INTRODUCTION
1 This product contains estimates of the resident population by age and sex of Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) at 30 June 2004.
2 To meet the conflicting demands for accuracy and timeliness there are three estimates of sub-state/territory populations, preliminary, revised and final. The estimates in this product are preliminary.
ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION
3 Estimated resident population (ERP) are official estimates of the Australian population, which links people to a place of usual residence within Australia. Usual residence is that place where each person has lived or intends to live for six months or more from the reference date for data collection.
4 Estimates of the resident population are based on counts by place of usual residence (excluding overseas visitors in Australia) from the Census of Population and Housing, with an allowance for net census undercount, to which are added the number of Australian residents estimated to have been temporarily overseas at the time of the census.
5 For Australia, the population estimates are updated by adding to the estimated population at the beginning of each period the components of natural increase (on a usual residence basis) and net overseas migration. For the states and territories, account is also taken of estimated interstate movements involving a change of usual residence.
6 In census years the ERP by age and sex as at 30 June for each SLA is calculated based on usual residence census counts, excluding overseas visitors in Australia, with an allowance for net census undercount and the number of residents temporarily overseas at the census date. As the census is held at a date other than 30 June (the 2001 census was held on 7 August), further adjustments taking into account births, deaths and migration for the intervening period are made to obtain the ERP at 30 June.
7 For post-censal years, the absence of migration data at the SLA level means that it is not possible to estimate SLA populations by taking into account natural increase and net migration. Instead, most ERPs are calculated using a mathematical model. These models establish a relationship between changes in population and changes in other indicators between the two most recent censuses. Changes in these indicators are then used to estimate changes in the population of each area since the last census.
8 The total SLA population estimates for post-censal years are then broken down into age and sex components. The estimates by age and sex are updated from the previous year's estimates using registered births and deaths data, and synthetic estimates of migration. While the output is presented by five year age group (up to 80-84 year, then 85 years and over), all calculations are made at single year of age level (up to 84 years, then 85 years and over).
9 After each census, estimates for the preceding intercensal period are revised by incorporating an additional adjustment (intercensal discrepancy) to ensure that the total intercensal change agrees with the difference between the ERPs at the two respective census dates.
10 The ABS has been unable to estimate total population change from 30 June 2002 onwards for the Aboriginal Council (AC) and Island Council (IC) SLAs introduced in Queensland in the 2002 edition of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), and from 30 June 2001 onwards for the Community Government Council (CGC) SLAs introduced in Northern Territory in the 2003 edition of the ASGC. For these areas, the most recently published SLA total population estimates (June 2002 for Qld ACs and ICs, and June 2001 for NT CGCs) have been held constant to June 2004, to ensure individual estimates sum to totals. Refer to Explanatory Notes 16-23 in 'Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand, 2003-04' (cat. no. 3218.0) for further information. For these areas, the post-censal estimates by age and sex have been adjusted for births, deaths and the ageing of the population since 30 June 2001.
11 A more detailed explanation of the concept of ERP, as adopted by the ABS for official population estimates, is contained in Demographic Estimates and Projections: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Statistical Concepts Library, ABS web site <www.abs.gov.au>.
12 In recognition of the inherent inaccuracy involved in population estimation, population figures in accompanying text and summary tables are generally rounded. While unrounded figures are provided in the main tables, accuracy to the last digit is not claimed and should not be assumed.
AUSTRALIAN STATISTICAL AREAS
13 The areas used in this publication are defined and published in the Australian Standard Geographical Classification, 2004 Edition (cat. no. 1216.0), which refers to boundaries as defined at 1 July 2004.
RELATED PRODUCTS
14 The ABS has other related statistics available including estimates of the resident population for SLAs, postal areas and census collection districts by single year of age and sex. These are not standard ABS output, but rather are customised data for information consultancy purposes. For further details contact ABS Client Services on 1300 135 070.
15 Other ABS releases that may be of interest to users of this data include:
- Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0
- Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand, cat. no. 3218.0
- Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, cat. no. 3201.0
- Australian Historical Population Statistics, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001
- Population by Age and Sex, 2003, cat. no. 3235.0-8.55.001 - state and territory-specific datasets
- Population Projections, Australia, 2002 to 2101, cat. no. 3222.0
16 In addition to population estimates, the ABS can prepare population projections for various boundaries, including SLAs. The projections are based on the latest ERP by age and sex. Clients can supply their own assumptions or approve the use of ABS formulated assumptions. For further details regarding population projections contact ABS Client Services on 1300 135 070.
17 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.
18 As well as the statistics included in this and related publications, additional information is available from the ABS web site <www.abs.gov.au> by selecting Themes then Demography.
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