QUEENSLAND


Total population

Age and sex distribution

Median age

Children (under 15 years of age)

Working age population (aged 15-64 years)

People aged 65 years and over

Sex ratio


TOTAL POPULATION

At June 2011, the estimated resident population of Queensland was 4.47 million people, an increase of 845,200 since June 2001. In the ten years to 2011, Queensland's population grew by 23%, which was the second fastest growth of all states and territories, behind Western Australia at 24%.

In 2011, Greater Brisbane (which excludes the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast) was home to 2.15 million people, or almost half of Queensland's population. Greater Brisbane increased by 432,300 people in the ten years to 2011, accounting for just over half of Queensland's total population growth. Ipswich had the largest growth of all SA4s in Greater Brisbane, with an increase of 70,800 people, while Moreton Bay - South had the fastest growth at 41%.

In the ten years to 2011, the population of the rest of Queensland increased by 412,900 people to reach 2.33 million. Nearly half of this growth was in the SA4s of Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, which increased by 129,700 and 69,700 respectively. Other SA4s that experienced large growth were Wide Bay (up 47,200 people), Cairns (38,200), Townsville (34,900) and Mackay (33,800).

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

Compared with the rest of Queensland, Greater Brisbane had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years, and a lower proportion aged 45 years and over at June 2011. The proportions of people aged 19 years and younger were similar.

At June 2011, there were more people in the 20 to 39 year age bracket living in Greater Brisbane than in the rest of the state. This reflects a pattern of young adults moving to capital cities to pursue work, education and other opportunities.

MEDIAN AGE

In the ten years to June 2011, the median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of Queensland's population increased from 35.0 years to 36.6 years. The median age of males increased from 34.4 to 35.9 years and females increased from 35.6 to 37.3 years.

The median age of the population in Greater Brisbane increased from 34.2 years in 2001 to 35.1 years in 2011, while the median age of people living in the remainder of Queensland increased from 35.8 to 38.1 years.

The SA2 with the highest median age in 2011 was Bribie Island (56.6 years), followed by Cooloola (52.7), Redland Islands (50.3) and Caloundra Hinterland (50.2). While Bribie Island and Redland Islands are located in Greater Brisbane, the rest of the top ten SA2s with the highest median ages were elsewhere in Queensland, with half on the Sunshine Coast.

The three SA2s with the lowest median ages all had predominantly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. These were Yarrabah (22.1 years), near Cairns, and Northern Peninsula (22.5) and Torres Strait Islands (23.3), both in the far north of the state. Other SA2s with low median ages included St Lucia (23.9 years) in Brisbane and Douglas (24.4) in Townsville. This reflects high numbers of resident university students in these areas.
CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

At June 2011, 20% of the population in Queensland were children (under 15 years of age), down slightly from 21% at June 2001.

The SA2s with the highest proportion of children also had a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The SA2 with the highest proportion of children was Torres Strait Islands (36%), followed by Northern Peninsula and Yarrabah (both 34%). Other SA2s with high proportions of children included Bentley Park (30%) and Edmonton (29%), both in Cairns.
WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2011, about two-thirds of the Queensland population were aged 15 to 64 years (working age). The proportion of working age population in Greater Brisbane (69%) was higher than in the rest of Queensland (66%).

Eight of the top ten SA2s in Queensland with the highest proportions of working age population were in inner Brisbane, ranging from 91% in Fortitude Valley to 81% in Toowong.

Outside of Greater Brisbane, the SA2s with the highest proportions of people of working age were Cairns City and Douglas (both 80%).

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

At June 2011, 577,800 Queensland residents, or 13% of the state's population, were aged 65 years or older. This represents an increase of 155,600 people since 2001.

In the ten years to 2011, the proportion of people aged 65 years or older in Greater Brisbane increased slightly from 11% to 12%, while in the rest of Queensland it increased from 12% to 14%.

Bribie Island, in Greater Brisbane, was the SA2 with the highest proportion of its population aged 65 years and over, at 35%. The rest of the top ten SA2s with the highest proportions of this age group were outside of Greater Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Wide Bay areas, ranging from 27% in Pialba - Eli Waters to 25% in Tewantin.

SEX RATIO

In the ten years to June 2011, the sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) for Queensland increased from 99.1 to 99.4. For Greater Brisbane, the sex ratio increased from 97.2 to 98.7, while for the rest of Queensland it decreased from 100.9 to 100.0.

In 2011, Queensland had more males than females in each five-year age group from 0 to 29 years. The only other age groups where males outnumbered females were 60 to 64 years and 65 to 69 years. A greater number of females than males were evident in older age groups (70 years or above) and particularly evident in age groups 75 years or above. This reflects the longer life expectancy of females.

The SA2 with the highest sex ratio was Wacol (212.5), which contains a male prison. This was followed by Tablelands (141.8) and Mount Isa Region (141.7).

The SA2s with the lowest sex ratios were Sippy Downs (84.4) on the Sunshine Coast and Combabah (85.6) on the Gold Coast.