Housing

Number of cars per household

About this topic

Number of cars per household shows how many registered motor vehicles are available to people living in a household. It is a measure of access to private transport rather than total travel activity.

This topic is useful for understanding mobility, transport choice, and access to jobs and services. It should be read with public transport availability, household type, income, and travel to work, because high or low car ownership can reflect very different local conditions.

Interpretation notes

  • This measures registered motor vehicles owned or used by residents that were garaged or parked at or near the dwelling on Census night.
  • Vehicle counts are a household access measure, not a direct measure of how often people drive or commute.

Key insight

In 2021, 1 motor vehicle was the most common car-ownership level among households in Christmas Island, accounting for 39.6% (167 households). This share was higher than Other Territories (36.4%).

Section overview

Car ownership

Christmas Island - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for Christmas Island in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Other Territories and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Christmas Island, with comparison markers for Other Territories.

Christmas Island
Other Territories

No motor vehicles

2021 count

31

% of total

7.3%

Change from 2016

-

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

167

% of total

39.6%

Change from 2016

-

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

129

% of total

30.6%

Change from 2016

-

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

86

% of total

20.4%

Change from 2016

-

Not stated

2021 count

6

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Number of cars per household for Christmas Island. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Other Territories.

Number of cars per household for Christmas Island. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Other Territories.
Number of cars per household for Christmas Island. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Other Territories.
Category20212016Change
Count%Other Territories%Count%Other Territories%Countpp
No motor vehicles317.3%4.0%--4.6%--
1 motor vehicle16739.6%36.4%--32.0%--
2 motor vehicles12930.6%34.2%--37.9%--
3 or more motor vehicles8620.4%21.1%--20.8%--
Not stated61.4%4.0%--5.1%--
Total households422100.0%100.0%--100.0%--