Demographics
Population over time | |
---|---|
1841 | 454 |
1846 | 2,065 |
1851 | 8,291 |
1854 | 20,115 |
1861 | 22,929 |
1891 | 17,445 |
1901 | 25,017 |
1907 | 28,021 |
1921 | 31,689 |
1933 | 39,223 |
1946 | 51,000 |
1954 | 72,995 |
1961 | 91,666 |
1966 | 105,059 |
1976 | 122,080 |
1981 | 141,279 |
1988 | 146,349 |
2006 | 160,991 |
2009 | 179,971 |
2010 | 184,583 |
As of the 2006 Census, there were 160,000 people residing in 68,000 households. The median age of persons in Geelong was 37 years. 19.4% of the population of Geelong were children aged between 0–14 years, and 26.6% were persons aged 55 years and over. Each dwelling is on average occupied by 2.59 persons, slightly lower than the state and national averages. The median household income was $901 per week, $121 less than the state average, partly due to higher reliance on manufacturing for employment. The population of Geelong is growing by 2500 people each year, and the City of Greater Geelong had the highest rate of building activity in Victoria outside metropolitan Melbourne.
78.4% of people from Geelong are Australian born, with the most common overseas birthplaces being: England (3.6%), Italy (1.1%), Croatia (1.0%), Netherlands (0.9%), Scotland (0.8%). 14.2% of households speak a language other than English in the home. Notable ethnic groups in the city are the Croatian community, who first came to the city in the 1850s and with migration since World War II are now the largest Croatian community in Australia, and the German settlers who founded Germantown (now Grovedale) in 1849 to escape repression in Prussia for their Lutheran faith.
The 2006 Census found the most common religious affiliations in Geelong were Catholicism at 29.4%. St Mary of the Angels Basilica is the largest congregation in the city. Other affiliations of resident of Geelong include No Religion 20.5%, Anglican 14.6%, Uniting Church 7.9% and Presbyterian and Reformed at 4.3%. The city has a large number of traditional Christian churches, as well as Orthodox Christian churches in the northern suburbs.
Read more about this topic: Geelong