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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MEDIA RELEASE
18 August 2016
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
91/2016
Australia growing greyer

Australia's aged population has increased by almost 20 per cent since 2010, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).


There were 2.2 million people aged 65 years and over living in Australia’s capital cities in 2015 (up from 1.8 million in 2010). Additionally, 1.4 million live in areas outside our capitals (up from 1.2 million in 2010).

Hobart has the oldest population of any Australian capital city.

Hobart’s median age – the age at which half the population is older and half is younger – was 39.8 years at June 2015, compared to 37.4 years for Australia.

Adelaide was the next oldest capital (38.8 years) followed by Sydney (36.1) and Melbourne (36.0). Darwin was the youngest capital city (33.3).

The residents of Tea Gardens – Hawks Nest, near Port Stephens on the New South Wales coast, were officially Australia’s oldest, with a median age of 61.0 years in 2015.

People living in Tuncurry, on the NSW mid north coast, were the next oldest (59.7 years), followed by residents of Bribie Island in Queensland (59.3), Paynesville in Victoria’s Gippsland region (59.0) and Victor Harbor on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula (58.1).

“The older populations in these areas reflect a preference among many Australians to retire to coastal and rural parts of the country," said ABS Director of Demography Beidar Cho.

People aged 65 years and over contributed to more than 60 per cent of population growth in areas outside of capital cities between 2010 and 2015.

For more information see Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2015 (cat. no. 3235.0), available for free download from the ABS website:https://www.abs.gov.au


Media notes:

  • Unless otherwise stated, areas mentioned in this release are Statistical Areas Level 2 and capital cities are Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, as defined in the Australia Statistical Geography Standard.
  • When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070 (8.30am - 5pm Mon-Fri).
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OLDEST POPULATIONS IN EACH STATE/TERRITORY(a), June 2015

State/TerritoryStatistical Area Level 2
Median Age

New South WalesTea Gardens - Hawks Nest
61.0
VictoriaPaynesville
59.0
QueenslandBribie Island
59.3
South AustraliaVictor Harbor
58.1
Western AustraliaYork - Beverley
49.8
TasmaniaTriabunna - Bicheno
55.5
Northern TerritoryAlligator
41.7
Australian Capital TerritoryYarralumla
47.4

(a) Excludes SA2s with a population of less than 1,000 at June 2015.