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DEMOGRAPHICS

Age structure

There are a number of differences between the age distribution of the ACT and that of the rest of the ACR. As at 30 June 2006 the Canberra-Queanbeyan S Dist had proportionately fewer persons aged between 5 and 16 years or aged 44 years or over, but proportionately more persons aged between 17 and 43 years when compared with the rest of the ACR. The largest differences between the Canberra-Queanbeyan population and the rest of the ACR exist for young adults aged 19-30 years. This is associated with tertiary students studying within the ACT, as well as other young adults coming to the ACT to take up employment opportunities.

15.4 Age distribution, Australian Capital Region (a) - 30 June 2006

15.5 Age structure and median age, Australian Capital Region(a) - 30 June
	Proportion of population in age group
	0-14 years	15-64 years	65 years and over	85 years and over	Median age
	%	%	%	%	years
Canberra-Queanbeyan Statistical District
1996(b)	22.1	70.6	7.3	0.5	31.4
2001(b)	20.7	70.7	8.5	0.8	33.4
2006(c)	19.1	71.5	9.4	1.0	34.5
Remainder of Australian Capital Region
1996(b)	22.5	62.4	15.1	1.2	37.4
2001(b)	21.0	62.7	16.3	1.5	40.3
2006(c)	19.7	63.1	17.2	1.8	42.4
Total Australian Capital Region
1996(b)	22.2	68.1	9.7	0.7	33.2
2001(b)	20.8	68.2	11.0	1.0	35.4
2006(c)	19.3	68.9	11.8	1.2	36.6
(a) Estimates are based on the 2006 Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) boundaries.
(b) Estimates at 30 June 1996 and 2001 are final.
(c) Estimates at 30 June 2006 are preliminary rebased estimates based on the 2006 Census.
ABS data available on request, Regional Population Unit.

Births

In 2005, there were 6,500 births registered to persons living in the ACR, similar to the number registered in 2004 (6,600 births).

Of the ACR births in 2005, almost three quarters (74%, or 4,800 births) were to mothers usually resident in the Canberra-Queanbeyan S Dist. There were 4,200 births (64% of all ACR births) to mothers resident in the Canberra SD, and 540 (8%) to mothers resident in Queanbeyan (C).

In the rest of the ACR, the highest numbers of births were in the SLAs of Bega Valley (A) (300 births, or 5%), Eurobodalla (A) (260 births, or 4%), and Goulburn-Mulwaree (A) - Goulburn (240 births, or 4%).

Of the babies registered in the ACR in 2005, 51% (3,300) were boys and 49% (3,200) were girls.

Mothers aged 30-34 years registered the highest proportion of births in 2005, accounting for 35% of all births to persons living in the ACR. Mothers aged 25-29 years registered the next highest proportion (26%), followed by mothers aged 35-39 years (18%).

Deaths

In 2005, there were 3,200 deaths registered of ACR residents. Of these, 1,700 deaths (54%) were of persons usually resident in the Canberra-Queanbeyan S Dist. In the remainder of the ACR, Eurobodalla (A) had the highest number of deaths (360 deaths, or 12%), followed by Bega Valley (A) (300 deaths, or 9%).

There were 1,700 (53%) male deaths in the ACR in 2005 and 1,500 (47%) female deaths.

Natural increase

Natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) in 2005 for the ACR was 3,400 persons.

Within the region, the Canberra-Queanbeyan S Dist recorded population growth of 3,200 persons due to natural increase, including 2,700 persons in the Canberra SD and 360 in Queanbeyan (C). In Eurobodalla (A), there were more deaths registered than births, resulting in a loss of 100 persons due to natural decrease in population.

Total fertility rate

The total fertility rate (TFR) represents the number of children a female would bear during her lifetime if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates at each age of her reproductive life.

The TFR for the ACR in 2005 was 1.74 babies per woman, below the national level of 1.81 babies per woman for the same period.

The highest TFR within the ACR was in Young (A) at 2.38 babies per woman. This was followed by Bombala (2.29), Tumut Shire (A) (2.28), Yass Valley (A) - Pt B (2.24) and Upper Lachlan (2.20).

15.6 Demographic summary, Australian Capital Region(a) - 2005
		Births	Deaths	Natural increase	Total fertility rate(b)(c)
Statistical Local Area		no.	no.	no.	rate
Canberra-Queanbeyan Statistical District (S Dist)
	Canberra Statistical Division (SD)	4 190	1 472	2 718	1.63
	Cooma-Monaro (A) - Pt A	-	-	-	-
	Palerang (A) - Pt A	98	28	70	1.85
	Queanbeyan (C)	538	179	359	1.96
	Yass Valley (A) - Pt A	7	3	4	1.48
	Total	4 833	1 682	3 151	(d)1.68
Bega Valley (A)		298	296	2	1.94
Bombala (A)		33	34	-1	2.29
Boorowa (A)		27	18	9	1.96
Cooma-Monaro (A) - Pt B		103	77	26	2.06
Eurobodalla (A)		262	363	-101	1.95
Goulburn Mulwaree (A) - Goulburn		237	192	45	1.73
Goulburn Mulwaree (A) Bal		54	23	31	1.62
Harden (A)		46	35	11	2.12
Palerang (A) - Pt B		32	30	2	1.89
Snowy River (A)		93	26	67	1.67
Tumut Shire (A)		138	101	37	2.28
Upper Lachlan (A)		79	68	11	2.20
Yass Valley (A) - Pt B		163	86	77	2.24
Young (A)		142	108	34	2.38
Total Australian Capital Region(e)		6 548	3 139	3 409	(d)1.74
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) The statistical area boundaries used in the compilation of these statistics are those in existence at 1 July 2005.
(b) Births per woman.
(c) Unless otherwise indicated, refers to the average total fertility rate over the three years 2003 to 2005.
(d) Total fertility rate for 2005.
(e) Includes the Australian Capital Territory - Bal Statistical Division.
Births, Australia, 2005 (cat. no. 3301.0), Data cubes; Deaths, Australia, 2005 (cat. no. 3302.0), Data cubes; ABS Data available on request, Demography program.