Regional population by age and sex

Latest release

Statistics about the population by age and sex for Australia's capital cities and regions

Reference period
2022

Key statistics

  • The median age for capital cities (37.2 years) was younger than the rest of Australia (42.0).
  • The youngest capital was Darwin with a median age of 34.5 years, while Adelaide was the oldest (39.4).
  • Darwin was the only capital with more males than females.

The median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.

The sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females.

Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to area refers to Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2).

Capital cities

  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 37% of the combined capital city population, compared with 29% of the population in the rest of Australia.
  • People aged 55 years and over made up a smaller proportion of the population in capital cities (26%) than in the rest of Australia (34%).
  • The sex ratio in the combined capital cities was 98.2 males per 100 females, compared with 99.2 for the rest of Australia, indicating a higher share of females in the capitals.

Median age and sex ratio

  • Darwin had the youngest median age of all capital cities at 34.5 years, followed by Canberra at 35.6.
  • Adelaide was the oldest capital city with a median age of 39.4 years, ahead of Hobart at 38.8. 
  • Hobart and Adelaide had the lowest sex ratios of all capital cities (both 95.8 males per 100 females), while Darwin had the highest (105.8).
Median age and sex ratio by capital city
Capital cityMedian age (years)Sex ratio
Sydney37.198.9
Melbourne36.997.8
Brisbane36.698.2
Adelaide39.495.8
Perth37.899.2
Hobart38.895.8
Darwin34.5105.8
Canberra35.697.6
Total capital cities37.298.2
Total Australia38.598.5

Regions

Median age

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Acton (20.1 years) and Duntroon (21.7) in the Australian Capital Territory, which had large populations of students or military personnel
  • Northern Peninsula (24.0 years) in Queensland, which had a high proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
  • St Lucia (25.0 years) in Queensland, which contained the University of Queensland

The areas with the oldest median ages were all retirement destinations on the coast including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (65.9 years) in New South Wales
  • Bribie Island (63.1 years) and Cooloola (62.2) in Queensland
  • Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff (62.2 years) in Victoria 

Areas with the youngest median ages

SA2SA4Median age (years)
ActonAustralian Capital Territory20.1
DuntroonAustralian Capital Territory21.7
Northern PeninsulaQueensland - Outback24.0
St LuciaBrisbane - West25.0
Clayton (North) - Notting HillMelbourne - South East25.3

Areas with the oldest median ages

SA2SA4Median age (years)
Tea Gardens - Hawks NestHunter Valley exc Newcastle (NSW)65.9
Bribie IslandMoreton Bay - North (Qld)63.1
Point Lonsdale - QueenscliffGeelong (Vic.)62.2
CooloolaWide Bay (Qld)62.2
TuncurryMid North Coast (NSW)62.1

Sex ratio

The areas with the lowest sex ratios, generally with older age profiles and reflecting the longer life expectancy of females, were:

  • Woollahra (82.0 males per 100 females) in Sydney's east, and Castle Hill - East (82.2) in Sydney's north-west
  • Robina - West (82.3 males per 100 females) on Queensland's Gold Coast
  • Mornington - West (83.1 males per 100 females) in Melbourne's south

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Wacol (279.6 males per 100 females) in Brisbane's south-west and Chidlow (245.5) in Perth's north-east, which both contained male correctional centres
  • East Pilbara (267.7 males per 100 females), an area with significant mining activity in Western Australia's outback
  • Duntroon (222.9 males per 100 females) in the Australian Capital Territory, which contained the Royal Military College

Areas with the lowest sex ratios

SA2SA4Sex ratio
WoollahraSydney - Eastern Suburbs82.0
Castle Hill - EastSydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury82.2
Robina - WestGold Coast (Qld)82.3
Mornington - WestMornington Peninsula (Vic.)83.1
ActonAustralian Capital Territory83.2

Areas with the highest sex ratios

SA2SA4Sex ratio
WacolIpswich (Qld)279.6
East PilbaraWestern Australia - Outback (North)267.7
ChidlowPerth - North East245.5
DuntroonAustralian Capital Territory222.9
Howard SpringsDarwin185.4

New South Wales

  • Greater Sydney had a younger age distribution than the rest of New South Wales, reflecting the pattern of young adults moving to capital cities for education and work purposes.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 37% of Sydney's population, compared with 29% in the rest of the state.
  • People aged 60 years and over made up 20% of Sydney's population, compared with 29% in the rest of New South Wales.

Median age

The median age in Sydney (37.1 years) was younger than in the rest of New South Wales (42.5).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Shortland - Jesmond (28.1 years), which contained the University of Newcastle
  • Chippendale (28.6 years) and neighbouring Ultimo (29.2), both in inner Sydney

The areas with the oldest median ages were regional areas on the coast, including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (65.9 years) near Port Stephens
  • Tuncurry (62.1 years) on the mid north coast
  • Sussex Inlet - Berrara (61.5 years) on the south coast

Sex ratio

The sex ratio in Sydney (98.9 males per 100 females) was the same as that for the rest of New South Wales (98.9).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Woollahra (82.0 males per 100 females) and Double Bay - Darling Point (83.4), both in Sydney's east
  • Castle Hill - East (82.2 males per 100 females) in Sydney's north-west

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Surry Hills (141.4 males per 100 females) and neighbouring Darlinghurst (139.8), both in inner Sydney
  • Junee (137.3 males per 100 females), which contained the Junee Correctional Centre

Victoria

  • Greater Melbourne had a younger age distribution than the rest of Victoria, as younger adults tend to migrate out of regional areas to pursue work and education in the capital city.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 38% of the population in Melbourne, compared with 29% in the rest of the state.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 55 years and over in Melbourne (25%) than in the rest of Victoria (36%).

Median age

The median age in Melbourne was 36.9 years, which was younger than in the rest of Victoria (43.2).

The areas with the youngest median ages were in Melbourne, including:

  • Clayton (North) - Notting Hill (25.3 years) which contained the main Monash University campus
  • Melbourne CBD - North (26.5 years) and Parkville (also 26.5), both near the University of Melbourne

The areas with the oldest median ages were coastal retirement areas, including:

  • Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff (62.2 years) and neighbouring Portarlington (60.5), both in Geelong
  • Paynesville (61.5 years) in the Gippsland region

Sex ratio

The sex ratio was slightly higher in Melbourne (97.8 males per 100 females) than in the rest of Victoria (97.6).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Mornington - West (83.1 males per 100 females) on the coast
  • Armadale (84.5 males per 100 females) and Fitzroy North (87.1), both inner suburbs of Melbourne

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Rosedale (142.0 males per 100 females) in the Gippsland region and Truganina - North (127.5) on Melbourne's western outskirts, both with male correctional facilities
  • Seymour Surrounds (122.0 males per 100 females) in the Hume region, which contained the Puckapunyal Military Area

Queensland

  • Greater Brisbane had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years (36%) than the rest of Queensland (31%), reflecting the pattern of young adults moving to capital cities for work and education purposes.
  • In contrast, Brisbane had a lower proportion aged 55 years and over (25%) than the rest of the state (32%).

Median age

The median age in Brisbane (36.6 years) was younger than in the rest of Queensland (40.8).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Northern Peninsula (24.0 years) in the far north of the state and Yarrabah (25.9) near Cairns, which both had a high proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
  • St Lucia (25.0 years) in Brisbane, which contained the University of Queensland

The areas with the oldest median ages were on the coast, including:

  • Bribie Island (63.1 years) in Brisbane's north
  • Cooloola (62.2 years) in the Wide Bay region
  • Southern Moreton Bay Islands (61.0 years) in Brisbane's east

Sex ratio

Females outnumbered males in both Brisbane and the rest of Queensland (both with a sex ratio of 98.2 males per 100 females).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Robina - West (82.3 males per 100 females) and Coombabah (86.0), both on the Gold Coast
  • Bethania - Waterford (85.2 males per 100 females), a suburb of Logan

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Wacol (279.6 males per 100 females) in Brisbane's south-west, which contained male correctional centres
  • Tablelands (157.4 males per 100 females) in the state's far north
  • Glenlee - Rockyview (144.9 males per 100 females), to the north of Rockhampton

South Australia

  • Greater Adelaide had a younger age distribution than the rest of South Australia. 
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 34% of the population in Adelaide, compared with 26% in the rest of the state. This is indicative of young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 55 years and over in Adelaide (30%) than in the rest of the state (40%).

Median age

The median age in Adelaide (39.4 years) was more than seven years younger than in the rest of the state (46.8).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • APY Lands (28.6 years) in the state's north, which had a high proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
  • Munno Para West - Angle Vale (29.9 years) and Davoren Park (30.6), both in Adelaide's outer north

The areas with the oldest median ages were retirement destinations on the coast, including:

  • Goolwa - Port Elliot (61.8 years) and Victor Harbor (60.8) on the Fleurieu Peninsula
  • Moonta (59.5 years) on the Yorke Peninsula

Sex ratio

Adelaide had more females than males (with a sex ratio of 95.8 males per 100 females), while in the rest of South Australia there were more males than females (104.5).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Warradale (85.8 males per 100 females) and Walkerville (87.5), both suburban areas of Adelaide
  • APY Lands (88.0 males per 100 females)

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Outback (144.9 males per 100 females), which covers much of the state's north-east
  • the mining town of Coober Pedy (141.0 males per 100 females) in the state's north
  • Grant (137.5 males per 100 females) in the state's south-east, which contained a male correctional centre

Western Australia

  • Greater Perth had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 39 years (28%) than the rest of Western Australia (24%). This is consistent with young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 50 years and over in Perth (33%) than in the rest of the state (38%).

Median age

The median age of the population in Perth was 37.8 years, compared with 40.3 in the rest of Western Australia.

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Halls Creek (29.0 years) in the Kimberley region
  • Karnup (30.7 years) in Perth's south-west
  • Alkimos - Eglinton (30.9 years) in Perth's north-west

The areas with the oldest median ages were retirement and tree-change/sea-change locations, including:

  • York - Beverley (55.7 years) and Toodyay (53.8) in the state's northern wheat belt
  • Irwin (53.7 years) on the mid-western coast

Sex ratio

Females outnumbered males in Perth (with a sex ratio of 99.2 males per 100 females), while males outnumbered females in the rest of Western Australia (105.0).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Albany (86.7 males per 100 females) in the state's south
  • Greenfields (88.2 males per 100 females) in Perth's outer south
  • Mosman Park - Peppermint Grove (89.1 males per 100 females) in Perth's west

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • East Pilbara (267.7 males per 100 females) and Meekatharra (159.0), which were areas with significant mining activity
  • Chidlow (245.5 males per 100 females) which contained male correctional centres

Tasmania

  • Tasmania had a lower proportion of people aged 20 to 44 years (31%) than Australia as a whole (35%). This in part reflects young adults pursuing education and employment opportunities interstate.
  • Tasmania also had a higher proportion of people aged 55 years and over (34%) than Australia (29%). This partly reflects a trend of adults in this age group moving into the state.

Median age

The median age in Greater Hobart (38.8 years) was younger than in the rest of Tasmania (44.7).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Bridgewater - Gagebrook (31.1 years) and Rokeby (32.2), both on the eastern shore of the Derwent River in Hobart
  • Mowbray (32.8 years) in Launceston, located close to the University of Tasmania and other educational facilities

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Forestier - Tasman (57.9 years), Triabunna - Bicheno (57.6) and St Helens - Scamander (56.1), all on Tasmania's eastern seaboard

Sex ratio

Females outnumbered males in Hobart (with a sex ratio of 95.8 males per 100 females), while males outnumbered females in the rest of Tasmania (100.4).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Lindisfarne - Rose Bay (88.6 males per 100 females) and Rokeby (89.0), both on the eastern shore of the Derwent River in Hobart
  • Parklands - Camdale (89.9 males per 100 females) on the north-west coast of Tasmania

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Risdon Vale (126.6 males per 100 females) in Hobart's north-eastern suburbs, which contained male correctional centres
  • Central Highlands (120.7 males per 100 females) and Derwent Valley (118.5), both in regional Tasmania

Northern Territory

  • A lower proportion of Greater Darwin's population was under 25 years of age (32%) compared with the rest of the Northern Territory (37%).
  • Darwin had a higher proportion of people aged 25 years and over (68%) than the rest of the territory (63%).

Median age

The median age in Darwin (34.5 years) was older than in the rest of the Northern Territory (32.1).

The areas with the youngest median ages had a high proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, including:

  • Victoria River (25.4 years) in the Katherine region
  • Barkly (26.9 years) in the territory's east
  • Thamarrurr (27.7 years), to the south-west of Darwin

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Alligator (47.9 years) in the Top End
  • Ross (41.6 years), a suburb of Alice Springs
  • Virginia (41.3 years) in the Litchfield region

Sex ratio

Males outnumbered females in Darwin (with a sex ratio of 105.8 males per 100 females), while females outnumbered males in the rest of the Northern Territory (99.5).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Larapinta (89.2 males per 100 females) and East Side (90.5), both suburbs of Alice Springs
  • Elsey (91.3 males per 100 females), to the east of Katherine

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Howard Springs (185.4 males per 100 females), which contained a male correctional centre
  • Sandover - Plenty (121.7 males per 100 females) which surrounds Alice Springs
  • Larrakeyah (117.1 males per 100 females), an inner suburb of Darwin

Australian Capital Territory

  • The Australian Capital Territory had a younger age distribution than Australia as a whole, reflecting the number of young adults who move to the territory for education or employment.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years accounted for 40% of the territory's population, compared with 35% of Australia's population.

Median age

The Australian Capital Territory had a younger median age (35.6 years) than Australia as a whole (38.5).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Acton (20.1 years), which contained the Australian National University
  • Duntroon (21.7 years), which contained the Royal Military College
  • inner-city Civic (27.1 years)

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Yarralumla (50.5 years) in Canberra's inner-south
  • Isaacs (49.0 years) in Woden Valley
  • Chapman (47.1 years) in the south-west

Sex ratio

There were 97.6 males per 100 females in the Australian Capital Territory.

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Acton (83.2 males per 100 females)
  • Deakin (86.7 males per 100 females) in Canberra's inner-south
  • Cook (87.0 males per 100 females), a suburb of Belconnen

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Duntroon (222.9 males per 100 females), due to the Royal Military College
  • Canberra East (151.5 males per 100 females)
  • Reid (109.7 males per 100 females) in Canberra's inner-north

Interactive maps

Regional population by age - interactive maps

These maps display the proportion of the population aged 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ for SA2s and LGAs.

How to use

  • If the map does not load, please try again later or refresh your page. 
  • Use the headings under the main title to navigate to a topic and then use the buttons on the left to view different subsets of the data. 
  • If viewing on a mobile device or small screen the buttons to switch between data subsets may move to below the map. 
  • Click on a region of interest to view data about that region.
  • Search: The search icon opens the search function. You can search for addresses, suburbs, postcodes and SA2/LGA names.
  • Data: on each map, an SA2 or LGA region can be selected to view the underlying data. Data for all SA2s and LGAs can be found in the Data downloads section of this publication.

Geographic areas

The boundaries used in the map are:

Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) 2021, according to the Main Structure of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, July 2021 – June 2026.

Local Government Area (LGA) 2022, according to the Non ABS Structures of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, July 2021 – June 2026.

Data downloads

Data files

GeoPackages

Data files

Data Explorer datasets

Caution: Data Explorer can be problematic when trying to view and manipulate large datasets, such as SA2-based or LGA geographies released in this product. Please use the Excel data cubes provided above for these datasets. 

Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.

Post-release changes

05/10/2023 - A link to interactive maps showing the proportion of the population aged 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ for SA2s and LGAs was added.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3235.0.

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