3235.0 - Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2014 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/08/2015   
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TOTAL POPULATION

At June 2014, the estimated resident population of South Australia (SA) was 1.7 million people, an increase of 76,800 (or 4.8%) since June 2009.

Over 77% of the state's population resided in Greater Adelaide in 2014. The growth rate of Greater Adelaide in the five years to 2014 (5.4%) was more than twice that of the rest of South Australia (2.6%). Between 2009 and 2014, Greater Adelaide grew by 67,300 people to reach 1.3 million, while the rest of the state grew by 9,500 people to reach 381,000.

Within Greater Adelaide, the SA3s of Adelaide City and Playford had the fastest growth over this five-year period, both increasing by 14%. This was followed by Port Adelaide - East (11%), Gawler - Two Wells (7.0%) and Port Adelaide - West (6.4%). Tea Tree Gully was the only SA3 in Greater Adelaide to decline in population, down by 0.2%.

Outside of Greater Adelaide, the SA3 of Fleurieu - Kangaroo Island had the fastest growth between 2009 and 2014 (up by 8.4%), followed by Barossa (5.7%). Mid North was the only SA3 in the rest of the state to decline in population, down by 1.6%.


AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

The age distribution of the population in Greater Adelaide varies most from the rest of the state for the younger population. Greater Adelaide had a higher proportion of its population aged 18 to 40 years at June 2014 as compared to the rest of the state. This is indicative of young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.

Graph Image for AGE DISTRIBUTION(a), South Australia - 30 June 2014

Footnote(s): (a) 85 years and over not shown.

Source(s): Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2014 (cat. no. 3235.0)



The difference between the age distribution of Greater Adelaide and the rest of South Australia was largest for people aged 20 to 24 years. The population of Greater Adelaide was 3.4 times larger than the rest of the state, while for those aged 20 to 24 it was 4.9 times greater. At June 2014, males in this age group comprised 3.7% of the population in Greater Adelaide compared with 2.8% in the rest of the state, while females aged 20 to 24 years comprised 3.6% of the capital city compared with 2.3% in the rest of the state.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION (%), South Australia - 30 June 2014
Diagram: AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION (%), South Australia - 30 June 2014


MEDIAN AGE

At June 2014, South Australia had a median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of 39.8 years. This was the second highest of all states and territories, behind Tasmania at 41.5 years. The median age of females (41.0 years) in South Australia was higher than males (38.7).

The median age in Greater Adelaide (38.8 years) was almost 5 years less than for the rest of the state (43.5). For males the difference was more than 5 years (37.5 years in Greater Adelaide and 42.9 for the rest of South Australia), while for females the difference was 4 years (40.1 years compared with 44.1).

The seven SA2s with the highest median ages in South Australia in 2014 were popular retirement destinations on the Fleurieu or Yorke Peninsulas. The coastal SA2s of Victor Harbor and Goolwa - Port Elliot on the Fleurieu Peninsula had the highest median ages at 57.7 and 56.7 years respectively, with nearby Yankalilla at 52.7 years. On the Yorke Peninsula, SA2s with the highest median ages were Yorke Peninsula - South (55.9 years), Yorke Peninsula - North (52.5), Moonta (52.3) and Wallaroo (51.5).

APY Lands in the far north-west of the state had the lowest median age of all SA2s in South Australia at 27.6 years. This was followed by Davoren Park (27.7 years) and neighbouring Munno Para West - Angle Vale (28.3), both on the northern fringe of Greater Adelaide, and inner-city Adelaide (30.0).

In the five years to 2014, the SA2 with the largest increase in median age was Naracoorte Region in the state's south-east, which increased by 4.7 years, followed by Yorke Peninsula - South (4.6 years) and Goolwa - Port Elliot (4.0 years). In contrast, the largest decrease in median age over this period was in The Parks (down by 1.8 years) in Adelaide's north-west.


CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

At June 2014, there were 297,300 children under 15 years of age in South Australia, accounting for 18% of the state's population. The number of children in Greater Adelaide increased by 10,100 in the five years to June 2014, while in the rest of the state, it declined by 1,800.

The SA2s with the largest proportions of children were mostly in Greater Adelaide, including Davoren Park and Munno Para West - Angle Vale (both 27%), and Aldinga (24%). APY Lands, in the state's far north-west, also had a high proportion (24%).

The proportion of children declined in most of South Australia's SA2s in the five years to 2014, with the largest decrease in Roxby Downs (down from 24% to 19%).


WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

Around two thirds of South Australia's population (or 1.1 million people) were aged between 15 and 64 years in June 2014.

The working age population comprised 66% of the population in Greater Adelaide, and 62% in the rest of South Australia. Between 2009 and 2014, the working age population increased by 30,900 people in Greater Adelaide and decreased by 1,500 in the rest of the state.

The SA2 with the highest proportion of its population of working age was inner-city Adelaide (86%), followed by Roxby Downs (80%), Outback (77%), and Norwood and North Adelaide (both 73%). The proportion of people aged 15 to 64 years in the mining town of Roxby Downs increased from 75% to 80% in the five years to 2014, which was the largest increase of all SA2s in South Australia over this period.


PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

South Australia had 287,700 people aged 65 years or over in June 2014, representing 17% of the state's population. Of these, 42,100 people (2.5% of the state's total population) were aged 85 years and over.

Between 2009 and 2014, the population in Greater Adelaide aged 65 years and above increased by 26,200 people (from 15% to 16%), while in the rest of the state it increased by 12,900 people (17% to 20%).

The SA2s with the highest proportions of their populations aged 65 years or over were all located on the South Australian coast, outside of the capital city. Victor Harbor had the highest proportion with 38%, followed by Goolwa - Port Elliot (36%), Yorke Peninsula - South (33%), Moonta (30%) and Yorke Peninsula - North (29%). These proportions all increased since June 2009.

Within Greater Adelaide, the SA2s with the highest proportions of people aged 65 years or above were Fulham (27%) and West Lakes (26%) in the west, Panorama and Brighton (both 23%) in the south, Toorak Gardens (23%) in the east, and Hope Valley - Modbury and Walkerville (both 22%) in the north-east.

POPULATION AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER, Statistical Areas Level 2, South Australia - 30 June 2014
Diagram: POPULATION AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER, Statistical Areas Level 2, South Australia - 30 June 2014


SEX RATIO

At June 2014, the sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) in South Australia was 98.3, with 835,500 males and 850,200 females. This was the second lowest sex ratio of all states and territories, behind Victoria (97.9).

Greater Adelaide had more females than males (with a sex ratio of 96.8) while in the rest of South Australia there were more males than females (103.4).

Males outnumbered females in over one third (38%) of the state's SA2s. The SA2 with the highest sex ratio in South Australia was Outback (173.2), followed by the mining towns of Roxby Downs (163.0) and Coober Pedy (129.7). These were followed by Grant (123.0) which surrounds Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge Region (119.5), Le Hunte - Elliston on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula, and inner-city Adelaide (both 116.1).

Payneham - Felixstow (87.9), Brighton (88.3) and Toorak Gardens (88.9), all in Greater Adelaide, had the lowest sex ratios in South Australia.

MALES PER 100 FEMALES, Statistical Areas Level 2, South Australia - 30 June 2014
Diagram: MALES PER 100 FEMALES, Statistical Areas Level 2, South Australia - 30 June 2014