4914.0.55.001 - Newsletter: Age Matters, Jul 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 09/07/2003   
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DID YOU KNOW?

In 2001

  • 15% of farmers or farm managers were aged 65 years and over compared to 12% aged less than 35 years. In contrast, in 1986, 9% were aged 65 years and over compared to 19% aged less than 35 years.
  • 94% of people in nursing homes were aged 65 years and over.
  • 27% of people in hostels for the disabled were aged 65 years and over.
  • Female doctors were generally younger than male doctors, with a median age of 39 years compared with 45 years for males.
  • Between 1986 and 2001, the median age of teachers increased from 34 years to 43 years.
  • Persons aged 65-74 years recorded the greatest reduction in smoking between 1989-90 and 2001 (down from 17% to 11%).
  • The proportion of persons in the labour force aged 55 years and over declined from 13.2% in 1971 to 11.5% in 2001.

You can find this information in the publication Australian Social Trends (cat. no. 4102.0) which was released on 3 June 2003. Australian Social Trends profiles Australian society and looks at changes in the nation's social conditions and well-being. The 2003 edition has a rural and regional theme and covers a wide range of topics. Some articles that may be of interest to persons researching the ageing population are:
This publication is available from any ABS office or the ABS website.