Profile of poverty by labour force status
These graphs show the profile of households in poverty by the labour force status of the household reference person. 2017-18 (All people) Although households that rely on paid employment have a much lower rate of poverty, they make up 38% of all people below the 50% median income poverty line, and 42% of all people below the 60% median income poverty line. 2017-18 (Employed fulltime) 2017-18 (Employed parttime) 2015-16 Although households that rely on paid employment have a much lower rate of poverty, they make up 39% of all people below the 50% median income poverty line, and 41% of all people below the 60% median income poverty line. This reflects the fact that three times as many people live in households whose reference person receives income from employment compared with income support payments.
Rate of poverty among adults with disability
This graph looks at the poverty rate of people with disability. People with disability, especially those with more severe incapacities (people who are limited in the core activities they can perform) face an above-average risk of poverty. It is likely that poverty is underestimated amongst people with disability, as the extra costs of a disability are not taken into account when assessing whether people are living below the poverty line, such as the costs of adjustments to home or workplace; care costs; additional transportation costs; and medical and pharmaceutical costs. 2017-18: The rate of poverty among adults with disability is 17.2% using the 50% median income poverty line and 28.4% using the 60% median income poverty line. 2015-16: The rate of poverty among adults with disability is 16.5% using the 50% median income poverty line and 29.4% using the 60% median income poverty line.
Profile of poverty among adults with disability
This graph shows the profile of households in poverty by the disability status of the main reference person. 2017-18 This shows that 37% of people in poverty have disability using the 50% of median income poverty line; and 39% using the 60% median income poverty line. 2015-16 This shows that 38% of people in poverty have disability using the 50% of median income poverty line; and 41% using the 60% median income poverty line. This reflects a combination of the overall rate of disability (18% of the total population in 2015), the higher rate of disability among people aged 65 and over, and the average risk of poverty among people with disability.
Rate of poverty by country of birth
This graph shows the poverty rate of people by their country of birth, divided into those born in Australia, those born in a mainly English-speaking country; and those born elsewhere. 2017-18: The graph shows that people born overseas in a country where English is the main language have a much lower poverty rate – at 9.7% using the 50% median income poverty line and 15.9% using the 60% median income poverty line - compared with those born elsewhere – at 17.5% using the 50% median income poverty line and 27.1% using the 60% median income poverty line. 2015-16: The graph shows that people born overseas in a country where English is the main language have a much lower poverty rate – at 10% using the 50% median income poverty line and 17% using the 60% median income poverty line - compared with those born elsewhere – at 17% using the 50% median income poverty line and 27% using the 60% median income poverty line. This likely reflects the lower employment rates among people from countries…
Profile of poverty by country of birth
This graph shows the profile of adults in poverty by their country of birth. 2017-18 This graph shows that the majority of adults in poverty are people born in Australia (59.3% of 50% median income poverty line and 59.4% of 60% median income poverty line), due to the higher proportion of adults born in Australia. 2015-16 This graph shows that the majority of adults in poverty are people born in Australia (62% of 50% median income poverty line and 63% of 60% median income poverty line), due to the higher proportion of adults born in Australia.
Profile of poverty by housing tenure
This shows the profile of adults in poverty by their type of housing occupation - whether they own their home with or without a mortgage; whether they rent either privately or publicly; or whether they have another form of occupation type. 2017-18 This graph shows that approximately half of all households living below the poverty line were renting, at 49% using the 50% median income poverty line and 45% using the 60% median income poverty line. 2015-16 This graph shows that approximately half of all households living below the poverty line were renting, at 53% using the 50% median income poverty line and 47% using the 60% median income poverty line. This shows that renters are over-represented among households in poverty, because only 31% of all households were renting in 2016.
Rate of poverty by location
This graph shows the rate of poverty by location. It shows that poverty is significantly higher among people living outside capital cities than those who live in capital cities. 2017-18: The rate of poverty among people living outside capital cities is 13.8% using the 50% median income poverty line and 22.3% using the 60% median income poverty line; while the rate of poverty among people living inside capital cities is 13.13.5% using the 50% median income poverty line and 20.3% using the 60% median income poverty line. 2015-16: The rate of poverty among people living outside capital cities is 14% using the 50% median income poverty line and 24% using the 60% median income poverty line; while the rate of poverty among people living inside capital cities is 13% using the 50% median income poverty line and 20% using the 60% median income poverty line.
Rate of poverty by state/territory of residence
This graph compares average poverty rates in the eight states and territories. NOTE: These average figures mask income disparities among different groups in the community. For example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent 30 per cent of the Northern Territory population of 245,740 people. In the Northern Territory, as elsewhere, there are substantial income disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the rest of the population. In 2016, median personal income for Indigenous individuals was $281 per week, just 26% of the $1,072 received by other Northern Territorians. Altman J (2017), Deepening Indigenous poverty in the Northern Territory, 14th November 2017. College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University.
Rate of poverty among children
This graph shows the rate of poverty among all children according to the 50% and 60% median income poverty lines, in 2017-18 and 2015-16. In 2017-18, 17.7% of all children were living in households experiencing poverty, rising to 25.7% when the 60% poverty line is used. The risk of poverty is highest for children in sole parent families, which is three times that for children in couple families according to the 50% poverty line (44.2% compared with 12.7%). In 2015-16, 17.3% of all children were living in households experiencing poverty, rising to 26% when the 60% poverty line is used. The risk of poverty is highest for children in sole parent families, which is three times that for children in couple families according to the 50% poverty line (39.4% compared with 13.1%).
Rate of poverty by age (% of people)
This graph displays the rate of poverty among all people by age groups. 2017-18: Among children, the rate of poverty is 17.7% based on the 50% of median income poverty line, and 25.5% when using the 60% poverty line. The poverty rate among young people (15-24 years) is also above average at 13.9% (20.2% when the 60% of median income poverty line is used). Among people aged 25 to 64 years, poverty rates are somewhat lower (at 12.1% and 17.6% at the 50% and 60% of median income poverty lines respectively). People 65 years and over who own or are buying their home are less likely to experience poverty than the rest of the population when the 50% poverty line is used (10.3%) but more likely when the 60% poverty line is used (23.7%). This figure also shows the profound impact of housing costs on poverty rates among older people by displaying the poverty rate among the 10% of older people who rent their homes, which is considerably higher than that of older people who own their homes, at…
