INTRODUCTION
STATISTICS PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION
This publication presents a range of social and housing statistics produced from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing for Tasmania. For comparative purposes, it includes 1996 Census data presented on 2001 Census geography. In addition, selected 1901 Census data are included in table 1 to mark Australia's Centenary of Federation in 2001. The tables in this publication provide selected characteristics of the population and their housing arrangements for Statistical Divisions (SDs), Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs) and Statistical Local Areas (SLAs). The purpose of these tables is to allow a broad comparison of characteristics between geographic areas. This publication also contains the Basic Community Profile (BCP) for Tasmania. This set of tables is provided to illustrate the wide range of data available from the Census. The BCP consists of 33 tables. This publication contains the first 21 tables which focus on the social and housing characteristics. The remainder of the BCP, tables 22 to 33, will be published in Census of Population and Housing: Selected Education and Labour Force Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas, Tasmania (Cat. no. 2017.6). The statistics in this publication are mostly presented on the basis of where people were counted on Census Night ('as enumerated' counts). Counts of people based on where they usually live ('usual residence' counts) are also provided.
POPULATION MEASURES
Census counts should not be confused with the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) official population estimate, the Estimated Resident Population (ERP) which is used for electoral purposes and in assisting in the distribution of government funds to state and local governments. ERP is the definitive population estimate and is derived from the census counts. For example, ERP includes an estimate of Australians temporarily overseas. For a fuller description of population measures and the derivation of ERP, please see paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of the Explanatory Notes. Appendix 1 includes a table showing census counts and ERP for each State and Territory. One of the important features of the Census is that it describes the characteristics of Australia's population and housing for small geographic areas and small population groups. While not available in this publication, data at the smallest geographic level (Collection District) are available in a range of census products. For more information on these products, please refer to Appendix 2 - Census Products and Services. Concepts and definitions used in this publication are explained in the Glossary and more detailed information is available in the 2001 Census Dictionary (Cat. no. 2901.0). The Explanatory Notes in this publication provide a discussion of the scope and coverage of the Census, the different measures of population, and the limitations of census data. This publication is one of a series of publications which provide data at the SLA level for each State and Territory. A similar publication is also available for the whole of Australia, providing data at SSD level. See Appendix 2 (Census Products and Services) for more information.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
STATE OVERVIEW
The Census of Population and Housing conducted on 7 August 2001 counted 456,652 people in Tasmania on Census Night. This represents a decrease of 0.7% (3,007 people) in Tasmania's population since the 1996 Census (459,659 people). This compares with a 6.0% increase for Australia as a whole. Tasmania is the only State or Territory to record a decrease in population. Of those counted in Australia on Census Night, 460,672 people were usual residents of Tasmania.
Selected person characteristics
The median age in Tasmania was 36 years in 2001, up from 34 years in 1996. This compares with the national median age of 35 years in 2001. The proportion of people aged 65 years and over increased to 13.4% (61,370 people) compared with 12.6% for Australia. The proportion of people aged 0-14 years decreased to 21.4% (97,686 people) in 2001, from 22.7% in 1996. The proportion of males and females in the population has remained stable, with slightly more females (50.9%) than males (49.1%). New topics for the 2001 Census included Computer use at home and Internet use. For Tasmania a higher proportion of males (38.8%) used a personal computer at home than females (36.4%). This compares with 43.5% of males and 40.5% of females for Australia. Similarly, a higher proportion of males (23.8%) than females (21.1%) used the Internet at home in Tasmania. For Australia, 29.5% of males and 25.9% of females used the Internet at home.
Selected ethnic characteristics
The majority of people counted in Tasmania were Australian born (84.9% or 386,036 people). In comparison to 72.6% for Australia, Tasmania recorded the highest proportion of people born in Australia. The largest overseas born group comprised people born in the United Kingdom at 4.7% (21,306 people) followed by New Zealand at 0.8% (3,590 people) and The Netherlands at 0.5% (2,483 people). Tasmania also recorded the highest proportion of people who speak English only at home, at 92.6% (421,034 people) of the population. This compares with 80.0% for Australia.
Indigenous people
The number of people who identified as being of Indigenous origin increased by 13.7% to 15,773 people in 2001, up from 13,873 people in 1996. The Indigenous population represented 3.5% of the Tasmania population. This compares with 2.2% for Australia. the people who identified as being of Indigenous origin, the majority 34.4% or 5,422 people) were enumerated in Greater Hobart (SSD), followed by 22.6% 3,561 people) in Burnie-Devonport (SSD) and 14.5% (2,287 people) in Greater Launceston (SSD).
Housing characteristics
There were 208,702 dwellings counted in Tasmania, an increase of 3.4% (6,885 dwellings) since 1996. This was the lowest increase of all States and Territories and compares with an 8.5% increase in dwellings for Australia as a whole. Of these dwellings, 86.8% (181,172) were occupied private dwellings, 12.9% (26,874) were unoccupied private dwellings and 0.3% (649) were non-private dwellings.
Occupied private dwellings
Dwellings which were fully owned or being purchased accounted for 69.8% of the 181,172 occupied private dwellings in Tasmania. For the occupied private dwellings being purchased (51,152 dwellings), the median monthly housing loan repayment was $614, the lowest of any State or Territory. This compares with $870 for Australia.
The median weekly rent for the 24.1% of occupied private dwellings being rented (43,649 dwellings) was $107. This was also the lowest of any State or Territory and compares with $154 for Australia.
Household characteristics
Of the 181,172 households counted in 2001, 68.1% (123,305 households) were family households, a decrease from 70.1% in 1996. The proportion of lone person households increased to 26.1% (47,353 households), up from 24.2% in 1996. The proportion of group households fell to 2.9% (5,209 households) in 2001, down from 3.2% in 1996. The Census shows that 41.2% of all Tasmania households (74,603 households) used a personal computer at home in the week prior to the Census. This compares with 48.6% of all households for Australia. For the same period, 28.0% of Tasmanian households (50,657 households) reported using the Internet at home, compared with 36.1% of households for Australia.
Family type
The 2001 Census counted 124,078 families in Tasmania, a marginal increase of 0.3% since 1996. In 2001, the proportion of couple families with children accounted for 43.7% 54,235 families) of all families, down from 47.9% in 1996. There were corresponding increases in the proportion of couple families without children (38.4% or 47,674 families), up from 36.0% in 1996, and one parent families (16.5% or 20,476 families), up from 14.8% in 1996.
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