3235.0 - Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/08/2016   
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA


TOTAL POPULATION

At June 2015, the estimated resident population of Western Australia (WA) was 2.59 million people. WA's population increased by 299,400 people, or 13%, in the five years to 2015. This was the fastest growth of all states and territories.

Over three quarters (79%) of the state’s population lived in Greater Perth in 2015. In the five years to 2015, the population in Greater Perth increased by 258,100 to reach 2.04 million. Over the same period, the rest of WA increased by 41,400 people to reach 551,100.

The population of each SA3 in WA grew between 2010 and 2015. The fastest-growing SA3s were Serpentine - Jarrahdale (up by 40%), Armadale (30%), and Kwinana (28%), all located in Greater Perth.



AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

In 2015, Greater Perth had a higher proportion of its population aged 15 to 34 years (30%) compared with the rest of WA (26%). This is consistent with young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.

The rest of WA had a higher proportion of 35 to 74 year olds (48%) compared with Greater Perth (45%).

Graph Image for AGE DISTRIBUTION(a), Western Australia - 30 June 2015

Footnote(s): (a) 85 years and over not shown

Source(s): Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2015 (cat. no. 3235.0)


Differences in the age distribution of Greater Perth and the rest of WA were evident for both sexes, and were largest for people aged 20 to 24 years. Females in this age group comprised 3.6% of the population in Greater Perth compared with 2.5% in the rest of WA. Similarly, males aged 20 to 24 years comprised 3.8% of the population in Greater Perth compared with 3.0% in the rest of WA.


AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION (%), Western Australia - 30 June 2015
Image: Age & Sex Distribution (%), WA - 30 June 2015



MEDIAN AGE

WA had a median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of 36.1 years at June 2015. Females had a higher median age (36.8 years) than males (35.4). The median age of Greater Perth residents (35.7 years) was lower than for the rest of WA (37.7). Between 2010 and 2015, Greater Perth was the only capital city where median age decreased, down by 0.4 years.

The SA2s with the highest median ages in WA were the popular retirement and tree-change/sea-change locations of York - Beverley (49.8 years) and Toodyay (49.5) in the northern wheat belt, and Mandurah - South (49.5).

Roebuck (28.2 years) in the state’s far north had the lowest median age in the state, followed by Seville Grove (29.0) and Clarkson (29.4) in Greater Perth.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

At June 2015, there were 497,700 people under 15 years of age, accounting for almost one fifth of the state’s population (19%). This was similar in both Greater Perth and the rest of WA.

The SA2s with the highest proportions of children were Roebuck in the state's north, Gelorup - Dalyellup - Stratham in south-west WA, and Baldivis and Byford in Greater Perth, each at 28%.

POPULATION AGED LESS THAN 15 YEARS, Statistical Areas Level 2, Western Australia - 30 June 2015

Image: Population Aged Less than 15 Years, SA2, WA - 30 June 2015


WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

Just over two thirds of WA’s population (1.75 million people) were aged between 15 and 64 years in June 2015.

The SA2 with the highest proportion of people of working age was East Pilbara (90%), which is located in the state’s north and is the focus of much of WA’s mining activity. With the exception of Perth City (85%), the SA2s with the next highest proportions were Ashburton (85%) and Roebourne (84%), also located in the state's north.

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS), Statistical Areas Level 2, Western Australia - 30 June 2015

Image: Working Age Population (Aged 15-64 Years), SA2, WA - 30 June 2015




PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

There were 340,200 people aged 65 years and over in WA at June 2015, representing 13% of the state’s population. Almost four fifths (79%) of people aged 65 years and over lived in Greater Perth.

Mandurah - South was the SA2 with the highest proportion of people aged 65 years and over in WA, at 29%. The adjoining SA2s of Mandurah - East (24%) and Greenfields (23%) also had high proportions. Outside of Greater Perth, York - Beverley in the northern wheatbelt and Albany in the state's south had the highest proportions (both 24%).

SEX RATIO

At June 2015, the sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) in WA was 102.1, with 1.31 million males and 1.28 million females. This was the second highest sex ratio of all states and territories, behind the Northern Territory at 112.3 (the only other state or territory where males outnumbered females).

The SA2 with the highest sex ratio in Australia was East Pilbara (358.9) in WA's northern mining region. Other SA2s in WA with high sex ratios included Roebourne (243.5), Ashburton (238.9), Meekatharra (203.5), Leinster - Leonora (194.4) and Murray (182.2), which are all located in areas of significant mining activity in regional WA, and Casuarina - Wellard (East) (220.5) and Chidlow (187.9), which both contain large male prison facilities.

Within Greater Perth, the SA2s with the lowest sex ratios were Mosman Park - Peppermint Grove (83.0), Bicton - Palmyra (89.8), Mandurah - South (90.5), and Bullsbrook (90.6). Outside of Greater Perth, Albany (87.5), Busselton (89.0) and Katanning (89.6) in WA’s south had the lowest sex ratios, followed by Geraldton (89.9) in the mid-west.