Council area

Shoalhaven, NSW

Shoalhaven had a population of 108,531 at the 2021 Census (+8.9% since 2016). Median age 48.2. Median weekly household income $1,250. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Explore Shoalhaven freeSee the figures

Shoalhaven at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with New South Wales.

In Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Shoalhaven's population grew by 8.9% to 108,531, in step with New South Wales as a whole (+7.9%). With a median age of 48.2, it is older than the NSW average (38.4). Children under 10 make up 10.4% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 20.0%.

24.7% of households rent, a smaller share than the NSW average of 33.1%. 45.4% own their home outright. Almost every home is a house; flats and apartments are 2.0% of homes. The 2021 Census counted 42,667 households.

The median household earns $1,250 a week, below the NSW average of $1,829. Renters pay a median $351 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $1,718 a month.

14.4% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the NSW average of 31.0%. 5.2% use a language other than English at home. 45.3% report no religion, higher than the NSW average (35.7%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Shoalhaven beside NSW and Australia.

ShoalhavenNSWAustralia
Population108,5318,072,17125,422,828
Growth since 2016+8.9%+7.9%+8.6%
Median age48.238.438.2
Households42,6672,900,4569,275,123
Flats and apartments2.0%21.8%14.3%
Renting24.7%33.1%31.1%
Owned outright45.4%32.0%31.4%
Median household income a week$1,250$1,829$1,747
Median rent a week$351$423$376
Median mortgage repayment a month$1,718$2,142$1,866
Born overseas14.4%31.0%29.3%
Other language at home5.2%28.2%23.6%
No religion45.3%35.7%41.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Population and age

Each census since 2011, and the age profile in 2021.

Population

+8.9% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 92,8122011
  2. 99,6502016
  3. 108,5312021

Age

Median age 48.2, against 38.4 for New South Wales.

Shoalhaven New South Wales
0–910.4%
10–1910.6%
20–299.3%
30–3910.4%
40–4910.5%
50–5912.7%
60–6916.1%
70–7913.2%
80+6.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Cultural background

The largest groups in Shoalhaven at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. English46.3%
  2. Australian43.2%
  3. Irish12.6%
  4. Scottish11.7%
  5. Australian Aboriginal6.4%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Greek0.3%
  2. Spanish0.3%
  3. Italian0.3%
  4. German0.3%
  5. Tagalog0.2%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England4.7%
  2. New Zealand1.3%
  3. the Philippines0.6%
  4. Scotland0.5%
  5. Germany0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Around Shoalhaven

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Part of

Nearby

Suburbs in Shoalhaven

Largest first.

Explore Shoalhaven in Censible

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