3235.4.55.001 - Population by Age and Sex, South Australia, Jun 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/06/2005   
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SUMMARY

The estimated resident population of South Australia at 30 June 2004 was 1,534,000, an increase of 7,900 since 2003. In 2004 South Australia's population was 7.6% of the Australian total.

In 2004 almost three quarters (73.3%) of the state's population resided in the Adelaide Statistical Division (SD), a proportion virtually unchanged since 2003. Outer Adelaide was the fastest growing SD in the state with an increase of 2.3% (2,700 persons) from 2003 to 2004. Northern SD experienced a decline in population (-500) over the same period.

For Statistical Local Areas the following analysis excludes unincorporated areas.

MEDIAN AGE

The median age, the age at which half the population is older and half is younger, increased in South Australia between 2003 and 2004, from 38.3 years to 38.5 years. In the same time, the median age of the Australian population increased from 36.2 years to 36.4 years. South Australia's median age continues to be the highest of all states and territories of Australia.

Amongst the SDs in South Australia, the highest median age was recorded by Yorke and Lower North (44.5 years). The SD with the lowest median age was Northern (37.1 years).

The Statistical Local Area (SLA) with the highest median age was Victor Harbor (C) at 52.7 years. Other SLAs with relatively high median ages were Yorke Peninsula (DC) - South (48.0 years), Yorke Peninsula (DC) - North (47.6 years) and Barunga West (DC) (46.9 years). The SLAs with the lowest median ages were Roxby Downs (M) (28.9 years), Playford (C) - West Central (30.4 years), Salisbury (C) - Inner North (31.2 years) and Salisbury (C) - Bal (31.4 years).

POPULATION, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 2003 and 2004
Graph: POPULATION, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 2003 and 2004

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS)

In 2004 South Australia had the lowest proportion of children aged 0 to 14 years (18.6%) of all states and territories. Nationally 19.8% of the population was in this age group. In South Australia the total number of children has fallen from 287,900 persons in 2003 to 285,800 in 2004, a decrease of 0.7%.

The SD with the highest proportion of its population aged under 15 in 2004 was Eyre (21.9%) and the lowest was Adelaide (17.9%). All South Australian SDs apart from Outer Adelaide experienced a decline in the number of children from 2003 to 2004. The Yorke and Lower North SD had the largest percentage fall of 2.4% (-200 persons), while the largest numeric decrease was in Adelaide SD with 1,390 persons (-0.7%).

With 6.2% of its population aged under 15 years, the SLA of Adelaide (C) had the smallest percentage of children. This was followed by: Holdfast Bay (C) - North (11.7%), Holdfast Bay (C) - South (12.8%) and Norwood Payneham St Peters (C) - West (12.9%). The largest proportions of children were recorded in the SLAs of Roxby Downs (M) (30.9%), Playford (C) - West Central (27.1%), and Playford (C) - East Central (25.4%).

PERSONS AGED 15 TO 44 YEARS

In 2004 the proportion of persons aged 15 to 44 years in South Australia was 41.2%, a figure lower than that for total Australia (43.1%). In South Australia the total number of persons in this age group (631,600) has declined between 2003 and 2004 by 1,270 persons (0.2%). Nationally there was an increase of 0.7% over this period.

The SD with the highest proportion of persons aged 15 to 44 was Adelaide (42.3%) while the lowest was Yorke and Lower North (32.3%). From 2003 to 2004 Outer Adelaide SD recorded the highest increase in this age group (1.3% or 600 persons), while the largest decrease was in Northern SD (-1.7% or -530 persons).

SLAs with the lowest proportion of their population aged 15 to 44 were Victor Harbor (C) (26.8%), Yorke Peninsula (DC) - South (28.3%), Yorke Peninsula (DC) - North (29.1%) and Barunga West (DC) (30.1%). The SLAs with the highest proportion of their population in this age group were Adelaide (C) (57.9%), Roxby Downs (M) (53.4%), Salisbury (C) Bal (51.0%) and West Torrens (C) - East (48.9%).

PERSONS AGED 45 TO 64 YEARS

The percentage of South Australia's population aged 45 to 64 years in 2004 was 25.2%, a figure higher than the national figure of 24.2%. In South Australia the total number of persons in this age group rose from 378,500 persons in 2003 to 386,100 in 2004, an increase of 2.0%. Nationally there was an increase of 2.5%.

The SD with the highest proportion in this age group was Yorke and Lower North (28.9%), and the lowest proportion was in Northern (24.7%). Outer Adelaide SD had the greatest percentage increase of 4.2% (1,300 persons) from 2003 to 2004. All other SDs experienced an increase ranging from 0.8% in Northern to 2.3% in South East.

The SLAs with the lowest proportion of population in this age group were Roxby Downs (M) (14.7%), Playford (C) - West Central (18.9%), Playford (C) - East Central (19.2%) and Playford (C) - Elizabeth (20.2%). SLAs with the highest proportion were Coober Pedy (DC) (32.5%), Adelaide Hills (DC) - Ranges (31.6%) and Yankalilla (DC) (31.5%).

THE AGED (65 YEARS AND OVER)

In 2004 the proportion of the South Australian population aged 65 years and over was the highest amongst all states and territories at 15.0% (230,800 persons). The national proportion was 13.0%. In South Australia the total number of persons in this age group increased by 3,700 from 2003 to 2004, an increase of 1.7%.

The SD with the highest proportion of its population aged 65 years and over was Yorke and Lower North (20.3%), followed by Murray Lands (15.5%). The lowest proportion was in South East (13.4%). From 2003 to 2004 the SD with the fastest increase in population aged 65 years and over was in Outer Adelaide, a 3.3% increase.

The SLA with the smallest proportion of persons aged 65 years and over was Roxby Downs (M) (1.0%). Of the SLAs in Adelaide SD, Salisbury (C) Bal (6.0%), Salisbury (C) - Inner North (6.2%), Tea Tree Gully (C) - North (7.1%) and Marion (C) - South (7.2%) had the smallest share of their population aged 65 years and over. South Australian SLAs with the highest proportion of population aged 65 and over were Victor Harbor (C) (31.4%), Holdfast Bay (C) - South (24.3%), Yorke Peninsula (DC) - South (23.9%) and Holdfast Bay (C) - North (23.4%).

PERSONS AGED 85 YEARS AND OVER

In 2004 South Australia had the highest proportion of people aged 85 years and over for any state or territory, at 1.9% of the total state population. Nationally this proportion was 1.5%. In South Australia the number of people in this age group rose from 27,000 persons in 2003 to 28,300 in 2004, an increase of 4.1%. The growth in this age group is in part due to increased life expectancy of both men and women. In June 2004, there were more than twice as many females (19,600) as males (8,800) aged 85 years and over, reflecting the greater life expectancy of women.

The SD with the largest proportion of its population aged 85 years and over was Yorke and Lower North (2.3%) while the lowest was Northern (1.5%). From 2003 to 2004 the SDs with the largest increase in population aged 85 years and over were Yorke and Lower North (6.3%), Eyre (6.2%) and Northern and Murray Lands (both 6.0%). The smallest increase was recorded in South East (3.4%).

The SLAs of Holdfast Bay (C) - North (4.9%), Orroroo/Carrieton (DC) and Norwood Payneham St Peters (C) - East (both 4.1%), and Holdfast Bay (C) - South (4.0%) had the highest proportion of their population aged 85 years and over in 2004. The SLAs with the lowest proportion of their population in this age group were Roxby Downs (M) and Salisbury (C) Bal (both 0.1%), Tea Tree Gully (C) - North (0.3%) and Marion (C) - South (0.4%).

SEX RATIO

In June 2004 females outnumbered males in South Australia by 14,700. With 759,700 males and 774,500 females at June 2004, the state's sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) was 98.1. The sex ratio for South Australia was below that of total Australia (98.8).

Despite females outnumbering males across the state, males outnumbered females in all SDs except Adelaide and Outer Adelaide. Sex ratios across SDs ranged from a low of 96.4 in Adelaide to 105.4 in Eyre.

The SLAs with the highest ratio of males to females aged 15-64 years were Roxby Downs (M) (136.9), Le Hunte (DC) (124.8), Streaky Bay (DC) (124.6), Adelaide (C) (123.9) and Coober Pedy (DC) (123.3). The lowest ratios occurred in Unley (C) - West (92.3), Tea Tree Gully (C) - North (93.1), Burnside (C) - South-West (93.3) and Victor Harbor (C) (93.9).

In South Australia the number of females aged 65 years and over (129,600) was almost 30% higher than the number of males in this age group (101,100) in 2004. Considering persons aged 85 years and over, there was more than twice as many females (19,600) as males (8,800). The lower sex ratios for the more elderly age groups reflects the greater life expectancy of women.