QUEENSLAND


Total population

Age and sex distribution

Median age

Children (under 15 years of age)

Working age population (aged 15-64 years)

People aged 65 years and over

Sex ratio


TOTAL POPULATION

At June 2013, the estimated resident population of Queensland was 4.66 million people, an increase of 437,300 since June 2008. In the five years to 2013, Queensland's population grew by 10%, which was the second-fastest growth of all states and territories, behind Western Australia at 16%.

In 2013, Greater Brisbane (which excludes the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast) was home to 2.24 million people, or almost half of Queensland's population. Greater Brisbane increased by 226,200 people in the five years to 2013, accounting for just over half of Queensland's total population growth. Ipswich had the largest growth of all SA4s in Greater Brisbane, with an increase of 43,000 people, while Moreton Bay - South had the fastest growth at 17%.

In the five years to 2013, the population of the rest of Queensland increased by 211,100 people to reach 2.42 million. Just over 40% of this growth was in the SA4s of Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, which increased by 57,100 and 30,100 people respectively. Other SA4s that experienced large growth were Fitzroy (up by 22,500 people) and Townsville (21,600).

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

At June 2013, Greater Brisbane had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years (38%) than the rest of Queensland (33%). This reflects a pattern of young adults moving to capital cities to pursue work, education and other opportunities. In contrast, Greater Brisbane had and a lower proportion aged 45 years and over (36%) than the rest of the state (41%). The proportions of people aged 19 years and younger were similar.

MEDIAN AGE

At June 2013, the median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of Queensland's population was 36.6 years, up from 36.2 years at June 2008. The median age of males in 2013 was 35.9 years, compared to 37.3 years for females.

The median age of the population in Greater Brisbane remained stable at 35.0 years between 2008 and 2013, while the median age of people living in the rest of Queensland increased from 37.4 to 38.3 years over the same period.

The SA2 with the highest median age in 2013 was Bribie Island (58.1 years), followed by Cooloola (53.9), Caloundra Hinterland (52.3) and Redland Islands (51.9). While Bribie Island and Redland Islands are located in Greater Brisbane, the rest of the top ten SA2s with the highest median ages were outside of the capital city, in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Wide Bay regions.

The two SA2s with the lowest median ages both had predominantly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. These were Yarrabah (22.5 years), near Cairns, and Northern Peninsula (23.6) in the far north of the state. Other SA2s with low median ages included St Lucia (24.3 years) in Greater Brisbane and Douglas (24.4) in Townsville. This reflects high numbers of university students in these areas.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

While the number of children in Queensland increased by 71,000 (8.3%) in the five years to June 2013, the proportion of Queensland's total population aged under 15 years remained steady at 20%.

At June 2013, the three SA2s with the highest proportions of children also had a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The SA2s of Yarrabah and Torres Strait Islands both had 34% of their total populations aged under 15 years, closely followed by Northern Peninsula (33%).

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2013, about two thirds of the Queensland population (or 3.10 million people) were aged between 15 and 64 years. The proportion of working age population in Greater Brisbane (68%) was higher than in the rest of Queensland (65%).

Eight of the ten SA2s in Queensland with the highest proportions of working age population were in inner Brisbane, ranging from 91% in Fortitude Valley to 80% in New Farm.

Outside of Greater Brisbane, the SA2s with the highest proportions of people of working age were Douglas (80%) in Townsville, and Cairns City (79%).

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

In the five years to June 2013, the number of people aged 65 years and over in Queensland increased by 117,500 people (23%) to reach 634,000. This accounted for 14% of the state's population.

The proportion of people aged 65 years or older in Greater Brisbane increased from 11% in 2008 to 12% in 2013, while in the rest of Queensland it increased from 13% to 15%.

Bribie Island, in Greater Brisbane, was the SA2 with the highest proportion of its population aged 65 years and over, at 37%. The rest of the top ten SA2s with the highest proportions of people aged 65 years or above were outside of Greater Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Wide Bay areas, ranging from 30% in Cooloola to 26% in Noosaville.

SEX RATIO

At June 2013, the sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) of Queensland was 99.5. Females outnumbered males in Greater Brisbane (with a sex ratio of 98.9), while in the rest of Queensland there were a roughly equal number of males and females.

The SA2 with the highest sex ratio was Wacol (199.1), which contains a male prison. This was followed by Mount Isa Region (158.2) and Tablelands (143.9).

The SA2s with the lowest sex ratios were Sippy Downs (83.1) on the Sunshine Coast and Coombabah (84.0) on the Gold Coast.