3235.3 - Population by Age and Sex, Queensland, Jun 1999  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/06/2000   
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MEDIA RELEASE

June 30, 2000
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
76/2000
Queensland population centre in Gaydah Shire

Queensland's centre of population lies in a rural part of Gayndah Shire, about 240 km north-west of Brisbane, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication "Queensland Population by Age and Sex, 1999 " released today.

Finding the centre of population is useful for seeing how populations shift over time. Queensland's centre has shifted south east by approximately 14.1km since 30 June 1991, within Gayndah Shire.

These patterns indicate a tendency Queensland's population has to move away from rural areas towards the more urban, coastal regions.

Queensland's population is also "maturing", with a median age (the point at which half the population is older and half is younger) of 34.2 years in 1999, compared with 32.7 years in 1994. This is lower than the Australian median age of 34.9 years.

Queensland has close to 4,000 more men than women, with a sex ratio of 100.2 males for every 100 females. This is higher than the Australian sex ratio of 99.1. The North West Statistical Division recorded the highest sex ratio in 1999, with 118.5 males for every 100 females.

Children (people aged under 15 years) made up approximately 21 per cent of Queensland's total population. In contrast to this 40 per cent of Queensland's estimated Indigenous population was aged under 15 years in 1999.

Only 2.6 per cent of Queensland's Indigenous population was estimated to be aged over 65 years, compared with 11.4 per cent of the total Queensland population. Overall, the Wide Bay Burnett and Moreton Statistical Districts contained the highest proportions of older people.

Full details, along with information on populations by age and sex for statistical local areas, selected local government areas, statistical districts and statistical divisions can be found in Population by Age and Sex, Queensland, 30 June 1999 (cat. no. 3235.3) available in all ABS bookshops. The summary of main findings can be found on this site. If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication, contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.