1 AUSTRALIAN HISTORICAL POPULATION STATISTICS
Australian Historical Population Statistics (Cat. no. 3105.0.65.001) was released on 26 April 2001 as an electronic product on ABS AusStats.
It contains a wide range of time series demographic data in computer spreadsheet form going back, where possible, to the beginnings of European settlement of Australia. Statistics are included on population size and growth, population distribution, population age-sex structure, births, deaths, migration, marriages and divorces.
A total of 103 spreadsheets are involved in the initial release. The spreadsheets are available on request to non-AusStas clients.
2 SMALL AREA HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILY PROJECTIONS
A set of 1999-2019 statistical local area household and family projections using ASGC 1996 boundaries is now available. Output from the projections includes the projected population by living arrangement, projected number of families by family type and projected number of households, for each statistical local area. The cost of the projections, for all statistical local areas in a State/Territory, ranges from $1,120 in NT to $1,680 in NSW. For Australia the cost is $2,800.
The method used for these projections is similar to that used in Household and Family Projections, Australia, 1996 to 2021 (Cat. No. 3236.0). Living arrangement propensities of the population are applied to the projected population to produce the projected population by living arrangement. The projected number of families and households are then calculated.
For these projections, the living arrangement propensities are assumed to remain the same as those observed in the 1996 Census of Population and Housing. The population projections used are consistent with Series II outlined in Population Projections, Australia, 1999 to 2101 (Cat. No. 3222.0) and take account of the latest demographic trends and land use indicators available to the ABS. While the ABS takes responsibility for the method employed, the assumptions used are the responsibility of the client and the projections are not official ABS statistics.
3 CENSUS NIGHT IS ON 7 AUGUST 2001
This collection is fundamental to Australia's population estimates and for many decisions by governments, private organisations and a wide variety of community groups. Anything you can do to support the census would be appreciated.
4 CENSUS CUSTOMISED TABLE SERVICE
The ABS will be again providing a Census Customised Table Service to users of Census data. The Customised Table Service provides cross classified tables tailored to meet individual client's requirements. Clients needing customised data are encouraged to preorder their tables, ensuring prompt delivery of the requested information after Census data is officially released. To facilitate the early ordering of data, the Advance Order Service will be available to all prospective 2001 Census data users from September through to November 2001 (inclusive). For more information, please contact your client manager or call 1800 813 939 to register for an Advance Order Service information pack which will be available from mid-August.
5 AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION IS 19.3 MILLION
The preliminary estimated resident population of Australia at December 2000 was 19,277,100 persons, an increase of 225,100 persons since December 1999 and 58,000 persons since September 2000. The national growth rate during the 12 months ended December 2000 was 1.2%, higher than the growth rate for the preceding 12 months (1.1%). Just over half (54%) of this growth rate resulted from the excess of births over deaths with the balance from net overseas migration.
Due to the unavailability of final overseas arrivals and departures data from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA), September and December Quarters 2000 net overseas migration data have been estimated from a sample. Further information is available in Demography Working Paper 2001/1 - Estimating July to December 2000 Net Overseas Migration
6 PEOPLE AGED 85+
At June 2000 there were 252,000 people aged 85 and over. Interestingly this is less than the number of people aged 80-84, a situation projected by ABS to remain until the 2030s (Series II, Population Projections, Australia 1999-2101 (Cat. no. 3222.0 )).
7 HOUSEHOLDS
There were 7,249,900 resident households in Australia at June 2000, an increase of 123,400 or 2% since June 1999 and 582,200 or 9% since June 1995.
Household estimates back to September 1991 have been revised to incorporate a statistical smoothing technique which reduces volatility but retains the trend of the time series. Further information is available in Demography Working Paper 2001/3 - Improving Household Estimates.
While annual estimates are published for capital cities/balances of States in Australian Demographic Statistics (Cat. No. 3101.0), quarterly estimates are available on request.
8 UNDERSTANDING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA COURSES IN DARWIN, ALICE SPRINGS AND PERTH
The aim of this one day course is to provide an understanding of the framework of demographic data and the processes which shape the population. The course covers the relationship between Census data and Estimated Resident Population data; components of population growth; population projections; estimating the population of small areas; some tools for analysing demographic data and population dynamics and costs $342 per participant (including a light lunch, course notes and a copy of Australian Demographic Statistics, Cat. no. 3101.0).
The course continues to be well received and is contributing to a better understanding and use of ABS's demographic data among a wide range of clients from Commonwealth, State and Local Government bodies, business and community groups.
The next courses are scheduled for 9 and 10 October in Darwin, 12 October in Alice Springs and 23 & 24 October in Perth. If you would like more information or to register, please contact Megha Raut for the Darwin and Alice Springs courses (megha.raut@abs.gov.au or (08) 8943 2122), and Sue Lee for the Perth courses (sue.lee@abs.gov.au or (08) 9360 5935). A course may also be offered in Canberra at the end of the year, please contact Tina Brozinic for more details (tina.brozinic@abs.gov.au or (02) 6207 0105). For general inquiries please contact Sue Taylor (sue.taylor@abs.gov.au or (02) 6252 6141).
9 AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL TRENDS
Australian Social Trends 2001 (Cat. no 4102.0) was released on 6 June. It contains 31 articles covering the broad areas of Population, Family, Health, Education, Work, Income & Expenditure, and Housing each of which has complementary set of social indicators. Drawing on recent ABS data and data from other sources, the articles describe the diversity of Australian society and trends which are occurring within it. Some of the stories which attracted media interest include older mothers, child care arrangements, future population size and living arrangements, the Asian-born population in Australia, working arrangements including unpaid work and combining study and work, and women's incomes.
In addition, previous editions of Australian Social Trends are available free on the ABS web site. For more information call Denise Carlton (02 6252 7187) or the ABS National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
10 OVERSEAS ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Final overseas arrival and departure data for August 2000 onwards are not expected to be published before October 2001. Data from passenger cards completed by persons arriving in or departing from Australia, together with other information available to Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA), serve as a source for statistics on overseas arrivals and departures. DIMA is currently automating the processing of passenger cards and ABS has yet to receive relevant data.
11 NET OVERSEAS MIGRATION: CATEGORY JUMPING COMPONENT
In Demography Working Paper 2000/4 - Category Jumping : Trends, Demographic Impact and Measurement Issues it was recommended that the term 'category jumping' be replaced with a different and less confusing term. A suggested alternative was 'change in intended duration'.
It is proposed to adopt 'duration category change' or 'duration change'. Comments on this terminology are welcome and should be sent to valerie.pearson@abs.gov.au
12 POPULATION BY AGE AND SEX: STATISTICAL LOCAL AREA LEVEL
The June 2000 issues of Population by Age and Sex, State/Territory (Cat. no. 3235.1-8) were the last. For June 2000 and subsequent years the age-sex data will be made available electronically in a SuperTABLE dataset or as data cubes in AusStats. Data at all levels within the Australian Standard Geographical Classification main structure will be included, as well as Local Government Areas. The new data cubes will also effectively replace Estimated Resident Population by Age and Sex in Statistical Local Areas, State/Territory: Data on Floppy Disk (Cat. no. 3227.1-8).
For more information or to subscribe to a SuperTABLE dataset, please contact amanda.dobson@abs.gov.au
13 DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION ESTIMATES
Demography Working Paper 1979/1 - Population Estimates in Australia: A Discussion Paper has been placed on the ABS web site given its historic importance in the development of Australia's population estimates. Following discussion associated with the 1979 paper, population estimates were placed on a usual residence basis. At the State and Territory level population estimates based on this new concept were constructed back to 1971.
14 WHAT THE ABS DEMOGRAPHY PROGRAM PRODUCES
The demography component produces estimates of the population by age, sex, country of birth, Indigenous status, registered marital status, geographical distribution and estimates of families and households. Projections of the population, families and households, according to specified demographic assumptions, are published on a regular basis and produced for individual clients. Statistics are also regularly produced on births, deaths, marriages, divorces, overseas arrivals and departures and internal migration. For the ABS and other population surveys, benchmarks to facilitate estimation are provided. In addition to reporting on statistics, courses are conducted and an email newsletter is sent to major clients.
15 KEY CONTACTS
If you seeking demography or any other ABS data, you can:
To subscribe to publications on a regular basis, email subscriptions@abs.gov.au or call 1300 366 323.
To order particular ABS publication(s), call (02) 6252 5249.
To receive ABS Demography News as an email, unsubscribe or change your email address, please email tita.tabije@abs.gov.au
If you wish to discuss issues and/or data, contacts are as outlined below.
DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES
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