest group is Children (0–14) at 25%, followed by Young adults (25–44) (25%) and Youth (15–24) (20%).

Children (0–14)26.4%

Young adults (25–44)25.6%

Youth (15–24)21.2%

Older adults (45–64)20.4%

Seniors (65+)10.1%

Marital status

In Mer Island, the largest group is Never married at 74%, followed by Married (17%) and Widowed (5%).

Never married74%
Married17%
Widowed5%
Separated3%
Divorced1%

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

In Mer Island, the largest group is Australia at 100%.

Australia92.6%

Ancestry

In Mer Island, the largest group is Australian at 63%, followed by Scottish (38%).

Australian1.2%

Scottish0.7%

Language

People using another language at home87.9%

Language used at home

In Mer Island, the largest group is English only at 100%.

English only6.4%

Religion

People with no religion10.1%

Religious affiliation

In Mer Island, the largest group is Christianity at 89%, followed by No religion (11%).

Christianity89%
No religion11%

Education & Qualifications

Completed Year 1240.7%Adults with a bachelor degree or higher4.9%

Highest year of school

In Mer Island, the largest group is Year 12 at 45%, followed by Year 10 (23%) and Year 9 or below (16%).

Year 1240.7%

Year 1020.7%

Year 9 or below14.9%

Year 1114.6%

Highest qualification level

In Mer Island, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 62%, followed by Bachelor degree (11%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (10%).

Certificate III / IV43.9%

Bachelor degree8.1%

Advanced diploma / diploma7.3%

Certificate I / II7.3%

Graduate diploma / certificate4.1%

Field of qualification

In Mer Island, the largest group is Management & commerce at 21%, followed by Education (18%) and Engineering & related (15%).

Management & commerce15.4%

Education13.0%

Engineering & related10.6%

Architecture & building8.1%

Society & culture7.3%

Health6.5%

Food, hospitality & personal services6.5%

Creative arts4.9%

Income

Median personal income (weekly)$351▲ +7.7%since 2011 Median household income (weekly)$1,262▲ +41.8%since 2011 Median family income (weekly)$906▲ +9.8%since 2011 People earning $2,000+ a week2.0%Households earning $3,000+ a week0.0%

Household income distribution

In Mer Island, the largest group is $1,500–$2,999 at 42%, followed by $650–$1,499 (36%) and Under $650 (22%).

$1,500–$2,99935.6%

$650–$1,49931.0%

Under $65018.4%

Personal income distribution

In Mer Island, the largest group is Under $650 at 82%, followed by $650–$1,499 (15%) and $1,500–$2,999 (3%).

Under $65075.3%

$650–$1,49913.5%

$1,500–$2,9993.0%

Health & Disability

People with a long-term health condition19.0%People with a mental health condition1.2%People needing help with daily activities4.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

In Mer Island, the largest group is None at 79%, followed by One condition (17%) and Two conditions (4%).

None74.1%

One condition15.8%

Two conditions3.9%

Long-term health conditions reported

In Mer Island, the largest group is Diabetes at 45%, followed by Arthritis (15%) and Asthma (15%).

Diabetes12.1%

Arthritis3.9%

Asthma3.9%

Other condition3.0%

Heart disease2.5%

Mental health1.2%

Community Participation

Volunteers6.6%People providing unpaid care10.9%People caring for children unpaid26.0%People who served in the Defence Force7.5%People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework2.6%

Family & Households

Average household size3.9▲ +8.3%since 2011 One-parent families16.5%People living alone16.1%▼ -24.3%since 2011

Family composition

In Mer Island, the largest group is Couples with children at 65%, followed by One-parent families (17%) and Couples without children (15%).

Couples with children65%
One-parent families17%
Couples without children15%
Other families3%

Household size

In Mer Island, the largest group is 6 or more at 32%, followed by 2 people (20%) and 1 person (19%).

6 or more27.6%

2 people17.2%

1 person16.1%

3 people10.3%

5 people9.2%

4 people5.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Median rent (weekly)$150▲ +134.4%since 2011 Median mortgage repayment (monthly)$1,084—since 2011 Average people per bedroom1.10▼ -21.4%since 2011 Households renting92.0%Homes owned outright0.0%Separate (detached) houses92.0%Homes with three or more bedrooms83.9%▲ +10.1%since 2011

How homes are owned or rented

In Mer Island, the largest group is Rented at 93%, followed by Other tenure (7%).

Rented93%
Other tenure7%

Types of homes

In Mer Island, the largest group is Separate house at 100%.

Separate house100%

Bedrooms per home

In Mer Island, the largest group is 4 bedrooms at 39%, followed by 5 or more (26%) and 3 bedrooms (21%).

4 bedrooms37.9%

5 or more25.3%

3 bedrooms20.7%

2 bedrooms12.6%

Weekly rent distribution

In Mer Island, the largest group is Under $200 at 100%.

Under $20092.5%

Transport & Vehicles

Homes with no motor vehicle48.2%▼ -25.3%since 2011

Motor vehicles per home

In Mer Island, the largest group is No vehicle at 47%, followed by 1 vehicle (40%) and 2 vehicles (14%).

No vehicle48.2%

1 vehicle41.0%

2 vehicles14.5%

How people get to work

In Mer Island, the largest group is Car (driver) at 33%, followed by Walked (32%) and Car (passenger) (24%).

Car (driver)31.9%

Walked30.8%

Car (passenger)23.1%

Bus9.9%

Migration & Movement

People who moved in the last 5 years22.8%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment rate7.9%Labour-force participation33.2%Employed full-time47.3%

Industries people work in

In Mer Island, the largest group is Public administration & safety at 42%, followed by Education & training (16%) and Retail trade (14%).

Public administration & safety41.8%

Education & training16.5%

Retail trade14.3%

Administrative & support7.7%

Health care & social assistance6.6%

Agriculture, forestry & fishing5.5%

Construction4.4%

Electricity, gas & water3.3%

Occupations people work in

In Mer Island, the largest group is Professionals at 24%, followed by Community & personal service (16%) and Clerical & administrative (16%).

Professionals24.2%

Community & personal service16.5%

Clerical & administrative16.5%

Labourers16.5%

Technicians & trades11.0%

Sales workers8.8%

Managers7.7%

Nearby areas

Waua Islet Dowar Islet Erub Island Ugar Island Masig Island Poruma Island Burrar Islet Warraber Islet

👥 Demographics & Identity