1006.0 - Forward Work Program, 2014-15 to 2017-18  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/11/2014   
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DEMOGRAPHY

OBJECTIVES

The key objective of the Demography Program is to produce estimates of the recent and projected population and analysis of the components of population change (births, deaths, and migration) and related demographic trends. These data are provided at the national, state, territory, and regional level, as well as for the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

These statistics are produced to:

  • meet a range of legislative requirements that make reference to population estimates
  • assist in the formulation and monitoring of government policies, and in the planning and administration of government programs
  • enable planning and market analyses by businesses and community organisations
  • enable research and analyses by governments, businesses, academic institutions and others into the causes and consequences of population change.

Reflecting the use of population estimates for electoral and funding purposes, the main clients of the program are: Australian and state/territory-level electoral commissions, treasuries, and grants commissions. Within the ABS, demographic estimates and projections are the basis for population survey benchmarks. Other clients include agencies concerned with issues associated with migration and multicultural affairs, local area planning, health, education, the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, family and community services, the environment and international tourism. The program also works to build capacity of government agencies to understand and use demographic data and statistics, and supports the development of civil registration systems in Asia and the Pacific region.


OUTPUTS

The program’s key outputs are population estimates published in Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0). The program produces estimates of the total population by age, sex, country of birth and geographical distribution; estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population; and estimates of families and households.

Regular statistics are also produced on births, fertility rates, deaths, mortality rates, life expectancy, international migration as well as interstate and internal migration. Projections of population, families and households according to specified demographic assumptions are published on a regular basis. Population benchmarks are provided for use in the ABS and other population surveys. Regular statistics based on the movements of overseas arrivals and departures are also produced.

Major publications include:

DEVELOPMENTS

The main medium-term developments in the program are to:
  • support the Australian Electoral Commission by supplying statistical information required for a round of electoral redistributions - due late 2014
  • release Australian Historical Population Statistics (cat. no. 3105.0.65.001) with updated information beyond 2008 - due late 2014
  • develop Regional Internal Migration Estimates as a partnership project between ABS and state government planning agencies - due December 2014
  • release Household and Family Projections based on the 2011 Census data - due June 2015
  • explore the feasibility of improving comparability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life tables for 2010-2012 for Australia and states/territories - ongoing
  • assess the quality of Census and Post Enumeration Survey data, as key inputs into population estimates, through the testing phases in the lead-up to the 2016 Census - ongoing
  • conduct investigations into the feasibility of improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population estimates and projections including projections by all remoteness categories and preliminary backcast population estimates - ongoing
  • improve harmonisation of births and deaths data, enhance coordination between data providers, and improve connections with data users through the newly formed National Civil Registration and Statistics Improvement Committee - ongoing.


PROGRAM MANAGER

Graeme Brown
Assistant Statistician
Demography, Regional & Social Analysis Branch

RESOURCES

Program costs
$m
2014-15
2.6
2015-16
2.5
2016-17
2.6