3235.6.55.001 - Population by Age and Sex, Tasmania, Jun 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/06/2004   
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TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of Tasmania as at 30 June 2003 was 477,077, an increase of 4,465 since June 2002. The population was in decline from 30 September 1996 when the population reached its highest level of 474,535. The population returned to growth after 30 September 2000 when the population reached 471,284. The growth rate for 2002-03 was 0.94%, compared with a growth rate of 0.17% for 2001-02.

Greater Hobart Statistical Division increased by 2,000 people (1.0%), Northern Statistical Division by 1,400 (1.1%), Mersey-Lyell Statistical Division by 700 people (0.7% per year) and Southern Statistical Division by 300 (0.9%).

MEDIAN AGE

The median age of the estimated resident population of Tasmania as at 30 June 2003 was 38.1, an increase of 0.4 years on the 37.7 for 30 June 2002, and 2.0 years higher than the Australian median age of 36.1 years. The median age for Tasmanian males increased from 36.9 at 30 June 2002 to 37.2 at 30 June 2003. The equivalent figures for Tasmanian females were 38.4 in 2002 and 38.9 in 2003.

The highest median age among the Statistical Divisions was in Southern (39.7 years), followed by Mersey-Lyell (38.4 years), Northern (38.0 years) and Greater Hobart (37.6 years).

Local government areas with the highest median ages were Glamorgan/Spring Bay (46.1 years), Tasman (45.0 years), Break O'Day (44.8 years), Flinders (44.5 years) and King Island (41.6 years). Local government areas with the lowest median ages included Brighton (30.7 years), West Coast (34.7 years), Circular Head (35.6 years) and Launceston (36.3 years).

Local government areas with the highest median ages for males were Tasman (45.6 years), Glamorgan/Spring Bay (45.5 years), Flinders (45.1 years), Break O'Day (45.1 years) and King Island (41.3 years). Local government areas with the lowest median ages for males included Brighton (30.1 years), Launceston (34.8 years), Circular Head (35.1 years), West Coast (35.8 years) and Hobart (35.9 years).

Local government areas with the highest median ages for females were Glamorgan/Spring Bay (47.1 years), Break O'Day (44.5 years), Tasman (44.3 years), Flinders (44.3 years) and King Island (42.3 years). Local government areas with the lowest median ages for females included Brighton (31.3 years), West Coast (33.4 years), Circular Head (36.0 years) and Southern Midlands (36.6 years).


AGE STRUCTURE

Population aged 0-14 years

The population aged 0-14 years was estimated to be 97,311 persons, or 20.4% of the population of Tasmania at 30 June 2003, compared with 107,519 persons (22.8%) in 1993. 51.3% of those aged 0-14 years were males.

The Statistical Division with the highest proportion of its population in the 0-14 age group was Southern (21.8%), followed by Mersey-Lyell (21.1%), Northern (20.5%) and Greater Hobart (19.7%).

The local government areas with the highest proportion of children aged 0-14 years were Brighton (28.1%), West Coast (23.9%), Southern Midlands (23.7%), Circular Head (23.5%), Huon Valley (23.4%), Sorell (22.7%) and Kentish (22.6%). The local government areas of Hobart (15.4%), Glamorgan/Spring Bay (17.4%), Tasman (18.0%) and King Island (18.0%) were estimated to have had the lowest proportions of children aged 0-14 years.

Population aged 15-64 years

The population aged 15-64 years was estimated to be 312,241 persons, or 65.4% of the population of Tasmania at 30 June 2003, compared with 306,460 persons (65.0%) in 1993. 50.3% of those aged 15-64 years were females.

The Statistical Division of Greater Hobart had the highest proportion of its population in the 15-64 age group (66.3%), followed by Northern (65.1%), Southern (65.0%) and Mersey-Lyell (64.4%).

The local government areas with the highest proportion aged 15-64 years were Hobart (70.7%), King Island (67.5%), West Coast (66.5%), Kentish (66.2%), Kingborough (66.1%) and Launceston (66.0%). The local government areas of Dorset (62.2%), Glamorgan/Spring Bay (62.9%), Break O'Day (63.2%), Waratah/Wynyard (63.4%), Devonport (63.5%) and Central Coast (63.8%) were estimated to have the lowest proportions of their populations aged 15-64 years.

Population aged 65 years and over

The 65-years-and-over age group was estimated to be 67,525 persons, or 14.2% of the population of Tasmania at 30 June 2003, compared with 57,680 persons (12.2%) in 1993. 55.5% of those aged 65 years and over were females.

The Statistical Division with the highest proportion of its population in the 65-year-and-over age group was Mersey-Lyell (14.4%) followed by Northern (14.4%), Greater Hobart (14.0%) and Southern (13.2%).

Glamorgan/Spring Bay had the highest proportion of its population aged 65 years and over (19.7%) followed by Tasman (17.6%), Break O'Day (17.4%), Glenorchy (16.4%), Dorset (16.3%) and Devonport (16.2%). Lowest proportions were recorded by Brighton (6.7%), West Coast (9.6%) and Kentish (11.1%).

Population aged 85 years and over

The population aged 85 years and over in Tasmania was estimated to be 7,707 persons, or 1.6% of the population at 30 June 2003, compared with 4,620 persons (1.0%) in 1993. 69.1% of those aged 85 years and over were females.

The Statistical Division with the highest proportion of their population in the 85-years-and-over age group was Greater Hobart (1.7%), followed by Northern (1.7%), Mersey-Lyell (1.5%) and Southern (1.2%).

Flinders had the highest proportion of its population aged 85 years and over (3.0%) followed by Glamorgan/Spring Bay (2.4%), Hobart (2.1%), Central Coast (2.0%), Launceston (2.0%) and Glenorchy (2.0%). Lowest proportions were recorded by Brighton (0.6%), West Coast (0.7%), George Town (0.7%), Kentish (0.8%), Southern Midlands (0.9%) and Sorell (1.0%),


GENDER

At 30 June 2003 there were 6,535 more females than males in Tasmania (102.8 females for every 100 males). In 1993 there were only 4,879 more females than males (102.1 females for every 100 males).

The Statistical Division with the highest number of females per 100 males was Greater Hobart (104.9), followed by Northern (102.8), Mersey-Lyell (101.9) and Southern (93.5).

The local government areas with the highest number of females per 100 males were Devonport (107.7), Launceston (106.6), Glenorchy (106.3) and Hobart (106.0). The local government areas of Flinders (83.1), Central Highlands (85.1), King Island (85.9) and West Coast (90.0) were estimated to have had the lowest numbers of females per 100 males.