3228.0.55.001 - Population Estimates: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/06/2009   
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INTRODUCTION

8.1 Estimates of the Indigenous, non-Indigenous and total populations are published after each Census in Experimental Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (cat. no. 3238.0.55.001). Estimates are disaggregated by age (5-year age groups) and sex for state and territory, remoteness areas (RAs) and Indigenous regions. Estimates for statistical local areas (SLAs) are available as a total for all ages only.

8.2 Estimates of the Indigenous population are experimental in that the standard approach to population estimation is not possible because satisfactory data on births, deaths and internal migration are not generally available. Furthermore, there is significant volatility in Census counts of the Indigenous population, thus adding to the estimation problems. This volatility can in part be attributed to changes in the propensity of persons to identify as being of Indigenous origin. As a result, a method based on the use of life tables is used to produce time series data.







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