Statistics on WA children and young people

656,987 children and young people live in Western Australia and make up 21.7% of the state's population.

• It is projected that approximately 48,121 Aboriginal children and young people live in WA in 2026.
• Around 157,000 children and young people in WA live in regional and remote areas.
• Less than 33% of children in Perth got their two-year-old child health check in 2024.
• It was estimated that the child poverty rate increased to 15.6% of children and young people in 2025. This means that about 103,900 children and young people in WA are now living below the poverty line.
• Over the past 10 years there has been a 24.5% increase in the number of children and young people aged 10 to 14 living in WA.
• Western Australia's 2024 Australian Early Development Census results for five year olds went backwards more quickly than the rest of Australia. The biggest drops in WA were 4.6% in social competence and 4.1% in emotional maturity.

Of the WA Aboriginal population, 38% are aged 0–17 years and 62% are over 17 years. Of the WA non-Aboriginal population, 22% are aged 0–17 years and 78% are over 17 years.

Places visited

From cities to regional and remote towns, the Commissioner and her team travelled throughout Western Australia to hear directly from children and young people. In 2025-26 they connected with thousands of young people, amplifying their voices and advocating for their rights and wellbeing.

• In 2025, 33,217 births were registered in WA.
• 25% of children aged 5 to 17 in WA were overweight or obese in 2022. This has not changed for over a decade and is starting to be seen as 'normal'.
• On an average night in WA in 2025, 4.5 Aboriginal boys aged 10 to 13 years old were held in detention without sentence.
• 139 children aged 10 to 13 years were held in detention during 2024-25. None were sentenced.