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FINANCIAL STRESS INDICATORS
In 2008, just under half (47%) of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over lived in a household where the household would be unable to raise $2,000 within a week in an emergency. Compared to 2002, the proportion of Indigenous people living in this situation decreased from 54%. In 2008, more than three in five (64%) Indigenous people in remote areas lived in households that would be unable to raise $2,000 within a week in an emergency, compared to two in five people living in major cities (40%) or regional areas (43%).
People were also asked whether their household had any difficulties paying for everyday necessities in the 12 months prior to interview, including food, clothing, medical bills and housing costs. In 2008, just over one-quarter (28%) of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over lived in households where members had run out of money for basic living expenses in the 12 months prior to interview. Compared to 2002, the proportion of Indigenous people living in this situation decreased from 44%.
Comparison to non-Indigenous people
The following table provides a comparison between Indigenous people from the 2008 NATSISS and non-Indigenous people from the 2006 General Social Survey (GSS). The underlying concepts used to collect data on financial stress in the 2006 GSS are similar to the 2008 NATSISS, but there are differences between the two surveys that should be considered when making comparisons. See Appendix 1 for more information.
Indigenous people aged 18 years and over were almost four times more likely than non-Indigenous people to live in households that were unable to raise $2,000 within a week in an emergency (47% compared to 13%).
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