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While Tasmania is the most decentralised state in terms of population distribution, with nearly 60% of the population living outside the capital city statistical division, the population is concentrated in three main areas: the urban areas of Hobart, Launceston and Burnie/Devonport. Large areas of the state, including the Central Plateau, South West and West Coast (in the Southern and Mersey-Lyell statistical divisions), are uninhabited or sparsely inhabited.

• Estimated resident population - At 30 June 2003, Tasmania's resident population was estimated at 477,077, or 2.4% of the Australian total (19,880,599). On a regional basis, the Greater Hobart-Southern Region accounted for 49.2% of the population.

• Population growth - In the 12 months to June 2003, the Tasmanian resident population increased by 0.9%. Some 24 of Tasmania's 29 local government areas recorded population growth, with George Town municipality recording the largest growth rate of 3.1%.

• Median age - At 30 June 2003, Tasmania had a median age of 38.1 years. There were seven local government areas with median ages above 40 years: Glamorgan/Spring Bay, Break O'Day, Flinders, Tasman, Central Highlands, Latrobe and King Island.