3201.0 - Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Jun 1997 to Jun 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/03/2003   
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INTRODUCTION

1. This publication contains final estimates of the resident populations by age and sex, of Australian states and territories, as at 30 June 1997 to 2001 and preliminary estimates as at 30 June 2002. Mean ages, median ages and sex ratios for the states, territories and Australia are also included.

2. Following the 1992 amendment to the Acts Interpretation Act to include the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands as part of geographic Australia, population estimates commencing September quarter 1993 include estimates for these two territories. To reflect this change, another category of the state/territory level has been created, known as Other Territories. Other Territories include Jervis Bay Territory, previously included with the Australian Capital Territory, as well as Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, previously excluded from population estimates for Australia. Data for Other Territories, while not detailed separately, are included in tables where specifically noted.


RESIDENT POPULATION ESTIMATES SERIES

3. Australia's population statistics for the period from 1971 are compiled according to the place of usual residence of the population. An explanation of the place of usual residence conceptual basis for population estimates is given in Demographic Estimates and Projections: Concepts, Sources and Methods, in the Statistical Concepts Library on this site.


METHOD OF ESTIMATION

4. The estimates by age of the population of Australia and the states and territories at the date of the Census are derived from the Census Counts by Place of Usual Residence, by adjusting for under-enumeration and adding the number of Australian residents estimated to have been temporarily overseas at the time of the Census.

5. Post-censal population estimates are obtained by advancing the previous year's estimates to the next year by subtracting deaths and adding births and net estimated interstate and overseas migration. After each census, estimates for the preceding intercensal period are revised by incorporating an additional adjustment (intercensal discrepancy) to ensure that the total intercensal increase at each age agrees with the difference between the estimated resident populations at the two respective census dates.


Net overseas migration

6. Estimates of overseas migration are based on net permanent and long-term overseas movements with state and territory not stated allocated pro rata. The final estimates from July 1976 onwards include an adjustment for the net effect of category jumping. This adjustment is necessary because net permanent and long-term migration figures can be affected by changes in travel intentions from short-term to permanent/long-term or vice versa. For example, an Australian resident departing for a short-term visit overseas (stating that he/she intends to stay abroad for less than 12 months) in fact stays more than 12 months, thereby changing his/her travel category from short-term to long-term. For estimates from June 1997 onwards, category jumping has been set to zero pending a review of the estimation technique. For further details see Demographic Estimates and Projections: Concepts, Sources and Methods, in the Statistical Concepts Library on this site.


Net interstate migration

7. Estimates of interstate migration since June 1986 have been derived from latest census data on interstate movement in the preceding one year and five years, and unidentified information on interstate changes of addresses advised to the Health Insurance Commission in the process of administering Medicare.


AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE OF GROWTH

8. The average annual rate of population growth, r, is calculated as a percentage using the formula below, where P0 is the population at the start of the period, Pn is the population at the end of the period and n is the length of the period between Pn and P0 in years.

Image - formula



ACCURACY/RELIABILITY

9. It should be noted that while the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) seeks to produce the most accurate estimates of the population possible, the accuracy of the estimates depends on the quality of the source data used. The major source of potential error is considered to be the estimates of interstate migration based on Medicare transfer data.

10. Single year age estimates are not shown for persons aged 85 years or older. The reliability of age estimates decreases as older ages are reached. However, estimates for each age up to 99 have been calculated and are available on request.

11. In recognition of the inherent accuracy involved in population estimation, population figures over 1,000 in the text are rounded to the nearest hundred, and figures less than 1,000 are rounded to the nearest ten. While unrounded figures are provided in tables, accuracy to the last digit is not claimed and should not be assumed.


ACKNOWLEDGMENT

12. ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published in the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.


RELATED RELEASES

13. Previous issues of this series containing consolidated data were issued on 23 August 1982 (containing estimates for the years 1971 to 1976); 22 July 1983 (containing estimates for the years 1977 to 1982); 8 December 1987 (containing estimates for the years 1981 to 1987); 21 July 1993 (containing estimates for the years 1987 to 1992); and 18 December 1997 (containing estimates for the years 1992 to 1997). Time series spreadsheets of these data for each state and territory and Australia from June 1971 to June 2002 are available for purchase from this site, or on AusStats and ABS@ services under catalogue number 3201.0.

14. Other ABS publications which may be of interest to users of this publication include:

AusStats - electronic data (see Explanatory Note 15)
Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0 - issued quarterly
Australian Demographic Trends, cat. no. 3102.0 - issued irregularly
Australian Historical Population Statistics, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001
Births, Australia, cat. no. 3301.0 - issued annually
Deaths, Australia, cat. no. 3302.0 - issued annually
Demographic Estimates and Projections: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Statistical Concepts Library
Migration, Australia, cat. no. 3412.0 - issued annually
Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia, cat. no. 3401.0 - issued monthly
Population Projections, Australia, cat. no. 3222.0 - issued every two to three years
Regional Population Growth, Australia, cat. no. 3218.0 - issued annually, also available in electronic form, cat. no. 3218.0.55.001.

15. AusStats is a web based information service which provides the ABS' full standard product range online. It also includes companion data in multidimensional datasets in SuperTABLE format, and time series spreadsheets.

16. Compendia of demographic data for each state and for the Australian Capital Territory are released annually in state- and territory-specific publications, Demography (cat. nos 3311.1-8).

17. The estimated resident population within Statistical Local Areas by age group and sex are released annually in electronic format as Population by Age and Sex (cat. nos 3235.1-8.55.001).

18. Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed in the Catalogue of Publications and Products, Australia (cat. no. 1101.0). The Catalogue is available from any ABS office or the ABS web site. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead.

19. As well as the statistics included in this and related publications, additional information is available from the ABS web site by selecting Themes/Demography.