Regional population by age and sex

Latest release

Statistics about the population by age and sex for Australia's capital cities and regions

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Reference period
2025
Release date and time
27/08/2026 11:30am AEST

Key statistics

  • The median age for capital cities (37.0 years) was younger than the rest of Australia (42.1).
  • The youngest capital was Darwin with a median age of 34.7 years, while Hobart was the oldest (39.7).
  • Darwin and Perth were the only capitals with more males than females.

All population estimates are as at 30 June 2025.

The median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.

The sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females.

Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to area refers to Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2).

Capital cities

  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 38% of the combined capital city population, compared with 30% of the population in the rest of Australia.
  • People aged 55 years and over made up a smaller proportion of the population in capital cities (26%) than in the rest of Australia (35%).
  • The sex ratio in the combined capital cities was 98.4 males per 100 females, compared with 99.0 for the rest of Australia, indicating a higher share of females in the capitals.

Median age and sex ratio

  • Darwin had the youngest median age of all capital cities at 34.7 years, followed by Canberra at 35.7.
  • Hobart was the oldest capital city with a median age of 39.7 years, ahead of Adelaide at 39.3.
  • Hobart had the lowest sex ratio of all capital cities (95.6 males per 100 females), while Darwin had the highest (109.4).
Median age and sex ratio by capital city
Capital cityMedian age (years)Sex ratio
Sydney37.099.2
Melbourne36.897.5
Brisbane36.598.3
Adelaide39.396.1
Perth37.3100.3
Hobart39.795.6
Darwin34.7109.4
Canberra35.796.2
Total capital cities37.098.4
Total Australia38.498.6

Regions

Median age

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Acton (21.1 years) and Duntroon (21.4) in Canberra, which had large populations of students or military personnel
  • Clayton (North) - Notting Hill (24.3 years) in Melbourne and St Lucia (24.4) in Brisbane, which both contained universities.

The areas with the oldest median ages were all retirement destinations on the coast including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (67.0 years) in New South Wales
  • Bribie Island (64.2 years) and Cooloola (63.3) in Queensland
  • Paynesville (62.8 years) in Victoria.

Youngest and oldest median ages

Sex ratio

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Acton (76.6 males per 100 females), which contained the Australian National University 
  • Woollahra (80.4 males per 100 females) in Sydney, Mornington - West (82.1) in Melbourne and Robina - West (82.9) in Queensland, which all had older age profiles and reflect the longer life expectancy of females.

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Wacol (293.6 males per 100 females) in Brisbane and Chidlow (264.8) in Perth, which both contained male correctional centres
  • East Pilbara (268.6 males per 100 females) in Western Australia, which had significant mining activity
  • Duntroon (214.8 males per 100 females), which contained military training facilities.

Lowest and highest sex ratios

New South Wales

  • Greater Sydney had a younger age distribution than the rest of New South Wales, reflecting the pattern of young adults moving to capital cities for education and work purposes.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 39% of Sydney's population, compared with 29% in the rest of the state.
  • People aged 60 years and over made up 20% of Sydney's population, compared with 30% in the rest of New South Wales.

Median age

Sex ratio

Victoria

  • Greater Melbourne had a younger age distribution than the rest of Victoria, as younger adults tend to migrate to capital cities for work and education.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 39% of the population in Melbourne, compared with 28% in the rest of the state.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 55 years and over in Melbourne (25%) than in the rest of Victoria (36%).

Median age

Sex ratio

Queensland

  • Greater Brisbane had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years (38%) than the rest of Queensland (31%), reflecting the pattern of young adults moving to capital cities for work and education purposes.
  • In contrast, Brisbane had a lower proportion aged 55 years and over (25%) than the rest of the state (32%).

Median age

Sex ratio

South Australia

  • Greater Adelaide had a younger age distribution than the rest of South Australia.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 35% of the population in Adelaide, compared with 26% in the rest of the state. This is indicative of young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 55 years and over in Adelaide (30%) than in the rest of the state (41%).

Median age

Sex ratio

Western Australia

  • Greater Perth had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years (38%) than the rest of Western Australia (31%). This is consistent with young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 50 years and over in Perth (32%) than in the rest of the state (38%).

Median age

Sex ratio

Tasmania

  • Greater Hobart had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years (35%) than the rest of Tasmania (28%). This in part reflects young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.
  • Hobart had a lower proportion of people aged 50 years and over (37%) than the rest of the state (45%). 

Median age

Sex ratio

Northern Territory

  • A lower proportion of Greater Darwin's population was under 25 years of age (32%) compared with the rest of the Northern Territory (35%).
  • Darwin had a higher proportion of people aged 25 years and over (68%) than the rest of the territory (65%).

Median age

Sex ratio

Australian Capital Territory

  • The Australian Capital Territory had a younger age distribution than Australia as a whole, reflecting the number of young adults who move to the territory for education or employment.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years accounted for 41% of the territory's population, compared with 36% of Australia's population.

Median age

Sex ratio

Interactive maps

The following maps display the proportion of the population aged 0 to 14 years, 15 to 64 years, and 65 years and over for SA2s. Additional data, including median age and sex ratio, can be viewed by clicking on a region of interest.

All SA2 maps, and similar maps for Local Government Areas (LGAs), are also available at Regional population by age and sex 2025: Age distribution.

Population aged 0 to 14 years, SA2s

This interactive map displays the proportion of the population aged 0 to 14 years for SA2s as at 30 June 2025. The population is divided into six data classes: 

  • 22.0% or more (dark red)
  • 20.0% to less than 22.0% (light red)
  • 18.0% to less than 20.0% (dark orange)
  • 16.0% to less than 18.0% (light orange)
  • Less than 16.0% (yellow)
  • No population (grey).

The map shows that the SA2s with the highest proportions of population aged 0 to 14 years were largely in the outer suburbs of capital cities or regional areas including:

  • Northern Peninsula (33.1%) and Palm Island (32.7%) in northern Queensland, which both had a high proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
  • Tarneit (West) - Mount Cottrell (32.3%), Cobblebank - Strathtulloh (32.2%) and Tarneit - North (31.9%), all in Melbourne’s outer west.

The areas with the lowest proportions in this age group were:

  • Acton (1.2%) in Canberra, which contained the Australian National University
  • inner-city Melbourne CBD - North (1.9%), Melbourne CBD - West (2.4%) and Melbourne CBD - East (3.0%)
  • Chippendale in inner Sydney (2.6%).

Accessibility statement: We are committed to providing information and services to the widest possible audience. We’ve designed this website to comply with the Australian Government Digital Service Standard and aim to meet the latest WCAG Guidelines which describe how to make web content more usable and accessible for everyone. However, some functions of this interactive map may be inaccessible, or difficult to use with assistive technology. All data underlying this map can be downloaded in table format from the Data downloads section of this publication. For further information or assistance, or to advise of accessibility issues with this product, please email client.services@abs.gov.au.

Source

Regional population by age and sex 2025: SA2 geospatial web service

Population aged 15 to 64 years, SA2s

This interactive map displays the proportion of population aged 15 to 64 years for SA2s as at 30 June 2025. The population is divided into six data classes: 

  • 69.0% or more (dark red)
  • 66.0% to less than 69.0% (light red)
  • 63.0% to less than 66.0% (dark orange)
  • 60.0% to less than 63.0% (light orange)
  • Less than 60.0% (yellow)
  • No population (grey).

The map shows that the SA2s with the highest proportions of population aged 15 to 64 years were:

  • Acton (98.7%) and Duntroon (94.9%) in Canberra, which had large populations of students or military personnel
  • inner-city Melbourne CBD - North (95.9%) and Melbourne CBD - West (95.3%)
  • Chippendale (94.3%) in inner Sydney.

The areas with the lowest proportions in this age group were all retirement destinations on the coast including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (38.6%) in New South Wales
  • Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff (42.4%) and Paynesville (44.0%) in Victoria
  • Bribie Island (43.6%) in Brisbane
  • Victor Harbor (44.3%) in South Australia.

Accessibility statement: We are committed to providing information and services to the widest possible audience. We’ve designed this website to comply with the Australian Government Digital Service Standard and aim to meet the latest WCAG Guidelines which describe how to make web content more usable and accessible for everyone. However, some functions of this interactive map may be inaccessible, or difficult to use with assistive technology. All data underlying this map can be downloaded in table format from the Data downloads section of this publication. For further information or assistance, or to advise of accessibility issues with this product, please email client.services@abs.gov.au.

Source

Regional population by age and sex 2025: SA2 geospatial web service

Population aged 65 years and over, SA2s

This interactive map displays the proportion of the population aged 65 years and over for SA2s as at 30 June 2025. The population is divided into six data classes: 

  • 22.0% or more (dark red)
  • 18.0% to less than 22.0% (light red)
  • 14.0% to less than 18.0% (dark orange)
  • 10.0% to less than 14.0% (light orange)
  • Less than 10.0% (yellow)
  • No population (grey).

The map shows that the SA2s with the highest proportions of population aged 65 years and over were all retirement destinations on the coast including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (54.9%) in New South Wales
  • Bribie Island (48.3%) and Cooloola (46.2%) in Queensland
  • Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff (45.6%) and Paynesville (45.3%) in Victoria.

The areas with the lowest proportions in this age group were:

  • Acton (0.1%) and Duntroon (0.2%) in Canberra, which had large populations of students or military personnel
  • Tarneit - North (1.8%) in Melbourne’s outer west
  • inner-city Melbourne CBD - North (2.1%) and Melbourne CBD - West (2.3%).

Accessibility statement: We are committed to providing information and services to the widest possible audience. We’ve designed this website to comply with the Australian Government Digital Service Standard and aim to meet the latest WCAG Guidelines which describe how to make web content more usable and accessible for everyone. However, some functions of this interactive map may be inaccessible, or difficult to use with assistive technology. All data underlying this map can be downloaded in table format from the Data downloads section of this publication. For further information or assistance, or to advise of accessibility issues with this product, please email client.services@abs.gov.au.

Source

Regional population by age and sex 2025: SA2 geospatial web service

Data downloads

Data cubes

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Data files

Data Explorer datasets

Caution: Data Explorer can be problematic when trying to view and manipulate large datasets, such as SA2-based or LGA geographies released in this product. Please use the Excel data cubes provided above for these datasets. 

Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.

Population estimates by age and sex, by SA2 and above, 2001 to 2025
Population estimates by age and sex, by LGA, 2001 to 2025
Net internal and overseas migration estimates by age, by SA2 and above, 2021–22 to 2024–25

For information on Data Explorer and how it works, see the Data Explorer user guide.

Geospatial web services

Regional population estimates by age and sex are available as a web service for the following geographies:

Methodology

Scope

Australia's estimated resident population (ERP) includes all people who usually live in Australia, except for people present for foreign consular or diplomatic reasons.

Geography

Data in this product is available by:

  • Statistical Area Level 2 to 4 (SA2, SA3, SA4)
  • Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA)
  • Local Government Area (LGA).

Source

Statistics are compiled from: 

  • Census of Population and Housing
  • each state/territory registry of births, deaths and marriages
  • Department of Home Affairs
  • Services Australia
  • Department of Defence.

Collection method

  • Census of Population and Housing
  • Census Post Enumeration Survey
  • Administrative by-product data

Concepts, sources and methods

Descriptions of the underlying concepts and methods used are available in the Methodology.

History of changes

Estimates for 2022 to 2024 have been revised since the last release.

View full methodology