3311.1.55.001 - Demography, New South Wales, 2002  
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OVERVIEW

This page replaces the previous hard copy publication Demography, New South Wales (cat. no. 3311.1), and shows 2002 details for New South Wales.


POPULATION
BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS
DEATHS
MIGRATION
MARRIAGES
DIVORCES

For comparisons between the states and territories of Australia, please refer to Demography, Australia, 2002 (cat. no. 3311.0.55.001). Demography publications for each state and territory can be accessed from the following links:


Additional state demographic data are also available from publications and data cubes linked at the foot of this page. The Demography Theme Page provides links to other Australian as well as international demography statistics. The National Regional Profiles provide economic and social statistics of Statistical Local Areas and Local Government Areas of Australia.

Inquiries

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Philippa Smedley on (02) 9268 4607 or philippa.smedley@abs.gov.au.

SUMMARY

At December 2002, the population of New South Wales (NSW) was 6,662,000 and accounted for 34% of the Australian population. The NSW population increased by 677,000 persons over the ten years from December 1992, representing an average annual increase of 1.1%. In 2002, the NSW population increased 0.8%. There was a natural (births minus deaths) increase of 40,600 and a net overseas migration increase of 43,900. These increases represented 35% and 39% respectively of the Australian increases. There was a net interstate migration loss of 30,400. Queensland and Victoria were the only states with net gains in population in 2002 from interstate migration. The total fertility rate for NSW was 1.8 births per woman, a slight rise over the 2001 rate. The Australian rate was 1.75, also rising slightly in 2002. The median age of mothers of first nuptial births in NSW continued its rise, to 29.9 years in 2002. Life expectancy at birth in NSW in 2002 was 77.3 years for males and 82.6 years for females, representing increases of 0.4 years and 0.2 years respectively over the life expectancies at birth in 2001.

POPULATION

The estimated resident population of NSW at December 2002 was 6,662,000 persons, an increase of 54,100 persons since December 2001. This corresponds to an annual growth rate of 0.8%, which was slightly lower than the national growth rate of 1.2%.

The increase in NSW's population comprised a natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) of 40,600 persons, a net overseas migration gain of 43,900 persons and a net interstate migration loss of 30,400 persons.

COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE, NSW


POPULATION, New South Wales, 31 December

1992
2001
2002

Estimated resident population('000)
5,985.1
6,608.1
6,662.2

Components of population change(a)
Natural increase(b)no.
46,246
39,239
40,570
Net overseas migration(c)no.
23,144
57,190
43,900
Net interstate migrationno.
-15,756
-19,185
-30,392
Total increase(d)no.
54,628
80,755
54,078

Annual growth rate

%

0.9

1.2

0.8

Estimated resident households(e)

('000)

2,123.9

2,433.7

np


np - not for publication as data are under review.
(a) From previous year.
(b) Births and deaths figures used to compile natural increase for population estimates are based on year of occurrence and may differ from births and deaths data based on year of registration displayed in the Births and Confinements table and the Deaths table below.
(c) Until 1997 net overseas migration data for Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Island were randomly allocated to the states and territories. For these years the sum of the components may therefore not equal net overseas migration.
(d) Includes intercensal discrepancy not accounted for by natural increase and net migration.
(e) Figures are based on 1996 census.


BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS

In 2002, there were 86,245 live births registered throughout Australia to mothers whose usual residence was in NSW. A further 338 births were registered in NSW to mothers whose usual residence was overseas, giving a state total of 86,583 births. Registrations of births were 2% higher than in 2001 (84,578 births) and 6% lower than in 1992 (92,585 births). NSW had a crude birth rate of 13.1 births per 1,000 population, which was the second highest in Australia. The crude birth rate for NSW was also higher than for Australia (12.8 births per 1,000 population).

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for NSW in 2002 was 1.80 births per woman. This figure was above the Australian level of 1.75, but was below the replacement fertility level of 2.1 (the average number of children each woman would need to have to replace herself and her partner).

TOTAL FERTILITY RATE

(a) Births per woman


The median age of mothers continued to increase in 2002. The median age of mothers for all confinements was 30.3, compared with 28.7 in 1992. The median age of mothers of nuptial births was 31.0, while the median age for fathers of nuptial births was 33.4. The median age of mothers of first nuptial births has continued to increase from 27.9 in 1992 to 29.9 in 2002.

BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS(a), New South Wales

1992
2001
2002

Live births
Numberno.
92,585
84,578
86,583
Crude birth rate(b)rate
15.5
12.8
13.1
Total fertility rate(c)rate
1.974
1.766
1.796
Net reproduction rate(c)rate
0.941
0.845
0.866

All confinements
Numberno.
91,374
83,125
85,178
Median age of motheryears
28.7
30.0
30.3

Nuptial confinements
Numberno.
70,199
59,970
61,213
Median age of motheryears
29.5
30.8
31.0
Median age of fatheryears
31.9
33.2
33.4

First nuptial confinements
Numberno.
28,262
25,703
26,251
Median age of motheryears
27.9
29.6
29.9

(a) Compiled on year of registration basis.
(b) Per 1,000 population.
(c) Per woman.


DEATHS

In 2002, there were 46,245 deaths registered for usual residents of NSW and 139 deaths registered for deceased persons whose usual residence was overseas. This gave a state total of 46,384 deaths, a decrease of 1,832 deaths since 2001.

The crude death rate was 7.0 deaths per 1,000 population (compared to 6.8 in 2001) and followed a downward trend in deaths over the past 140 years. The standardised death rate in 2002 was 6.6 deaths per 1,000 population, the same as in 2001 and 2.0 percentage points less than in 1992.

CRUDE DEATH RATE

(a) Per 1,000 population.


MEDIAN AGE AT DEATH

The median age at death has increased gradually for both males and females over the past decade. The median age at death for males (76.2 years) and females (82.2 years) in 2002 had increased by 3.7 years and 2.9 years respectively since 1992. Over the past 10 years, the median age at death for females has consistently remained around 6 years higher than that for males.

LIFE EXPECTANCY

The life expectancy at birth in 2002 was 77.3 years for males and 82.6 years for females. These figures were 3.3 years and 2.4 years higher respectively than in 1992. Female life expectancy at birth has consistently remained around six years higher than that for males over the past decade.

INFANT MORTALITY

There were 397 infant deaths (those aged less than one year) registered in 2002, a decrease of 12% over the previous year (449) and a decrease of 42% on the number in 1992 (688).

In 2002, the infant mortality rate was 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. During the last decade, the only year in which the infant mortality rate was lower than this was 1998 (4.3 deaths per 1,000 live births). The highest infant mortality rate during the same period occurred in 1992 (7.4 deaths per 1,000 live births respectively). The infant mortality rate first dropped below 100 in 1904, below 50 in 1930, below 20 in 1965 and below 10 in 1983.

DEATHS(a), New South Wales

1992
2001
2002

Numberno.
44,801
44,552
46,384
Crude death rate(b)rate
7.5
6.8
7.0
Standardised death rate(c)rate
8.6
6.6
6.6

Median age at death
Malesyears
72.5
75.6
76.2
Femalesyears
79.3
81.8
82.2

Infant deaths
Numberno.
688
449
397
Infant mortality rate(d)rate
7.4
5.3
4.6

Life expectancy at birth
Malesyears
74.0
76.9
77.3
Femalesyears
80.2
82.4
82.6

(a) Compiled on year of registration basis.
(b) Per 1,000 population.
(c) Per 1,000 standard population. Standardised death rates have been revised using the 2001 standard population.
(d) Per 1,000 live births.


MIGRATION

NET OVERSEAS MIGRATION

Net overseas migration to NSW comprised 43,900 persons in 2002. This was 23% lower than the figure in 2001. Over the last ten years, net overseas migration to NSW was lowest in 1992 (23,100) and highest in 2001 (57,200). In 2002, NSW accounted for the greatest level of net overseas migration (39%) out of all Australian states and territories, followed by Victoria (23%).

NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION

In 2002, NSW continued to experience a net interstate migration loss (-30,400 persons). This represented the greatest loss for any state or territory in 2002 and the greatest loss for NSW in the last ten years. The net migration loss from NSW has increased significantly since 1992 when there was a loss of 15,800 persons. Between 1992 and 2001, the largest net interstate migration loss for NSW was experienced in 2001 (-19,200) and the smallest loss was experienced in 1997 (-10,700).

NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION, 2002



MIGRATION, New South Wales

1992
2001
2002

Overseas migration
Permanent and long-term movement(a)
Arrivalsno.
92,607
152,368
146,436
Departures no.
58,654
94,464
93,614
Net overseas migration(b)no.
23,144
57,190
43,900

Interstate migration
Arrivalsno.
92,948
94,563
94,982
Departures
Net interstate migration
no.
no.
108,704
-15,756
113,748
-19,185
125,374
-30,392


(a) Based on stated intention on arrival or departure.
(b) Includes migration adjustment. Please refer to the Explanatory Notes for further details.


MARRIAGES

NSW recorded 36,321 marriages in 2002, an increase of 212 marriages on the previous year and a decline of 4,413 marriages since 1992.

The crude marriage rate in 2002 remained the same as in 2001 (5.5 marriages per 1,000 population) but declined from 6.8 marriages per 1,000 population in 1992. Over the past ten years, the NSW crude marriage rate has exceeded the rate for Australia, except in 1996 and 1997 when the rates were the same.

CRUDE MARRIAGE RATE

(a) Per 1,000 population.


MEDIAN AGE AT MARRIAGE

The median ages of brides and grooms reached 28.6 years and 30.7 years respectively in 2002, the highest figures recorded in the past 10 years. Since 1992, the median ages at marriage for brides and grooms have increased by 2.3 years and 2.0 years respectively. The median age at marriage for grooms has consistently remained around 2 years higher than that for brides.

MARRIAGES, New South Wales

1992
2001
2002

Number registeredno.
40,734
36,109
36,321
Crude marriage rate(a)rate
6.8
5.5
5.5

Median age at marriage
Bridegroomyears
28.7
30.3
30.7
Brideyears
26.3
28.3
28.6

(a) Per 1,000 population.


DIVORCES

There were 16,057 divorces granted in NSW in 2001. This represents an increase of 1,301 divorces since 2000 and 2,108 divorces since 1992. In the five years to 2001, the crude divorce rate has remained relatively stable, moving from 2.3 in 1997 to 2.4 in 2001.

The median interval between marriage and final separation increased from 6.6 years in 1992 to 7.6 years in 2000 and 7.5 years in 2001. The median duration of marriage has also increased over the same period, from 9.7 years in 1992 to 10.9 years in 2001.

DIVORCES, New South Wales

1992
2001
2002

Number grantedno.
13,949
16,057
nya
Crude divorce rate(a)rate
2.3
2.4
nya

Median duration of marriage

years

9.7

10.9

nya

Median interval between marriage and final separation

years

6.6

7.5

nya

nya - not yet available
(a) Per 1,000 population.

RELATED LINKS

3101.0 Australian Demographic Statistics
3201.0 Population by Age and Sex, State and Territories
3218.0 Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand
3222.0 Population Projections, Australia
3230.0 Experimental Estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Population
3231.0 Experimental Projections of the Indigenous Population
3236.0 Household and Family Projections, Australia
3301.0 Births, Australia
3302.0 Deaths, Australia
3303.0 Causes of Death, Australia
3412.0 Migration, Australia
3105.0.65.001 Australian Historical Population Statistics