3311.5.55.001 - Demography, Western Australia, 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/05/2004   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

This page replaces the previous hard copy publication Demography, Western Australia (cat. no. 3311.5)


POPULATION
BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS
DEATHS
MIGRATION
MARRIAGES
DIVORCES
REGIONAL SUMMARY

For comparisons between the states and territories of Australia, please refer to Demography, Australia, 2002 (cat. no. 3311.0.55.001). Demography publications for each state and territory can be accessed from the following links:



Additional state demographic data are also available from publications and data cubes linked at the foot of this page. The Demography Theme Page provides links to other Australian as well as international demography statistics. The National Regional Profiles provide economic and social statistics of Statistical Local Areas and Local Government Areas of Australia.


Inquiries

For further information about the statistics on this page contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Janet Gunn on (08) 9360 5377 or janet.gunn@abs.gov.au.

SUMMARY

In 2002, Western Australia's population was 1.937 million which was 9.8% of the Australian population. Western Australian has been the fourth most populous state since 1982. Western Australia had 9% of all births in Australia, 8% of all deaths and 10% of all marriages. In 2002, Western Australia recorded its fourth consecutive year of net loss through interstate migration. 11% of all overseas arrivals settled in Western Australia.

POPULATION

The Estimated Resident Population of Western Australia at 31 December 2002 was 1.937 million, which was 9.8% of the Australian total. The main contributors to population growth in 2002 were net overseas migration (15, 600) and natural increase (12, 300). Western Australia also experienced a loss of 4, 200 persons through interstate migration. Western Australia was the second fastest growing state/territory in 2002, with a growth rate of 1.2%, the same as the growth rate for Australia. Queensland had the highest growth rate of 2.3%

Net overseas migration has been the main source of population growth since 2000.

COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE
Components of population change, 1992 to 2002. Includes natural increase, net overseas migration, net interstate migration

POPULATION, Western Australia

1992
2001
2002

Estimated resident population('000)
1,667.7
1,913.3
1,936.9

Components of population change(a)
Natural increase(b)no.
15,045
13,315
12,263
Net overseas migration(c)no.
5,925
16,347
15,597
Net interstate migrationno.
-738
-3,834
-4,231
Total increase(d)no.
20,576
25,615
23,629

Annual growth rate

%

1.3

1.4

1.2

Estimated resident households(e)

('000)

592.2

738.6

np


np - not for publication as data are under review.
(a) From previous year.
(b) Births and deaths figures used to compile natural increase for population estimates are based on year of occurrence and may differ from births and deaths data based on year of registration displayed in the Births and Confinements table and the Deaths table below.
(c) Includes migration adjustment. Please refer to the Explanatory Notes for further details. Net overseas migration data for Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Island were randomly allocated to the states and territories in 1992.
(d) Includes intercensal discrepancy not accounted for by natural increase and net migration.
(e) At 30 June. 1992 figure is based on 1996 census; 2001 and 2002 figures are based on 2001 census.


BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS

In 2002, there were 23,200 confinements resulting in 23,600 births registered to mothers usually residing in Western Australia. Registrations of births were 3% lower than in 2001 (24, 000 births) and 6% lower than in 1992 (25,100 births). There were 12,100 male births and 11,500 female births registered in 2002, giving a sex ratio of 105.2 males per 100 females. The crude birth rate for Western Australia was 12.3 births per 1,000 estimated resident population, which was lower than the national rate of 12.8. Western Australia had the second lowest crude birth rate, with South Australia having the lowest at 11.6.

The total fertility rate (TFR), that is the average number of babies that a woman could expect to give birth to in her lifetime if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates, was 1.688 babies per woman in 2002. Since 1975, TFR's have been below the rate of 2.1 babies per woman, which is the rate required for replacement of the population.

The upward trend in median age of parents continued in 2002, to a high of 29.9 years for mothers and 32.2 years for fathers, reflecting the tendency for couples having children later in life. The 30-34 year age group had the highest fertility rate at 105.6 babies per 1,000 women in 2002.

AGE-SPECIFIC FERTILITY RATES(a)
Age specific fertility rates
(a) Number of live births per 1000 women in each age group

BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS(a), Western Australia

1992
2001
2002

Live births
Numberno.
25,073
24,002
23,601
Crude birth rate rate
15.1
12.6
12.3
Total fertility rate rate
1.876
1.727
1.688
Net reproduction rate rate
0.897
0.830
0.813

All confinements
Numberno.
24,734
23,597
23,232
Median age of motheryears
28.5
29.8
29.9

Nuptial confinements
Numberno.
18,134
15,407
15,059
Median age of motheryears
29.4
30.9
31.1
Median age of fatheryears
31.7
33.2
33.3

First nuptial confinements
Numberno.
6,985
6,409
6,180
Median age of motheryears
27.8
29.9
30.1

(a) Compiled on year of registration basis.

DEATHS

In 2002, there were 11,300 registered deaths for persons usually resident in Western Australia, an increase of 14% from 1992 when there were 9,900 deaths. There were 5,800 male deaths and 5,500 female deaths. Despite the ageing of the population, there has been little movement in the crude death rates over the last 10 years. The crude death rate (CDR) was 5.9 deaths per 1,000 estimated resident population in 2002, compared with 6.0 in 1992. Western Australia's CDR was lower than the national rate of 6.8. The CDR for males (6.1) has been slightly higher than that for females (5.7) in the last decade, even though the male population has a younger age structure than the female population.

Standardised death rates (SDRs) enable comparison of death rates between populations with different age structures. Western Australia's SDR of 6.4 was lower that the national rate of 6.7, with only the Australian Capital Territory recording a lower SDR (5.9). In 2002, the male SDR was 7.8 and the female SDR was significantly lower at 5.3.

DEATH RATES(a)

death rates 1992 to 2002, includes crude rate for males and females and standardised rate for males and females
(a) Deaths per 1,000 population


DEATHS(a), Western Australia

1992
2001
2002

Numberno.
9,898
10,779
11,326
Crude death rate (b)rate
6.0
5.7
5.9
Standardised death rate (c)rate
7.9
6.3
6.4

Median age at death
Malesyears
79.8
82.4
82.7
Femalesyears
79.0
81.5
81.8

Infant deaths
Numberno.
175
122
102
Infant mortality rate (d)rate
7.0
5.1
4.3

Life expectancy at birth
Malesyears
75.2
77.3
77.9
Femalesyears
80.9
82.8
82.9


(a) Compiled on year of registration basis.
(b) Per 1,000 population.
(c) Per 1,000 standard population. Standardised death rates have been revised using the 2001 standard population.
(d) Per 1,000 live births.


MIGRATION

In 2002, net overseas migration contributed an additional 15,600 persons to the Western Australian population, 750 less than in 2001. Net interstate migration has been falling since 1996 and since 1999 the number of persons leaving Western Australia has exceeded the numbers coming into Western Australia. In 2002, the net loss through interstate migration was 4,200 persons.

Overseas migration includes permanent and long-term (over 12 months) movement between Australia and other countries. Net overseas migration refers to the net permanent and long-term overseas migration, adjusted for changes in traveller duration intention and errors associated with multiple movements during long-term stays or absences.

Western Australia's net interstate migration has fluctuated over the past 20 years, peaking at 9,400 in 1986 and declining to a net loss of 4,200 in 2002. Despite the long-term trend of moderate net interstate gains, Western Australia has, over the past 4 years, experienced a net loss in interstate migration, with the largest net loss of 4,400 persons being experienced in 2001. Net interstate migration losses were also recorded during 1991, 1992 and 1993, although not to the same magnitude as in the past four years.

MIGRATION, Western Australia

1992
2001
2002

Overseas Migration
Permanent and Long-term movements (a)
Arrivalsno.
23,791
37,363
39,960
Departures
Net Overseas Migration (b)
no.
no.
15,162
5,925
20,531
16,347
21,800
15,597

Interstate migration
Arrivalsno.
28,400
29,115
29,869
Departures
Net interstate migration
no.
no.
29,138
-738
32,949
-4,398
34,100
-4,231


(a) Based on stated intention on arrival or departure.
(b) Includes migration adjustment. Please refer to the Explanatory Notes for further details. Net overseas migration data for Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Island were randomly allocated to the states and territories in 1992.


MARRIAGES

In 2002, there were 10, 500 marriages registered in Western Australia which was 7.1% higher than the number registered in 2001. However, this number was still lower than the 11,000 marriages registered in 2000, which was the highest figure ever recorded. The crude marriage rate (the number of marriages per 1,000 of the estimated resident population) for Western Australia was 5.4 in 2002, which was the same as the national rate.

Among people marrying for the first time in 2002, the median age for bridegrooms was 29.5 years and 27.3 years for brides. In 1992, the median ages were 27.0 years and 24.7 years respectively and reflects a continuing tendency to marry later in life. In 2002, the median age for all brides was 29.3 years and all bridegrooms was 31.6 years.
MARRIAGES, Western Australia

1992
2001
2002

Number registeredno.
10,118
9,785
10,484
Crude marriage rate (a)rate
6.1
5.1
5.4

Median age at marriage
Bridegroomyears
29.1
31.3
31.6
Brideyears
26.5
29.0
29.3

(a) Per 1,000 population

DIVORCES

Details on divorces are not yet available for 2002. In 2001, there were 5,351 divorces granted in Western Australia and the crude divorce rate was 2.8 divorces per 1,000 population. This rate is slightly lower than the national crude divorce rate of 2.9. Over the last 10 years, the crude divorce rate has remained fairly stable with a low of 2.7 in 1992 and a high of 2.9 in 1999.

Duration of marriage is the interval between the date of marriage and the date the divorce was made absolute. In 2001, the median duration of marriage in Western Australia was 12.6 years. This is the highest median duration of marriage since the passage of the Family Law Act 1975.
DIVORCES, Western Australia

1992
2001
2002

Number grantedno.
4,540
5,351
nya
Crude divorce rate (a)rate
2.7
2.8
nya

Median duration of marriage

years

11.0

12.6

nya

Median interval between marriage and final separation

years

7.8

9.2

nya

nya - not yet available
(a) Per 1,000 population


REGIONAL SUMMARY

The Perth Statistical Division, which contained 73% of the Western Australian population, had 71% of the State's births and 73% of the State's deaths in 2002. The Perth Statistical Division's average total fertility rate over the three years 2000-2002 (1.65 births per woman) was less than the three-year average for the remainder of the State (2.05 births per woman).

In Western Australia, the largest populations tended to be in those SLAs on the fringe of the Perth Statistical Division. The most populous Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in Western Australia was Joondalup (C) - South with an estimated resident population of 107,500 persons. Other SLAs within the Perth Statistical Division with high populations were Stirling (C) - Coastal (62,500), Cockburn (C) (71,200), Rockingham (C) (76,200), Canning (C) (78,100), Gosnells (C) (85,100), Swan (C) (87,300), Melville (C) (97,200), Stirling (C) - Central (99,100). The largest SLA outside the Perth Statistical Division was Mandurah (C), which was the twelfth largest SLA in Western Australia, with a population of 50,800 persons.


DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY, Western Australia(a)
Estimated mid-year resident population 2002(b)
Births 2002(c)
Total fertility rate(c)
Deaths 2002(d)
Indirect standardised death rate(e)
Life expectancy at birth males
Life expectancy at birth females

Perth
1 413 651
16 837
1.646
8 275
6.2
78.4
83.4
South West
198 968
2 295
1.945
1 301
6.4
78.0
83.2
Lower Great Southern
53 794
624
2.114
386
6.6
77.2
82.8
Upper Great Southern
18 723
234
2.469
116
7.2
np
np
Midlands
53 559
727
2.250
324
6.5
77.2
82.5
South Eastern
54 855
890
2.190
270
8.9
74.2
79.8
Central
60 626
824
2.192
357
7.5
76.4
81.5
Pilbara
39 441
641
2.126
104
8.6
np
np
Kimberley
33 705
509
1.983
133
11.1
71.8
78.0
Total Western Australia
1 927 322
23 601
1.744
11 326
6.4
77.9
82.9

(a) The statistical area boundaries used in the compilation of these statistics are those in existence at 1 July 2002.
(b) As at 30 June 2002.
(c) The average total fertility rate over the three years 2000 to 2002.
(d) Data are for calendar year 2002.
(e) The average indirect standardised death rate over the three years 2000 to 2002.
RELATED LINKS

3101.0 Australian Demographic Statistics
3201.0 Population by Age and Sex, State and Territories
3218.0 Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand
3222.0 Population Projections, Australia
3230.0 Experimental Estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Population
3231.0 Experimental Projections of the Indigenous Population
3236.0 Household and Family Projections, Australia
3301.0 Births, Australia
3302.0 Deaths, Australia
3303.0 Causes of Death, Australia
3412.0 Migration, Australia
3105.0.65.001 Australian Historical Population Statistics