Suburb economic and demographic profiles
The City of Melbourne's Economic and Demographic Profiles detail the diversity of suburbs in the City of Melbourne. While the Council has approximately 15 suburbs within its border, for the purposes of reporting, the City of Melbourne has been divided into 18 small areas contained within 11 reports.
Each Economic and Demographic Profile covers the following topics:
- overview of defining features, recent history and local environment
- demographic profile (Census of population and housing)
- social profile (Census of population and housing)
- land use and business activity (Census of Land Use and Employment – CLUE)
- housing (Census of population and housing and CLUE)
- workforce (Census of population and housing and CLUE)
- future outlook (development activity and population forecasts)
For more information on each area visit Suburb (small area) profiles.
Demographic profiles 2006
City Research has published seven demographic reports on the City of Melbourne. They include six demographic reports based on the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census and one based on the federal Department of Education, Science and Training, and National Centre for Vocational Education Research student enrolments data:
Multicultural Community Profile (PDF, 840kb) 
Multicultural Community Profile (Text only, 2.8MB)
Young People Profile (PDF, 760kb)
Young People Profile (Text only, 2.5MB)
Older People Profile (PDF, 740kb)
Older People Profile (Text only, 2.4MB)
Families with Children Profile (PDF, 800kb)
Families with Children Profile (Text only, 2.5MB)
Workers Profile (PDF, 750kb)
Workers Profile (Text only, 2.3MB)
Volunteers Profile (PDF, 690kb)
Volunteers Profile (Text only, 2.1MB)
Contact: Nick Casey
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census of Population and Housing
Student Profile 2008
Students comprised a significant 46% (41,600) of the City’s resident population and this influenced characteristics of the City’s residents. More than 225,000 students (including students in schools, vocational education and higher education) live and study in the City of Melbourne.
This paper focuses on higher education and vocational students, while highlighting international higher education students.
Student and Education Profile 2008 (PDF, 347kb)
Student and Education Profile 2008 (Text only, 217kb)
Contact: Anton Griffith
Published: May 2010
Next updated: July 2013
Sources: Department of Education, Science and Training and National Centre for Vocational Education Research
ABS Census 2001 to 2006 – Key changes
The city of Melbourne is a dynamic place and has undergone significant change in recent years. This report highlights how the residential population of the city has grown, and resident characteristics and circumstances have changed from 2001 to 2006 with a focus on:
- demographic characteristics such as age and gender
- cultural backgrounds
- educational achievement and current student status
- lifestyle, including living arrangements such as family and household structures, dwellings type and tenure type
- labour force and transport to work
This report was published prior to the amendment of the Kensington and North Melbourne boundary. The City of Melbourne took responsibility for the whole of Kensington and North Melbourne from 1 July 2008 from the City of Moonee Valley adding 1.1 sq km to the City of Melbourne. The report will not be updated to include the extra area and population. The broad trends discussed in the report are still indicative. For information about the population within the amended boundaries, view the demographic profiles above.
Census 2001 to 2006 – Key Changes (PDF, 653kb)
Census 2001 to 2006 – Key Changes (Text only, 2.4MB)
Contact: Nick Casey
Date published: November 2007
Next updated: December 2013
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Business Melbourne
Related statistical information