3201.0 - Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Jun 2002 to Jun 2007 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/06/2008   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All
MEDIA RELEASE
June 27, 2008
Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEDT)
61/2008

Australia's population keeps getting older: ABS

The median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) for Australia increased to 36.8 years in the year ended June 2007, up from 35.9 years in 2002, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Tasmania and South Australia had the highest median ages at 30 June 2007, 39.1 years and 38.9 years respectively. The Northern Territory recorded the lowest median age at 31.1 years, followed by the Australian Capital Territory at 34.5 years.

Australia's population continues to age, with the number of people aged 65 and over increasing 2.7% in the year. Over the same period, the number of people aged under 15 years increased by 0.6%.

Australia's sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) increased from 98.5 males per 100 females in 2002 to 98.8 males per 100 females in 2007.

The Northern Territory and Western Australia recorded the highest sex ratios in 2007 at 107.9 and 102.1 males per 100 females respectively, while Tasmania (97.3) and South Australia (97.6) recorded the lowest.

The ABS animated population pyramids for all states, territories and Australia have been updated on the ABS website today.

More details are available in Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Jun 2002 - Jun 2007(cat. no. 3201.0).