3311.1 - Demography, New South Wales, 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/12/2001   
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MEDIA RELEASE

December 21, 2001
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
153/2001
Resident's of Hornsby-Ku-ring-gai live longer

Residents of Hornsby–Ku-ring-gai can expect to live longer than residents of anywhere else in NSW, according to figures released by the ABS today. Females born in 2000 in Hornsby–Ku-ring-gai can expect to live 83.4 years and males born in 2000 can expect to live 80 years. This is the only place in NSW where male life expectancy reached 80 years.

Life expectancy is lowest for males in North Central Plain at 72.1 years, Macquarie-Barwon at 72.2 years and Far West at 73.5 years. Areas where female life expectancy was lowest include Macquarie-Barwon at 77.4 years, North Central Tablelands at 79.5 years and Central Tablelands at 80.1 years.

At birth, females in NSW can expect to live 7.6 years longer in 2000 than in 1971, while males can expect to live 8.4 years longer. In 1971 life expectancy at birth was 74.4 years for females and 68.0 years for males. These figures increased to 82.0 years for females and 76.4 years for males in 2001.

The gap between male and female life expectancy has decreased from 6.4 years in 1971 to 5.6 years in 2001. The gap between male and female life expectancy is smallest in Hornsby–Ku-ring-gai at 3.4 years and largest in North Central Plain at 7.4 years.

The major causes of death in New South Wales are malignant neoplasms (cancer), ischaemic heart diseases (heart attack) and cerebrovascular diseases (including stroke). In Shellharbour, Cessnock, Narrabri, Cootamundra, Greater Lithgow, Parkes and Narromine it was found the mortality from heart diseases was significantly higher than the Australian level. Mortality from cerebrovascular diseases in Wyong, Strathfield, Marrickville, Ashfield, Grafton, Parkes and Lithgow was also significantly higher than the national level. Deaths from respiratory diseases were significantly higher than the national level in Blacktown, Marrickville, Kempsey and Moree Plains.

The marriage rate in NSW continues to decline. There were 2127 fewer marriages in 2000 than in 1990.

In 2000 most divorces were filed by the wife (49%). However for marriages over 30 years, husbands filed more often (43%) than wives (38%).

More details can be found in Demography, New South Wales (cat. no. 3311.1), available from ABS bookshops.This media release and the main features of the publication are available on this site. If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.