AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY


TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at June 2014 was 386,000 people, an increase of 31,200 since June 2009. This represents growth of 8.8% over the five year period, just above Australia's growth rate of 8.3%.

In the five years to 2014, almost all of the ACT's growth occurred in the three northern SA3s of North Canberra, Belconnen and Gungahlin (up by 31,500 people combined). The only SA3 to decline in population over this period was Tuggeranong in the south (down by 3,900 people).

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

At June 2014, the proportion of young adults (particularly those aged between 20 and 34 years) for both males and females in the ACT was relatively high compared with Australia as a whole. This may reflect the number of people in this age group who move to the ACT for tertiary education or employment.

People aged 20 to 34 years accounted for 26% of the territory's population, compared with 22% of Australia's population.

MEDIAN AGE

At June 2014, the ACT's median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) was 34.9 years, a slight increase from 34.5 years in 2009. This was younger than Australia's median age (37.3 years), and the second youngest of all states and territories, after the Northern Territory (31.8 years).

Within the ACT, the SA2 of Acton had the lowest median age in 2014 at 23.0 years. This was followed by Civic (25.3 years), Bruce (26.5) and Campbell (26.9), all of which have large numbers of students or military personnel. In contrast, Yarralumla had the highest median age at 47.5 years, followed by Isaacs at 46.9 years, and both Chapman and Deakin at 45.2 years.


CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

There were 72,100 children under 15 years of age in the ACT at June 2014, representing 19% of the population (the same proportion as the total Australian population).

The SA2 with the highest proportion of children in 2014 was Forde at 32%, followed by Bonner and Harrison (both 29%). These are all relatively new suburbs in the Gungahlin township.




WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2014, the ACT's working age population (aged 15 to 64 years) was 268,500 people or 70% of the population. This was higher than the national proportion of 66% and the second highest of any state or territory, after the Northern Territory (71%).

Many of the SA2s with the highest proportions of people aged 15 to 64 years had large student populations or were located near the city centre. These included Acton (97%), where the Australian National University is located, Civic (93%) and Braddon (88%) near the city centre, and Bruce (84%), which contains the University of Canberra.


PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

Around 12% of the ACT's population (45,300 people) were aged 65 years and over at June 2014. This was a lower proportion than Australia as a whole (15%) and the second lowest of all states and territories, after the Northern Territory (6.5%).

The SA2s with the highest proportions of people aged 65 years and over in 2014 were Page (25%) in northern Canberra, followed by Isaacs, Yarralumla (both 24%) and Deakin (23%) in southern Canberra.




SEX RATIO

There were 98.8 males for every 100 females in the ACT at June 2014, similar to the sex ratio for Australia (99.1).

Campbell, which contains the Royal Military College - Duntroon, was the SA2 with the highest sex ratio in the ACT, at 154.5 males for every 100 females. This was followed by Macarthur (120.0), Braddon (117.7) and Acton (112.2).

Deakin had the lowest sex ratio (81.1) in the ACT, followed by Page (82.9). This may reflect the longer life expectancies of females, as these areas also have relatively high proportions of people in older age groups.