3235.8 - Population by Age and Sex, Australian Capital Territory, Jun 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/06/2001   
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MEDIA RELEASE

June 29, 2001
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
80/2001

ACT population is younger than Australian Population

The age profile of the ACT's population is noticeably younger than the Australian population as a whole, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication Population by Age and Sex, Australian Capital Territory, 30 June 2000, released today.

The median age of the population (the age at which half of the population is older and half is younger) of the ACT at June 2000 was 32.8 years, lower than the median age of 35.2 years for Australia as a whole. This was due to the ACT having higher proportions of young adults (aged 15 to 34 years), who made up 33% of the ACT population compared to 29% for Australia overall, and lower proportions of older people (55 years and over), who made up 16% of the ACT population compared to 21% for Australia.

The peak in the young adult age groups (around ages 20 to 23) in the ACT reflects the number of students who move to Canberra to undertake tertiary education.

AGE STRUCTURE OF THE POPULATION - ACT and Australia
Graph - Age structure of the population - ACT and Australia



The statistical subdivision of Gungahlin-Hall had the lowest median age (28.7 years), followed by Tuggeranong (30.3 years). South Canberra recorded the highest median age of 38.3 years.

Suburbs with large student populations recorded the lowest median ages in the ACT. Duntroon, with the Australian Defence Force Academy, had the lowest median age (20.7 years), followed by Acton (21.1 years) with the Australian National University, and Bruce (24.0 years) with the University of Canberra.

Suburbs with the highest median ages were Symonston (46.2 years), Yarralumla (43.7 years), O'Malley (42.4 years) and Deakin (42.1 years).

Details are in Population by Age and Sex, Australian Capital Territory, 30 June 2000 (cat. no. 3235.8). If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication, contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.