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Estimating Homelessness: Census, 2021

Estimates of persons who were homeless or marginally housed as calculated from the Census of Population and Housing.

What Happened?

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Western Australia has increased by eight per cent to a total of 9,729 people in the five years between the 2016 and 2021 Census – an increase of over 720 people since 2016.

Homelessness in WA

  • Number of Homelessness

    > > > > >

     9,729 people

    experience homelessness every night in WA

    (ABS 2021)

  • Rate of Homelessness

    > > > > >

    36.6 per

    10,000 people experience homelessness every night in WA

    (ABS 2021)

  • Percentage of Rough Sleepers

    > > > > >

    23.8 per cent

    of people experiencing homelessness in WA are sleeping rough

    (ABS 2021)

  • Men

    > > > > >

    5,339 Men

    experience homelessness every night in WA

    (ABS 2021)

  • Women

    > > > > >

    4,389 Women

    experience homelessness every night in WA

    (ABS 2021)

  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Isl.

    > > > > >

    3,378 ATSI peoples

    are experiencing homelessness in WA

    (ABS 2021)

  • Young People

    > > > > >

    1,927 Young People

    experience homelessness every night in WA

    (ABS 2021)

  • Older People

    > > > > >

    1,855 Older People (55+)

    experience homelessness every night in WA

    (ABS 2021)

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Homelessness in Australia

  • Number of Homelessness

    > > > > >

     122,494 people

    experience homelessness every night in Australia

    (ABS 2021)

  • Rate of Homelessness

    > > > > >

    48.0 per

    10,000 people experience homelessness every night in Australia

    (ABS 2021)

  • View Shelter WA’s media release from Wed, 22 March 2023.
  • Click picture to visit the ABS Page.
  • Watch Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell speak on ABCTV Perth News.

© 2026 Shelter WA. All rights reserved. ABN 43 436 576 540. Shelter WA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their ongoing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to the Elders past and present and emerging. We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and our recognition and acceptance of your invitation to walk with you towards a movement of the Australian people for a better future.
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