Regional population by age and sex

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

Reference period
2020
Released
27/08/2021

Key statistics

  • The median age for capital cities (36.5 years) was younger than the rest of Australia (41.4).
  • The youngest capital was Darwin with a median age of 34.7 years, while Hobart was the oldest (39.7).
  • Darwin was the only capital with more males than females.

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 49 years made up 44% of the combined capital city population, compared with 36% of the population in the rest of Australia.
  • People aged 50 years and over made up a smaller proportion of the population in capital cities (32%) than in the rest of Australia (39%).
  • The sex ratio in the combined capital cities was 98.2 males per 100 females, compared with 98.4 for the rest of Australia, indicating a slightly 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 35.9.
  • Hobart was the oldest capital city with a median age of 39.7, ahead of Adelaide at 39.1.
  • Adelaide had the lowest sex ratio of all capital cities (96.5 males per 100 females), while Darwin had the highest (107.9).
Capital cityMedian age (years)Sex ratio
Sydney36.398.9
Melbourne36.098.0
Brisbane36.097.5
Adelaide39.196.5
Perth37.198.4
Hobart39.799.2
Darwin34.7107.9
Canberra35.997.5
Total capital cities36.598.2
Total Australia37.898.3

Regions

Median age

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Acton (22.8 years) and Duntroon (23.3) in the Australian Capital Territory, which had large populations of students or military personnel
  • Yarrabah (23.4) and Northern Peninsula (23.9) in Queensland, which had high proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
     

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

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (63.4 years) and Tuncurry (61.1) in New South Wales
  • Cooloola (61.4) and Bribie Island (61.1) in Queensland
     

Areas with the youngest median ages

SA2SA4Median age (years)
ActonAustralian Capital Territory22.8
DuntroonAustralian Capital Territory23.3
YarrabahCairns (Qld)23.4
Northern PeninsulaQueensland - Outback23.9
St LuciaBrisbane - West25.2

 

Areas with the oldest median ages

SA2SA4Median age (years)
Tea Gardens - Hawks NestHunter Valley exc Newcastle (NSW)63.4
CooloolaWide Bay (Qld)61.4
TuncurryMid North Coast (NSW)61.1
Bribie IslandMoreton Bay - North (Qld)61.1
Goolwa - Port ElliotSouth Australia - South East59.8

 

Sex ratio

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Woollahra (81.6 males per 100 females) in Sydney and Bowral (83.3) in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, which both had older age profiles and reflect the longer life expectancy of females
  • Deakin (81.9) in the Australian Capital Territory which contained a boarding school for girls
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Howard Springs (308.8 males per 100 females) in Darwin and Wacol (255.0) in Ipswich, which both contained correctional centres for men
  • East Pilbara (289.8) and Ashburton (243.6) in Western Australia, which were areas with significant mining activity
     

Areas with the lowest sex ratios

SA2SA4Sex ratio
WoollahraSydney - Eastern Suburbs81.6
DeakinAustralian Capital Territory81.9
BowralSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven (NSW)83.3
Mosman Park - Peppermint GrovePerth - Inner84.2
Millbank - AvocaWide Bay (Qld)84.5

 

Areas with the highest sex ratios

SA2SA4Sex ratio
Howard SpringsDarwin308.8
East PilbaraWestern Australia - Outback (North)289.8
WacolIpswich (Qld)255.0
AshburtonWestern Australia - Outback (North)243.6
ChidlowPerth - North East217.1

 

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 38% of Sydney's population, compared with 28% in the rest of the state.
  • People aged 60 years or over made up 20% of Sydney's population, compared with 28% in the rest of New South Wales. 

Median age

The median age in Sydney (36.3 years) was younger than in the rest of New South Wales (42.4).

The areas with the youngest median ages contained or were located near higher education campuses, including:

  • Shortland - Jesmond (26.0) in Newcastle, Wagga Wagga - North (29.0) and Tamworth - West (30.3), which are all within major regional centres
  • Kensington (26.3 years), which contained the University of NSW, and neighbouring Kingsford (27.0)
     

The areas with the oldest median ages were regional areas on or near the coast, including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (63.4 years) near Port Stephens
  • Tuncurry (61.1) on the mid north coast
  • Sussex Inlet - Berrara (59.2) on the south coast

Sex ratio

The sex ratio was higher in Sydney (98.9 males per 100 females) than in the rest of New South Wales (97.8).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Woollahra (81.6 males per 100 females) in Sydney's east
  • Bowral (83.3) in the Southern Highlands
  • Tweed Heads South (85.8) near the Queensland border
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Auburn - North (141.8 males per 100 females) and Auburn - Central (128.5) in suburban Sydney
  • Junee (133.7) which contained the Junee Correctional Centre
  • Surry Hills (131.6) and Darlinghurst (128.6) in inner Sydney

Victoria

  • Greater Melbourne had a younger age distribution than the rest of Victoria, as younger adults tend to migrate out of regional areas to pursue work and education in the capital city.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 39% of the population in Melbourne, compared with 29% in the rest of the state.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 50 years and over in Melbourne (31%) than in the rest of Victoria (41%).

Median age

The median age in Melbourne was 36.0 years, which was younger than in the rest of Victoria (42.4).

The areas with the youngest median ages were all in Melbourne, including:

  • Carlton (25.2 years) and Parkville (26.9), both adjacent to the University of Melbourne
  • Clayton (25.5) which contained the main Monash University campus
     

The areas with the oldest median ages were popular coastal retirement areas, including:

  • Paynesville (59.2 years), Orbost (55.9) and Lakes Entrance (55.0), all in the Gippsland region
  • Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff (58.6) and neighbouring Portarlington (58.5), both in Geelong

Sex ratio

The sex ratio was slightly lower in Melbourne (98.0 males per 100 females) than in the rest of Victoria (98.2).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Armadale (87.2 males per 100 females) and Balwyn (87.8), both inner suburbs of Melbourne
  • Mornington (87.9) on the coast
     

The areas with the higest sex ratios were:

  • Rosedale (142.1 males per 100 females) and Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (129.5), which both contained correctional facilities for men
  • Beaufort (127.8) and Ararat (119.3), both in rural Victoria

Queensland

  • Greater Brisbane had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years (37%) 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 50 years and over (31%) than the rest of the state (37%).

Median age

The median age in Brisbane (36.0 years) was younger than in the rest of Queensland (39.9).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Yarrabah (23.4 years) near Cairns and Northern Peninsula (23.9) in the far north of the state, which both had a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • St Lucia (25.2) in Brisbane and Douglas (26.0) in Townsville, reflecting concentrations of university students
     

The areas with the oldest median ages were on the coast, including:

  • Cooloola (61.4 years) in the Wide Bay region
  • Bribie Island (61.1) in the Moreton Bay region
  • Redland Islands (58.5) in Brisbane's east

Sex ratio

Females outnumbered males in both Brisbane (with a sex ratio of 97.5 males per 100 females) and the rest of Queensland (97.8).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Millbank - Avoca (84.5 males per 100 females) in the Bundaberg region
  • Chermside (84.6) in Brisbane's north
  • Heatley (84.7), a suburb of Townsville
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Wacol (255.0 males per 100 females), which contained correctional centres for men
  • Tablelands (148.2) in the state's far north
  • Broadsound - Nebo (134.2) in the Bowen Basin region

South Australia

  • Greater Adelaide had a younger age distribution than the rest of South Australia.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 34% 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.

Median age

The median age in Adelaide (39.1 years) was six years younger than in the rest of the state (45.4).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • APY Lands in the state's north (29.2 years), which had a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • Munno Para West - Angle Vale (29.5) and Davoren Park (30.1), both in Adelaide's outer north
  • inner-city Adelaide (30.0)
     

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

  • Goolwa - Port Elliot (59.8 years) and Victor Harbor (58.8) on the Fleurieu Peninsula
  • Yorke Peninsula - South (57.6), Yorke Peninsula - North (56.1) and nearby Moonta (55.8)

Sex ratio

Adelaide had more females than males (with a sex ratio of 96.5 males per 100 females), while in the rest of South Australia there were slightly more males than females (100.8).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Warradale (86.7 males per 100 females) and Payneham - Felixstow (88.5), both suburban areas of Adelaide
  • Victor Harbor (88.7) on the Fleurieu Peninsula
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Outback (165.1 males per 100 females), which covers much of the state's north-east
  • Grant (130.1) in the state's south-east
  • the mining town of Roxby Downs (127.5)

Western Australia

  • The proportion of the population aged less than 20 years in Greater Perth (25%) was similar to that in the rest of Western Australia (26%).
  • Perth had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 39 years (29%) than the rest of the state (24%). This is consistent with young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.

Median age

The median age of the population in Perth was 37.1 years, compared with 39.8 in the rest of Western Australia.

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Roebuck (28.6 years) and Halls Creek (29.4) in the Kimberley region
  • Alkimos - Eglinton (30.0) in Perth's north-west
     

The areas with the oldest median ages were popular retirement and tree-change/sea-change locations, including:

  • York - Beverley (53.3 years) and Toodyay (53.0) in the state's northern wheat belt
  • Pemberton (52.1) in the state's south-west

Sex ratio

Females outnumbered males in Perth (with a sex ratio of 98.4 males per 100 females), while males outnumbered females in the rest of Western Australia (103.8).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Mosman Park - Peppermint Grove (84.2 males per 100 females), an inner suburb of Perth
  • Tuart Hill - Joondanna (87.5) in Perth's north-west
  • Albany (87.8) in the state's south
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • East Pilbara (289.8 males per 100 females), Ashburton (243.6), Roebourne (158.5) and Meekatharra (154.1), which were areas with significant mining activity
  • Chidlow (217.1) which contained correctional centres for men

Tasmania

  • Tasmania had a lower proportion of people aged 20 to 44 years (30%) than Australia (35%) as a whole. This in part reflects young adults pursuing education and employment opportunities interstate.
  • Tasmania also had a higher proportion of people aged 50 years and over (41%) than Australia (34%). This partly reflects a trend of adults in this age group moving into the state.
     

Median age

The median age in Greater Hobart (39.7 years) was younger than in the rest of Tasmania (44.6).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Mowbray (32.0 years) in Launceston, located close to the University of Tasmania and other educational facilities
  • Bridgewater - Gagebrook and Rokeby (both 32.6), on the eastern shore of the Derwent River in Hobart
     

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Forestier - Tasman (57.1 years), St Helens - Scamander (56.6) and Triabunna - Bicheno (56.4), all on Tasmania's eastern seaboard

Sex ratio

The sex ratio was higher in Hobart (99.2 males per 100 females) than in the rest of Tasmania (96.8).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Prospect Vale - Blackstone (84.8 males per 100 females) and Newstead (87.7), both inner suburbs of Launceston
  • Miandetta - Don and Devonport (both 87.8), on Tasmania's north coast
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Risdon Vale (127.6 males per 100 females) in Hobart's north-eastern suburbs, which contained male correctional centres
  • Flinders and Cape Barren Islands (120.2), off the state's north-east coast
  • Central Highlands (116.3) in regional Tasmania

Northern Territory

  • The Northern Territory had a higher proportion of people aged under 25 years (34%) than Australia (31%) as a whole, indicating a younger population in the territory.

  • A lower proportion of Greater Darwin's population was under 25 years of age (32%) compared with the rest of the Northern Territory (38%).

Median age

The median age in Darwin (34.7 years) was three years older than in the rest of the Northern Territory (31.7).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Victoria River (26.6 years) and Gulf (26.9), both in the Katherine region
  • East Arnhem and Thamarrurr (both 27.4) in the territory's north, which both had a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
     

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Ross (45.6 years), a suburb of Alice Springs
  • Alligator (43.9) in the Top End
  • Virginia (43.0) in the Litchfield region

Sex ratio

Males outnumbered females in both Darwin (with a sex ratio of 107.9 males per 100 females) and the rest of the Northern Territory (101.8).

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Mount Johns (86.8 males per 100 females) and Flynn (90.1), both suburbs of Alice Springs
  • Tanami (87.5) in central Australia
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Howard Springs (308.8 males per 100 females) which contained the Darwin Correctional Centre
  • Weddell (127.1) in Litchfield
  • Sandover - Plenty (121.8) which surrounds Alice Springs

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 39 years accounted for 32% of the territory's population, compared with 29% of Australia's population. 

Median age

The Australian Capital Territory had a younger median age (35.9 years) than Australia as a whole (37.8).

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Acton (22.8 years) which contained the Australian National University
  • Duntroon (23.3) which contained the Royal Military College
     

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Yarralumla (51.1 years) in south Canberra
  • Isaacs (49.0) and O'Malley (47.7), both in Woden Valley

Sex ratio

There were 97.5 males for every 100 females in the Australian Capital Territory.

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Deakin (81.9 males per 100 females) in south Canberra
  • Ainslie (85.8) in north Canberra
  • Page (87.8), a suburb of Belconnen
     

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Duntroon (205.8 males for every 100 females) which contained the Royal Military College
  • Reid (114.6) in north Canberra
  • Red Hill (108.9) in south Canberra

Interactive maps

Regional population by age - interactive maps

These maps display the proportion of the population aged 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ for SA2s and LGAs.

Data downloads

Data cubes

Population estimates by age and sex, by SA2, 2020

Population estimates by age and sex - summary statistics, by SA2 and above, 2020

Includes sex ratio, median age and proportion of population aged 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ for SA2s and above.

Population estimates by age and sex, by LGA, 2020

Population estimates by age and sex - summary statistics, by LGA, 2020

Includes sex ratio, median age and proportion of population aged 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ for LGAs.

Population estimates by age, by selected geographies, 2020

Includes population estimates by selected age groupings for SA2s, LGAs, Postal Areas and Primary Health Networks. Added 03/09/2021.

Geopackages

Population estimates by age and sex, by SA2, 2020, in GeoPackage

Population estimates by age and sex, by LGA, 2020, in GeoPackage

Post-release changes

03/09/2021 - A data cube containing additional age breakdowns for SA2s, LGAs, Postal Areas and Primary Health Networks has been added. Interactive maps have also been added.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3235.0.
 

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