3235.0 - Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/08/2016   
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AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY


TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at June 2015 was 390,700 people, an increase of 28,900 since June 2010. This represents growth of 8.0% over the five-year period, just above Australia's growth rate of 7.9%.

In the five years to 2015, almost all of the ACT's growth occurred in the two northern SA3s of Gungahlin and North Canberra, and the southern SA3 of Cotter - Namadgi (up by 31,500 people combined). The SA3s that declined in population over this period were Tuggeranong and Weston Creek in the south (down by 5,700 people combined).


AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

At June 2015, the proportion of young adults (particularly those aged between 20 and 34 years) for both males and females in the ACT was relatively high compared with Australia as a whole. This may reflect the number of people in this age group who move to the ACT for tertiary education or employment.

People aged 20 to 34 years accounted for 25% of the territory's population, compared with 22% of Australia's population.


AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION (%), Australian Capital Territory - 30 June 2015
Image: Age & Sex Distribution (%), ACT - 30 June 2015



MEDIAN AGE

At June 2015, the ACT's median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) was 35.1 years, a slight increase from 34.4 years in 2010. This was younger than Australia's median age (37.4 years), and the second youngest of all states and territories, after the Northern Territory (32.2 years).

Within the ACT, the SA2 of Acton had the lowest median age in 2015 at 23.3 years. This was followed by Civic (25.6 years), Bruce (26.9) and Campbell (27.2), all of which have large numbers of students or military personnel. In contrast, Yarralumla had the highest median age at 47.5 years, followed by Isaacs at 47.1 years, and Chapman at 46.4 years.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

There were 73,700 children under 15 years of age in the ACT at June 2015, representing 19% of the population (the same proportion as the total Australian population).

The SA2 with the highest proportion of children in 2015 was Bonner at 34%, followed by Forde at 32% and Casey and Harrison (both 28%). These are all relatively new suburbs in the Gungahlin township.


POPULATION AGED LESS THAN 15 YEARS, Statistical Areas Level 2, Australian Capital Territory - 30 June 2015
Image: Population Aged Less than 15 Years, SA2, ACT - 30 June 2015



WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2015, the ACT's working age population (aged 15 to 64 years) was 269,500 people or 69% of the population. This was higher than the national proportion of 66% and the second highest of any state or territory, after the Northern Territory (71%).

Many of the SA2s with the highest proportions of people aged 15 to 64 years had large student populations or were located near the city centre. These included Acton (96%), where the Australian National University is located, Civic (92%) and Braddon (88%) near the city centre, and Bruce (83%), which contains the University of Canberra.




PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

Around 12% of the ACT's population (47,500 people) were aged 65 years and over at June 2015. This was a lower proportion than Australia as a whole (15%) and the second lowest of all states and territories, after the Northern Territory (6.9%).

The SA2s with the highest proportions of people aged 65 years and over in 2015 were Yarralumla in the inner south and Page near Belconnen in the north (both 25%), followed by Isaacs and Chapman (both 24%) in southern Canberra.

POPULATION AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER, Statistical Areas Level 2, Australian Capital Territory - 30 June 2015
Image: Population Aged 65 Years and Over, SA2, ACT - 30 June 2015


SEX RATIO

There were 98.5 males for every 100 females in the ACT at June 2015, similar to the sex ratio for Australia (99.0).

Campbell, which contains the Royal Military College - Duntroon, was the SA2 with the highest sex ratio in the ACT, at 154.8 males for every 100 females. This was followed by Macarthur (121.5), Braddon (118.1) and Reid (112.1).

Deakin had the lowest sex ratio (80.8) in the ACT (and Australia), followed by Page (81.6). This may reflect the longer life expectancies of females, as these areas also have relatively high proportions of people in older age groups.