3311.3 - Demography, Queensland, 1998  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/12/1999   
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MEDIA RELEASE

December 17, 1999
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
150/99
Queensland: marriages up, interstate migration down

A record number of Queenslanders married in 1998 but the number of interstate residents moving to the sunshine state continued to fall, according to figures published today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

At 31 December 1998, the estimated resident population of Queensland was 3,482,300 people, a 1.7% increase on the 1997 figure. During 1998, net overseas migration accounted for 16,443 (29%) of the population growth while net interstate migration accounted for 15,974 (28%). Annual interstate migration figures are available from 1972 and this is the first time overseas migration has exceeded interstate migration for Queensland. In 1988, net interstate migration numbered 34,261 and represented 44% of the population growth for that year.

There were 47,046 births registered in 1998 to mothers whose usual residence was Queensland, an increase of 0.2% on the numbers registered in 1997. Of these births, 34% were ex-nuptual compared to 22% of births registered in 1988. There were 658 sets of twins and 18 sets of triplets or higher order births registered in 1998.

The number of deaths registered in 1998 was 22,231, a 1.7% increase on the number registered in 1997. The 1998 total included 299 infant deaths. The median age of death in Queensland in 1998 was 74 years for males and 80.3 years for females compared to 74.5 years and 81 years respectively for Australia.

Queensland recorded the highest ever number of marriages for the state (21,257) in 1998, a 1.9% increase on the number registered in 1997. While the number of marriages registered was high, the crude marriage rate of 6.2 (marriages per 1,000 population) was only slightly higher than the lowest rate ever recorded at 6.1 in 1997.

The number of divorces granted in Queensland in 1998 was 11,349, a 3% decrease on the record number granted in 1997. The Queensland crude divorce rate of 3.3 per 1,000 population was the highest in Australia and compares to a national rate of 2.7.

For the first time Queensland Demography figures include information on Indigenous births and deaths. Indigenous identifiers have been included on Queensland births and deaths registration forms since 1996. While care needs to be taken when interpreting figures on Indigenous births and deaths due to relatively small numbers and possible under-recording, some interesting information is highlighted.

The median age of Indigenous mothers in 1998 was 25.1 years compared to a median age of 28.8 years for all Queensland mothers. The proportion of births to Indigenous mothers registered as nuptial was 21%, compared to 66% for all Queensland births. Indigenous deaths occurred at a greater rate for all age groups up to 65 years. In 1998, 71% of total indigenous deaths occurred in persons under 65 years compared to 23% of the non indigenous population.

Causes of death varied greatly between the indigenous and non indigenous population in 1998. Cancer was responsible for 14% of indigenous deaths compared to 28% for the non indigenous population. External causes (accidents, poisonings and violence) were responsible for 17% of indigenous deaths compared to 7% of non indigenous deaths. Diabetes accounted for 9% of indigenous deaths while the corresponding non indigenous figure was 2%.

Further details can be found in Demography, Queensland 1998 (cat. no. 3311.3) available at all ABS bookshops.


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