GLOSSARY

12/12 month rule

A method for measuring an overseas traveller's duration of stay or absence in which the 12 month usual residence criterion in population estimates is measured across a 12 month period. Under a 12/12 month rule, overseas travellers must be resident in Australia for a continuous 12 month period or more to be included in the estimated resident population. Similarly, Australia residents travelling overseas must be absent from Australia for a continuous 12 month period or more to be removed from the estimated resident population.

12/16 month rule

A method for measuring an overseas traveller's duration of stay or absence which takes an approach to measure usual residence that does not have to be continuous, as opposed to the continuous approach used under a 12/12 month rule. Under a 12/16 month rule, overseas travellers must have been resident in Australia for a total period of 12 months or more during the 16 month follow-up period to be included in the estimated resident population.

The 12/16 month rule therefore takes account of those persons who may have left Australia briefly and returned, while still being resident for 12 months out of 16. Similarly, it takes account of Australians who live most of the time overseas but periodically return to Australia for short periods.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin

From the 1996 census onwards, the following question has been asked of each person:

Indigenous statistics since 1996 conform to this definition.

For a discussion of the treatment of Indigenous persons in earlier censuses refer to the ABS Occasional Paper - Population Issues, Indigenous Australians, 1996 (cat. no. 4708. 0).

Age-specific birth rates

See 'age-specific fertility rates'.

Age-specific death rates

Age-specific death rates are the number of deaths (occurred or registered) during the calendar year at a specified age per 1,000 of the estimated resident population of the same age at mid-point of the year (30 June). Pro rata adjustment is made in respect of deaths for which the age of the deceased is not given.

Age-specific divorce rates

Two different populations may be used in the calculation of age-specific divorce rates:

• Per 1,000 population - this relates the number of divorces recorded in the calendar year, by age at decree made absolute, to the estimated resident population of the same age at 30 June. Males under 18 years and females under 16 years are excluded from the population.
• Per 1,000 married population - this relates the number of divorces recorded in a calendar year, by age at decree made absolute, to the married population of the same age at 30 June. Those classified as permanently separated are included in the married population. Males and females under 15 years are excluded from the population.

Calculation of this rate requires a disaggregation of the population by marital status. Estimates of the population by marital status were last calculated as at 30 June 2001.

Wherever used, the definition adopted is indicated.

Age-specific fertility rates

Age-specific fertility rates are the number of live births (occurred or registered) during the calendar year, according to the age of the mother, per 1,000 of the female estimated resident population of the same age at 30 June. For calculating these rates, births to mothers under 15 years are included in the 15-19 years age group, and births to mothers aged 50 years and over are included in the 45-49 years age group. Pro rata adjustment is made for births for which the age of the mother is not given.

Age-specific marriage rates

Two different populations may be used in the calculation of age-specific marriage rates:

• Per 1,000 population - this relates the number of marriages of males or females registered in a calendar year, by age at marriage, to the estimated resident population in the same age. Males and females aged under 15 years are excluded from the population.
• Per 1,000 not registered married population - this relates the number of marriages of males or females registered in a calendar year, by age at marriage, to the not registered married population of males or females of the same age at 30 June. Males and females aged under 15 years are excluded from the population.

Calculation of this rate requires a disaggregation of the population by marital status. Estimates of the population by marital status were last calculated as at 30 June 2001.

Wherever used, the definition adopted is indicated.

Australian resident

For estimated resident population statistics, a person is regarded as a usual resident if they have been (or are expected to be) residing in Australia for a period of 12 months or more. The estimated resident population numbers therefore include all people, regardless of nationality or citizenship, who usually live in Australia, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families. It includes usual residents who are overseas for less than 12 months and excludes overseas residents who are in Australia for less than 12 months.

Average annual rate of growth

The average annual growth rate, r, is calculated as a percentage using the formula:

r =

where P_o is the population at the start of the period, P_n is the population at the end of the period and n is the length of the period between P_n and P_o in years.

Balance of state or territory

The aggregation of all Statistical Divisions (SD) within a state or territory other than its Capital City (see Major Statistical Region in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0)). Historical data are presented on boundaries as defined at the time, unless otherwise stated.

Birth

The delivery of a child, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, who, after being born, breathes or shows any evidence of life such as heartbeat.

Capital city

Refers to the Capital City Statistical Divisions of states and territories as defined in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0). Historical data are presented on boundaries as defined at the time, unless otherwise stated.

Category jumping

Category jumping was the name given to the adjustment made to the components of net overseas migration, when these were applied, up until the year ending 30 June 1996. Category jumping was set to zero for the years ending 30 June 1997 to 2001. With the interim method of adjusting these components, this adjustment is now known as 'migration adjustment'.

Category jumping was the term used to describe changes between intended and actual duration of stay of travellers to/from Australia, such that their classification as short-term or as long-term/permanent movers is different at arrival/departure from that after 12 months. For more information, see Migration, Australia 2002-03 (cat. no. 3412.0), chapter 6, 'Special article: Adjustments to overseas migration estimates'. See also Migration Adjustment.

Category of movement

Overseas arrivals and departures are classified according to length of stay (in Australia or overseas), as recorded by travellers on passenger cards. There are three main categories of movement:

• permanent movements;
• long-term movements (one year or more); and
• short-term movements (less than one year).

A significant number of travellers (i.e. overseas visitors to Australia on arrival and Australian residents going abroad) state exactly 12 months or one year as their intended period of stay. Many of them stay for less than that period and on their departure from, or return to, Australia are therefore classified as short-term. Accordingly, in an attempt to maintain consistency between arrivals and departures, movements of travellers who report their actual or intended period of stay as being one year exactly are randomly allocated to long-term or short-term in proportion to the number of movements of travellers who report their actual length of stay as up to one month more, or one month less, than one year.

Prior to 1959, overseas arrivals and departures were classified as either permanent or temporary. Revised questions for travellers were introduced in 1958 which enables arrivals and departures previously classified as permanent to be sub-divided (as from 1 January 1959) into two categories, permanent movement and long-term movement.

Census count

The Census of Population and Housing enumerates persons on the basis of where they were located on census night. Characteristics of households are only available according to place of enumeration. The Census also compiles information on people according to their place of usual residence. This information is coded to Statistical Local Areas. This means that census counts of people can be produced according to their location on census night as well as their place of usual residence.

Children (Divorces collection)

Children in the Divorces collection are unmarried children of the marriage who were aged under 18 years at the time of application for divorce. Under the Family Law Act 1975 (Commonwealth Government) these may include (in certain cases) adopted and exnuptial children and children from a former marriage. Children who are married or aged 18 years or more are not subject to custody and guardianship orders and are excluded.

Children (Marriages collection)

Children in the Marriages collection refer to persons under 16 years of age born from previous marriages.

Confinement

A pregnancy which results in at least one live birth.

Country of birth

The classification of countries used is the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC). For more detailed information refer to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) (cat. no. 1269.0).

Crude birth rate

The crude birth rate is the number of live births registered during the calendar year per 1,000 estimated resident population at 30 June of that year. For years prior to 1992, the crude birth rate was based on the mean estimated resident population for the calendar year.

Crude death rate

The crude death rate is the number of deaths registered during the calendar year per 1,000 estimated resident population at 30 June. For years prior to 1992, the crude death rate was based on the mean estimated resident population for the calendar year.

Crude divorce rate

The crude divorce rate is the number of decrees absolute granted during the calendar year per 1,000 estimated resident population at 30 June. For years prior to 1992, the crude divorce rate was based on the mean estimated resident population for the calendar year. In the interpretation of this rate, it must be kept in mind that a large and varying proportion of the population used in the denominator is unmarried or is below the minimum age of marriage.

While state or territory of usual residence is used as the denominator, the numerator is based upon state or territory of registration. Therefore, divorce applicants may contribute to the divorce rates of states and territories where they are not usual residents.

Crude marriage rate

The crude marriage rate is the number of marriages registered during the calendar year per 1,000 estimated resident population at 30 June. For years prior to 1992, the crude marriage rate was based on the mean estimated resident population for the calendar year. In the interpretation of this rate, it must be kept in mind that a large and varying proportion of the population used in the denominator is below the minimum age of marriage or is already married.

Date of divorce

Date at which decree absolute of dissolution of marriage is granted.

Date of final separation

The date of final separation is the date, given on the application for divorce, from which the period of living apart is calculated for the purpose of establishing grounds for divorce. In determining the date of final separation, a single period of resumed cohabitation of less than three months may be ignored, provided the periods of living apart before and after resumed cohabitation amount to a total of 12 months or more.

Death

Death is the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life after birth has taken place. The definition excludes all deaths prior to live birth. For the purposes of the Death registrations and Causes of Death collections of the ABS, a death refers to any death which occurs in, or en route to Australia and is registered with a state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Divorce

Decree absolute of dissolution of marriage.

Duration of marriage to divorce

Duration of marriage is the interval measured in completed years between the date of marriage and the date of divorce.

Duration of marriage to separation

Duration of marriage until separation is the interval measured in completed years between the date of marriage and the date of separation.

Estimated resident population (ERP)

The official measure of the population of Australia is based on the concept of residence. It refers to all people, regardless of nationality or citizenship, who usually live in Australia, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families. It includes usual residents who are overseas for less than 12 months. It excludes overseas visitors who are in Australia for less than 12 months.

Estimates of the Australian resident population are generated on a quarterly basis by adding natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) and net overseas migration (NOM) occurring during the period to the population at the beginning of each period. This is known as the cohort component method and can be represented by the following equation:

P_(t+1) = P_(t) + B - D + NOM

where P_(t) is the estimated resident population at time point t, P_(t+1) is the estimated resident population at time point t+1, B is the number of births occurring between t and t+1, D is the number of deaths occurring between t and t+1, and NOM is the net overseas migration occurring between t and t+1.

For state and territory population estimates, an additional term is added to the equation representing net interstate migration occurring between t and t+1, represented by the following equation:

P_(t+1) = P_(t) + B - D + NOM + NIM

Exnuptial birth

An exnuptial birth is the birth of a child whose parents are not legally married to each other at the time of the child's birth.

External territories

Australian External Territories include Australian Antarctic Territory, Coral Sea Islands Territory, Norfolk Island, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands.

Indigenous (see also Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin)

Persons who identify themselves as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin.

Infant death

An infant death is the death of a live-born child who dies before reaching his/her first birthday.

Infant mortality rate (IMR)

The number of deaths of children under one year of age in a calendar year per 1,000 live births in the same calendar year.

Intended length of stay

On arrival in Australia, all overseas visitors are asked to state their 'intended length of stay in Australia'. On departure from Australia, all Australian residents are asked to state their 'intended length of stay overseas'.

Intercensal discrepancy

Intercensal discrepancy is the difference between two estimates at 30 June of a census year population, the first based on the latest census and the second arrived at by updating the 30 June estimate of the previous census year with intercensal components of population change which take account of information available from the latest census. It is caused by errors in the start and/or finish population estimates and/or in estimates of births, deaths or migration in the intervening period which cannot be attributed to a particular source.

Intercensal error

Intercensal error is the difference between two estimates at 30 June of a census year population, the first based on the latest census and the second arrived at by updating the 30 June estimate of the previous census year with intercensal components of population change which do not take account of information available from the latest census.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy refers to the average number of additional years a person of a given age and sex might expect to live if the age-specific death rates of the given period continued throughout his/her lifetime.

Life table

A life table is a tabular, numerical representation of mortality and survivorship of a cohort of births at each age of life. The conventional life table is based on the assumption that as the cohort passes through life it experiences mortality at each age in accordance with a predetermined pattern of mortality rates which do not change from year to year. The life table thus constitutes a hypothetical model of mortality, and even though it is usually based upon death rates from a real population during a particular period of time, it does not describe the real mortality which characterises a cohort as it ages.

There is another kind of life table in which the mortality patterns are derived from the experience of the same cohorts as they pass through different ages. Such tables are called cohort life tables or generation life tables. Because many years must pass to accumulate the information needed to construct a cohort life table, such tables are rare.

Due to differences in mortality patterns between males and females at different ages, life tables generally are constructed separately for each sex. The life table is a very useful tool for computing estimates of the mortality component of population change. This is done by the use of specific figures from the entire array which comprises the life table. The information in this array of figures is of several different types, each of which is called a life table function.

Live birth

A live birth is the birth of a child, who, after delivery, breathes or shows any other evidence of life such as a heartbeat.

Local Government Area (LGA)

Local Government Areas (LGAs) are the spatial units which represent the geographical areas of incorporated local government councils and incorporated Community Government councils (CGCs) where the CGC is of sufficient size and statistical significance. The various types of LGAs are cities (C), areas (A), rural cities (RC), towns (T), shires (S), district councils (DC) and municipalities (M). Further information concerning LGAs is contained in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0).

Long-term arrivals

Long-term arrivals comprise:

• overseas visitors who intend to stay in Australia for 12 months or more (but not permanently); and
• Australian residents returning after an absence of 12 months or more overseas.

Prior to 1959, overseas arrivals and departures were classified as either permanent or temporary. Revised questions for travellers were introduced in 1958 which enabled arrivals and departures previously classified as permanent to be sub-divided (as from 1 January 1959) into two categories, permanent movement and long-term movement.

Long-term departures

Long-term departures comprise:

• Australian residents who intend to stay abroad for 12 months or more (but not permanently); and
• overseas visitors departing who stayed 12 months or more in Australia.

Prior to 1959, overseas arrivals and departures were classified as either permanent or temporary. Revised questions for travellers were introduced in 1958 which enabled arrivals and departures previously classified as permanent to be sub-divided (as from 1 January 1959) into two categories, permanent movement and long-term movement.

Marital status

Two separate concepts of marital status are measured by the ABS. These are registered marital status and social marital status.

Registered marital status refers to formally registered marriages and divorces. Registered marital status is a person's relationship status in terms of whether he or she has, or has had, a registered marriage with another person. Accordingly, people are classified as either 'never married', 'married', 'widowed', or 'divorced'.

Social marital status is the relationship status of an individual with reference to another person who is usually resident in the household. A marriage exists when two people live together as husband and wife, or partners, regardless of whether the marriage is formalised through registration. Individuals are, therefore, regarded as married if they are in a de facto marriage, or if they are living with the person to whom they are registered as married. Under social marital status, a person is classified as either 'married' or 'not married' with further disaggregation of 'married' to distinguish 'registered married' from 'de facto married' person.

Marriage

Refers to registered marriages only. Under the Australian Marriage Act 1961 (Commonwealth), a marriage may be celebrated by a minister of religion registered as an authorised celebrant, by a district registrar or by other persons authorised by the Attorney-General. Notice of the intended marriage must be given to the celebrant at least one calendar month but within six calendar months before the marriage. A celebrant must transmit an official certificate of the marriage for registration in the state or territory in which the marriage took place.

Mean population

Mean populations are calculated using the formula:



where a is the population at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the 12-month period, and b, c, d and e are the populations at the end of each of the four succeeding quarters. The weights used in the formulation of the mean annual populations have been derived using a mathematical technique which involves the fitting of two quadratic polynomial functions to a series of points.

Median value

For any distribution the median value (age, duration, interval) is that value which divides the relevant population into two equal parts, half falling below the value, and half exceeding it. Where the value for a particular record has not been stated, that record is excluded from the calculation.

Migration adjustment

The ABS applies a number of adjustments to overseas arrivals and departures data in order to produce estimates of Net Overseas Migration (NOM). These mainly comprise adjustments designed to reflect differences between stated travel intentions and actual travel behaviour, but (in the case of revised NOM estimates) also include adjustments to transform numbers of overseas movements into numbers of travellers. Until recently, adjustments used by the ABS to produce NOM estimates were collectively referred to as 'category jumping adjustments'. They are now referred to more simply as 'migration adjustments'. For further information see the Technical Note in Australian Demographic Statistics, September Quarter 2005 (cat. no. 3101.0) and ABS Demography Working Paper 2003/5 - Net Overseas Migration: Adjusting for Actual Duration of Stay or Absence.

Mortality

Death.

Natural increase

Excess of births over deaths.

Net interstate migration

The difference between the number of persons who have changed their place of usual residence by moving into a given state or territory and the number who have changed their place of usual residence by moving out of that state or territory during a specified time period. This difference can be either positive or negative.

Net overseas migration (NOM)

Net overseas migration is the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia. It is:

• based on an international travellers' duration of stay being in or out of Australia for 12 months or more;
• the difference between the number of incoming travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more and are added to the population (NOM arrivals) and the number of outgoing travellers who leave Australia for 12 months or more and are subtracted from the population (NOM departures).

When using the current method for estimating net overseas migration this term is then based on a travellers'
actual duration of stay or absence using the 12/16 rule.

Net permanent and long-term movement

The difference between the number of permanent (settler) and long-term arrivals and the number of permanent and long-term departures. Short-term movements are excluded.

Net reproduction rate (NRR)

The net reproduction rate represents the average number of daughters that would be born to a group of females if they are subject to the fertility and mortality rates of a given year during their future life. It indicates the extent to which the population would reproduce itself. The net reproduction rate is obtained by multiplying the age-specific birth rates (for female births only) by the proportion of survivors at corresponding ages in a life table and adding the products.

NOM arrivals

NOM arrivals are all overseas arrivals that contribute to net overseas migration (NOM). It is the number of incoming international travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more and are added to the population.

When using the current method for estimating net overseas migration this term is then based on a travellers' actual duration of stay using the 12/16 rule.

NOM departures

NOM departures are all overseas departures that contribute to net overseas migration (NOM). It is the number of outgoing international travellers (Australian residents and long term visitors to Australia) who leave Australia for 12 months or more and are subtracted from the population.

When using the current method for estimating net overseas migration this term is then based on a travellers' actual duration of absence using the 12/16 rule.

Nuptial birth

A nuptial birth is the birth of a child born of parents who are legally married at the time of the child's birth.

Nuptial first confinement

A nuptial first confinement is the first confinement in the current marriage and therefore does not necessarily represent the woman's first ever confinement resulting in a live birth.

Nuptiality

Nuptiality relates to the registered marital status of persons and the events such as marriages, divorces and widowhood. Confinements and births are identified as being nuptial where the father registered was married to the mother at the time of birth, or where the husband died during pregnancy. Confinements and children of Indigenous mothers considered to be tribally married are classified as nuptial. Other confinements, and the children resulting from them, are classified as ex-nuptial whether or not both parents were living together at the time of birth.

Other Territories

Following the 1992 amendments to the Acts Interpretation Act to include the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands as part of geographic Australia, another category at the state and territory level was created, known as Other Territories. Other Territories include Jervis Bay Territory, previously included with the Australian Capital Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Overseas arrivals and departures (OAD)

Overseas arrivals and departures (OAD) refer to the arrival or departure of Australian residents or overseas visitors, through Australian airports (or sea ports), which have been recorded on incoming and outgoing passenger cards. Statistics on OAD relate to the number of movements of travellers rather than the number of travellers (i.e. the multiple movements of individual persons during a given reference period are all counted).

Part of state

Part of state is used to refer to the remainder of a state outside the Capital City Statistical Division (SD). See also Balance of state or territory.

Permanent arrivals (settlers)

Permanent arrivals (settlers) comprise:

• travellers who hold migrant visas (regardless of stated intended period of stay);
• New Zealand citizens who indicate an intention to settle; and
• those who are otherwise eligible to settle (e.g. overseas-born children of Australian citizens).

This definition of settlers is used by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA). Prior to 1985 the definition of settlers used by the ABS was the stated intention of the traveller only. Numerically the effect of the change in definition is insignificant. The change was made to avoid the confusion caused by minor differences between data on settlers published separately by the ABS and the DIMA.

Prior to 1959, overseas arrivals and departures were classified as either permanent or temporary. Revised questions for travellers were introduced in 1958 which enabled arrivals and departures previously classified as permanent to be subdivided (as from 1 January 1959) into two categories, permanent movement and long-term movement.

Permanent departures

Permanent departures are Australian residents (including former settlers) who on departure state that they are departing permanently.

Prior to 1959, overseas arrivals and departures were classified as either permanent or temporary. Revised questions for travellers were introduced in 1958 which enabled arrivals and departures previously classified as permanent to be subdivided (as from 1 January 1959) into two categories, permanent movement and long-term movement.

Population growth

For Australia, population growth is the sum of natural increase and net overseas migration. For states and territories, population growth also includes net interstate migration. Following each census, intercensal population growth also includes an allowance for intercensal discrepancy.

Rate of population growth

Population change over a period as a proportion (percentage) of the population at the beginning of the period.

Residents temporarily overseas

Residents temporarily overseas are Australian residents who are overseas for a period less than 12 months.

Sex ratio

The sex ratio relates to the number of males per 100 females. The sex ratio is defined for total population, at birth, at death and among age groups by appropriately selecting the numerator and denominator of the ratio.

Short-term arrivals

Short-term arrivals comprise:

• overseas visitors who intend to stay in Australia for less than 12 months; and
• Australian residents returning after a stay of less than 12 months overseas.

Short-term departures

Short-term departures comprise:

• Australian residents who intend to stay abroad for less than 12 months; and
• overseas visitors departing after a stay of less than 12 months in Australia.

Standardised death rates (SDR)

Standardised death rates (SDR) enable the comparison of death rates between populations with different age structures by relating them to a standard population. The ABS standard populations relate to years ending in 1 (e.g. 1991). The current standard population is all persons in the Australian population at 30 June 2001. SDRs are expressed per 1,000 or 100,000 persons. There are two methods of calculating SDRs:

• The direct method - this is used when the populations under study are large and the age-specific death rates are reliable. It is the overall death rate that would have prevailed in the standard population if it had experienced at each age the death rates of the population under study.
• The indirect method - this is used when the population under study are small and the age-specific death rates are unreliable or not known. It is an adjustment to the crude death rate of the standard population to account for the variation between the actual number of deaths in the population under study and the number of deaths which would have occurred if the population under study had experienced the age-specific death rates of the standard population.

Wherever used, the definition adopted is indicated.

State or territory of intended address/where lived

Overseas visitors are asked on arrival in Australia for their state or territory of intended address. On departure from Australia overseas visitors are asked the state or territory where they spent most time.

Australian residents are asked on departure for the state or territory in which they live/lived. Residents returning to Australia are asked for their state or territory of intended address.

State or territory of registration

State or territory of registration refers to the state or territory in which the event was registered.

State or territory of usual residence

State or territory of usual residence refers to the state or territory of usual residence of:

• the population (estimated resident population);
• the mother (births collection); or
• the deceased (deaths collection).

In the case of overseas movements, state or territory of usual residence refers to the state or territory regarded by the traveller as the one in which he/she lives or has lived. State or territory of intended residence is derived from the intended address given by settlers, and by Australian residents returning after a journey abroad. Particularly in the case of the former, this information does not necessarily relate to the state or territory in which the traveller will eventually establish a permanent residence.

Statistical District (S Dist)

Statistical Districts (S Dist) consist of selected, significant, predominantly urban areas in Australia which are not located within a Capital City Statistical Division. S Dists enable comparable statistics to be produced about these selected urban areas. Further information concerning S Dists is contained in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0).

Statistical Division (SD)

Statistical Divisions (SD) consist of one or more Statistical Subdivisions (SSD). The divisions are designed to be relatively homogeneous regions characterised by identifiable social and economic units within the region, under the unifying influence of one or more major towns or cities. Further information concerning SDs is contained in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0).

Statistical Local Area (SLA)

Statistical Local Areas (SLA) are, in most cases, identical with, or have been formed from a division of, whole Local Government Areas (LGA). In other cases, they represent unincorporated areas. In aggregate, SLAs cover the whole of a state or territory without gaps or overlaps. In some cases legal LGAs overlap statistical subdivision boundaries and therefore comprise two or three SLAs (Part A, Part B and, if necessary, Part C). Further information concerning SLAs is contained in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0).

Total fertility rate (TFR)

The sum of age-specific fertility rates (live births at each age of mother per female population at that age). It represents the number of children a female would bear during her lifetime if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates at each age of her reproductive life.

Usual residence

Usual residence within Australia refers to that address at which the person has lived or intends to live for a total of six months or more in a given reference year.

Year of occurrence

Data presented on year of occurrence basis relate to the date the event occurred (e.g. births, deaths, marriages).

Year of registration

Data presented on year of registration basis relate to the date the event was registered (e.g. birth, deaths, marriages).