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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SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TOTAL POPULATION


At June 2015, the estimated resident population of South Australia (SA) was 1.70 million people, an increase of 71,300 (or 4.4%) since June 2010.

More then three quarters of the state's population (78%) resided in Greater Adelaide in 2015. The growth rate of Greater Adelaide in the five years to 2015 (5.1%) was more than twice that of the rest of SA (2.0%). Between 2010 and 2015, Greater Adelaide grew by 63,700 people to reach 1.32 million, while the rest of the state grew by 7,700 people to reach 381,900.

Within Greater Adelaide, the SA3 of Adelaide City had the fastest growth over this five-year period, increasing by 13%. This was followed by Playford (12%), Port Adelaide - East (11%), Gawler - Two Wells (7.3%) and Charles Sturt (6.1%). No SA3s in Greater Adelaide declined in population over this period.

Outside of Greater Adelaide, the SA3 of Fleurieu - Kangaroo Island had the fastest growth between 2010 and 2015 (up by 7.3%), followed by Barossa (4.7%) and Yorke Peninsula (3.6%). Mid North was the only SA3 in the rest of the state to decline in population, down by 2.1%.



AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

The age distribution of the population in Greater Adelaide varies most from the rest of the state for the young adult population. Greater Adelaide had a higher proportion of its population aged 18 to 40 years at June 2015 as compared to the rest of the state. This is indicative of young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.


Graph Image for AGE DISTRIBUTION(a), South Australia - 30 June 2015

Footnote(s): (a) 85 years and over not shown

Source(s): Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2015 (cat. no. 3235.0)


The difference between the age distribution of Greater Adelaide and the rest of SA was largest for people aged 20 to 24 years. The population of Greater Adelaide was 3.4 times larger than the rest of the state, while for those aged 20 to 24 it was 4.9 times greater. At June 2015, males in this age group comprised 3.7% of the population in Greater Adelaide compared with 2.7% in the rest of the state, while females aged 20 to 24 years comprised 3.5% of the capital city compared with 2.3% in the rest of the state.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION (%)
, South Australia - 30 June 2015
Image: Age & Sex Distribution (%), SA - 30 June 2015



MEDIAN AGE

At June 2015, South Australia had a median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of 39.9 years. This was the second highest of all states and territories, behind Tasmania at 41.9 years. The median age of females (41.1 years) in South Australia was higher than males (38.8).

The median age in Greater Adelaide (38.8 years) was around 5 years less than for the rest of the state (44.0). For males the difference was more than 5 years (37.5 years in Greater Adelaide and 43.3 for the rest of South Australia), while for females the difference was more than 4 years (40.1 years compared with 44.6).

The seven SA2s with the highest median ages in South Australia in 2015 were popular retirement destinations on the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas. The coastal SA2s of Victor Harbor and Goolwa - Port Elliot on the Fleurieu Peninsula had the highest median ages at 58.1 and 57.4 years respectively, with nearby Yankalilla at 53.2 years. On the Yorke Peninsula, SA2s with the highest median ages were Yorke Peninsula - South (56.9 years), Yorke Peninsula - North (52.9), and Moonta (52.3), with nearby Peterborough - Mount Remarkable also at 52.3 years.

Davoren Park on the northern fringe of Greater Adelaide had the lowest median age of all SA2s in South Australia at 27.9 years. This was followed by the APY Lands (28.1) in the far north-west of the state, Munno Para West - Angle Vale (28.5) on the northern fringe of Greater Adelaide, and inner-city Adelaide (30.1).

In the five years to 2015, the SA2s with the largest increase in median age were Yorke Peninsula - South and Naracoorte Region in the state's south-east, which both increased by 5 years, followed by Wattle Range and Murray Bridge Region (both 4.0 years). In contrast, the largest decrease in median age over this period was in West Beach (down by 1.6 years) in Adelaide's west.



CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

At June 2015, there were 299,000 children under 15 years of age in South Australia, accounting for 18% of the state's population. The number of children in Greater Adelaide increased by 11,000 in the five years to June 2015, while in the rest of the state, it declined by 2,300.

The SA2s with the largest proportions of children were mostly in Greater Adelaide, including Davoren Park and Munno Para West - Angle Vale (both 27%), and Aldinga (24%). APY Lands, in the state's far north-west, also had a high proportion (24%).

The proportion of children declined in approximately two thirds (67%) of South Australia's SA2s in the five years to 2015, with the largest decrease in Roxby Downs (down from 23% to 19%).




WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)


Around two thirds of South Australia's population (65% or 1.1 million people) were aged between 15 and 64 years in June 2015.

The working age population comprised 66% of the population in Greater Adelaide, and 61% in the rest of South Australia. Between 2010 and 2015, the working age population increased by 25,300 people in Greater Adelaide and decreased by 3,400 in the rest of the state.

The SA2 with the highest proportion of its population of working age was inner-city Adelaide (85%), followed by Roxby Downs (80%), Outback (77%), and Pooraka (73%). The proportion of people aged 15 to 64 years in the mining town of Roxby Downs increased from 76% to 80% in the five years to 2015, which was the largest increase of all SA2s in South Australia over this period.




PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER


South Australia had 295,700 people aged 65 years or over in June 2015, representing 17% of the state's population. Of these, 43,100 people (2.5% of the state's total population) were aged 85 years and over.

Between 2010 and 2015, the population in Greater Adelaide aged 65 years and above increased by 27,400 people (from 15% to 16%), while in the rest of the state it increased by 13,400 people (18% to 21%).

The SA2s with the highest proportions of their populations aged 65 years or over were all located on the South Australian coast, outside of the capital city. Victor Harbor had the highest proportion with 38%, followed by Goolwa - Port Elliot (37%), Yorke Peninsula - South (34%), Moonta (31%) and Yorke Peninsula - North (30%). These proportions all increased since June 2010.

Within Greater Adelaide, the SA2s with the highest proportions of people aged 65 years or above were Fulham and West Lakes (both 26%) in the west, Panorama (24%) and Brighton (23%) in the south, Toorak Gardens (24%) and Glenside - Beaumont (22%) in the east, and Walkerville and Hope Valley - Modbury (both 22%) in the north-east.


POPULATION AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER,
Statistical Areas Level 2, South Australia - 30 June 2015

Image: Population Aged 65 Years and Over, SA2, SA - 30 June 2015



SEX RATIO

At June 2015, the sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) in South Australia was 98.2, with 841,600 males and 857,100 females. This was the second lowest sex ratio of all states and territories, behind Victoria (97.8).

Greater Adelaide had more females than males (with a sex ratio of 96.7) while in the rest of South Australia there were more males than females (103.4).

The SA2 with the highest sex ratio in South Australia was Outback (183.2), followed by the mining towns of Roxby Downs (166.2) and Coober Pedy (126.8). These were followed by Grant (122.2) which surrounds Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge Region (120.1), Naracoorte (118.7), Le Hunte - Elliston (117.8) on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula, and inner-city Adelaide (117.0).

Payneham - Felixstow (87.6), Brighton (88.6), Nairne (88.8) and Toorak Gardens (89.0), all in Greater Adelaide, had the lowest sex ratios in South Australia.


MALES PER 100 FEMALES,
Statistical Areas Level 2, South Australia - 30 June 2015

Image: Males per 100 Females, SA2, SA - 30 June 2015