3311.4.55.001 - Demography, South Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/02/2005   
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POPULATION
BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS
DEATHS
MIGRATION
MARRIAGES
DIVORCES
REGIONAL SUMMARY

NOTES


OVERVIEW

This electronic product provides a demographic overview of South Australia, 2003. It contains summary tables and commentary on trends in the components of population change including births, deaths and migration. Marriages, divorces, estimated resident population and various demographic rates are also presented. Population and migration data are for the year ended 30 June 2003, while births, deaths, marriages and divorces data are for the year ended 31 December 2003.

    For comparisons between the states and territories of Australia, please refer to Demography, Australia, 2003 (cat. no. 3311.0.55.001). Demography publications for each state and territory can be accessed from the following links:
    Additional state demographic data are also available from publications and data cubes linked at the foot of this page. The Demography Theme Page provides links to other Australian as well as international demographic statistics. The National Regional Profiles provide economic and social statistics of Statistical Local Areas and Local Government Areas of Australia.

    INQUIRIES

    For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Sue McKay on Adelaide (08) 8237 7394.



    SUMMARY COMMENTARY


    INTRODUCTION

    South Australia accounted for 7.7% of the total Australian population at 30 June 2003. The state had the oldest population profile, lowest crude birth rate and lowest infant mortality rate of all states and territories in 2003.



    POPULATION

    The South Australian resident population was estimated to have reached 1,526,300 persons (755,500 males and 770,800 females) at 30 June 2003, accounting for 7.7% of the Australian total.


    In 2002-03, the state's estimated resident population increased by 7,600 through a natural increase of 5,200 persons, a net overseas migration gain of 3,900 persons and a net interstate migration loss of 1,500 persons. At 0.5%, South Australia's annual population growth rate was lower than the national level of 1.2%.

    POPULATION COMPONENTS, South Australia - 1993-2003
    Graph: POPULATION COMPONENTS, South Australia—1993-2003


    POPULATION, South Australia - Selected years at 30 June
    1993
    2002
    2003
    Estimated resident population('000)
    1,460.7
    1,518.7
    1,526.3
    Components of population change(a)
    Natural increase(b)no.
    8,468
    5,772
    5,198
    Net overseas migration(c)no.
    1,546
    2,798
    3,904
    Net interstate migrationno.
    -5,210
    -1,602
    -1,497
    Total increase(d)no.
    4,162
    6,968
    7,605
    Annual growth rate%
    0.29
    0.46
    0.50
    Estimated resident households(e)('000)
    564.5
    (f)nya
    (f)nya
    nya not yet available
    (a) From previous year.
    (b) Births and deaths figures used to compile natural increase for population estimates are based on year of occurrence and may differ from births and deaths data based on year of registration displayed in the Births and Confinements and Deaths sections of this table.
    (c) Until 1997 net overseas migration data for Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Island were randomly allocated to the states and territories. For these years the sum of the components may therefore not equal net overseas migration.
    (d) Includes intercensal discrepancy not accounted for by natural increase and net migration.
    (e) 1993 figures are based on 1996 census, figures from 1997 on are based on 2001 census.
    (f) Data are under review.


    South Australia has a relatively older population profile than other states and territories. At 30 June 2003, 14.9% of the South Australian population was aged 65 years or more. This proportion was the highest of all states and territories (Tasmania was second at 14.1%). Similarly, a greater proportion of the South Australian population was aged 85 years or more (1.8% compared with the national average of 1.4%). Conversely, persons aged under 15 years comprised 18.9% of the South Australian population compared with 20.0% nationally.



    BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS

    Over the year to 31 December 2003, there were 17,100 confinements resulting in 17,400 live births registered to mothers usually resident in South Australia. Of these births, 9,000 were registered as male and 8,400 as female, giving a sex ratio of 106.6 males per 100 females. Registrations of births declined by 1.3% over the previous year and were 13.1% lower than in 1993.


    In 2003, South Australia had the lowest crude birth rate in Australia with 11.4 births per 1,000 population. The total fertility rate, that is the average number of babies that a woman might expect to bear during her reproductive lifetime, was 1.72 compared with the national level of 1.76. A female born in South Australia in 2003 might expect to have on average 0.82 daughters who survive to reproductive age, below the replacement level of 1.0.


    The trend for people to have children later in life continued in 2003, with the median age of mothers reaching 30.6 years for all confinements and 32.8 years for fathers.

    CRUDE BIRTH RATES(a), Australia and South Australia - 1993-2003
    Graph: CRUDE BIRTH RATES(a), Australia and South Australia—1993-2003


    BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS(a), South Australia - Selected years
    1993
    2002
    2003
    Live births
    Numberno.
    20,078
    17,665
    17,443
    Crude birth rate(b)rate
    13.7
    11.6
    11.4
    Total fertility rate(c)rate
    1.787
    1.727
    1.720
    Net reproduction rate(d)rate
    0.862
    0.834
    0.823
    All confinements
    Numberno.
    19,802
    17,354
    17,142
    Median age of mother(e)years
    29.1
    30.4
    30.6
    Nuptial confinements
    Numberno.
    14,756
    11,362
    11,144
    Median age of mother(e)years
    30.0
    31.6
    31.7
    Median age of father(e)years
    32.2
    33.6
    33.7
    First nuptial confinements
    Numberno.
    6,220
    4,846
    4,852
    Median age of mother(e)years
    28.6
    30.4
    30.5
    (a) Compiled on year of registration basis.
    (b) Births per 1,000 population.
    (c) Births per woman.
    (d) Daughters surviving to reproductive age per woman.
    (e) The age at which half the population is older and half is younger.


    In 2003, there were 580 Indigenous births (in which one or both parents identified as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin) registered to parents who were usually resident in South Australia. These births accounted for 3.3% of all South Australian births.



    DEATHS

    Over the year to 31 December 2003, there were 12,200 registered deaths of persons usually resident in South Australia (6,200 males and 5,900 females). The number of registered deaths was 5.7% higher than the number registered in 1993, reflecting the increasing size of the population. However, when population size is taken into account, figures show little movement over the last 10 years. The crude death rate was 8.0 deaths per 1,000 population in 2003, up marginally from 7.9 in 1993.


    There are significant differences between male and female mortality experiences. Over the last decade, crude death rates for males have been consistently higher than those of females. In 2003, there were 8.3 male deaths per 1,000 males in the population compared with 7.7 female deaths per 1,000 females in the population.


    Males also have a shorter life expectancy than females. In 2003, the median age at death was 77.5 years for males compared with 83.1 years for females. The life expectancy for males born in South Australia in 2003 is 77.7 years, five years less than that of females (82.7 years).

    CRUDE DEATH RATES(a), South Australia - 1993-2003
    Graph: CRUDE DEATH RATES(a), South Australia—1993-2003



    In 2003, South Australia recorded the lowest infant mortality rate of all states and territories, with 3.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births compared with 4.8 nationally. Infant mortality rates have improved significantly over the last 20 years, with the state level falling from 9.2 in 1983.

    DEATHS(a), South Australia - Selected years
    1993
    2002
    2003
    Numberno.
    11,528
    11,987
    12,185
    Crude death rate(b)rate
    7.9
    7.9
    8.0
    Standardised death rate(c)rate
    8.2
    6.7
    6.6
    Median age at death(d)
    Malesyears
    73.7
    77.2
    77.5
    Femalesyears
    79.9
    82.7
    83.1
    Infant deaths
    Numberno.
    104
    90
    65
    Infant mortality rate(e)rate
    5.2
    5.1
    3.7
    Life expectancy at birth
    Malesyears
    75.0
    77.3
    77.7
    Femalesyears
    80.6
    82.6
    82.7
    (a) Compiled on year of registration basis.
    (b) Deaths per 1,000 population.
    (c) Deaths per 1,000 standard population. Standardised death rates have been revised using the 2001 standard population.
    (d) The age at which there are as many people dying above the age as there are below it.
    (e) Deaths per 1,000 live births.



    MIGRATION

    Over the 12 months to 30 June 2003, South Australia gained 3,900 people through net overseas migration. Overseas arrivals included 15,400 persons who intended to stay in South Australia for one year or more and departures included 9,500 persons who intended to stay abroad for at least 12 months.


    South Australia recorded another net interstate loss (1,500 persons) in 2002-03. There were 31,400 persons who changed their usual residence from South Australia to another state or territory while 29,900 persons arrived from interstate. Net losses were to Queensland (2,000 persons), Victoria (740), Tasmania (200) and the Australian Capital Territory (70) while net gains were from New South Wales (890), the Northern Territory (540) and Western Australia (60).

    NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION, South Australia - at 30 June 2003
    Graph: NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION, South Australia—at 30 June 2003


    MIGRATION, South Australia - Selected years at 30 June
    1993
    2002
    2003
    Overseas migration
    Permanent and long-term movement(a)
    Arrivalsno.
    9,945
    13,781
    15,394
    Departuresno.
    6,850
    9,300
    9,462
    Net overseas migration(b)no.
    1,546
    2,798
    3,904
    Interstate migration
    Arrivalsno.
    26,122
    28,904
    29,856
    Departuresno.
    31,332
    30,506
    31,353
    Net Interstate migrationno.
    -5,210
    -1,602
    -1,497
    (a) Based on stated intention on arrival or departure.
    (b) Figures for year ending 30 June 1993 include an adjustment for category jumping. For years ending 30 June 2002 and 2003, figures have been adjusted for changes in traveller intention and multiple mover error.



    MARRIAGES

    There were 7,600 marriages registered in South Australia in 2003, up 3.2% on 2002 but down by 16.5% from the number of marriages registered in 1993. The median ages of brides and bridegrooms continued to rise (to 29.2 and 31.2 years respectively in 2003), reflecting the long-term national trend towards marrying at older ages.


    In South Australia in 2003, most couples (74.1%) cohabited prior to their marriages. Most marriages (64.1%) were between people neither of whom had been previously married and most marriages (53.3%) were performed by civil celebrants.

    MARRIAGES, South Australia - Selected years
    1993
    2002
    2003
    Number registerno.
    9,114
    7,373
    7,609
    Crude marriage rate(a)rate
    6.2
    4.9
    5.0
    Median age at marriage(b)
    Bridegroomyears
    28.8
    31.1
    31.2
    Brideyears
    26.3
    28.8
    29.2
    (a) Marriages per 1,000 population.
    (b) The age at which there are as many people marrying above the age as there are below it.



    DIVORCES

    In 2003, there were 4,200 divorces granted in South Australia and the crude divorce rate was 2.7 divorces per 1,000 population.

    DIVORCES, South Australia - Selected Years
    1993
    2002
    2003
    Number grantedno.
    4,063
    4,409
    4,151
    Crude divorce rate(a)rate
    2.8
    2.9
    2.7
    Median duration of marriage
    To separationyears
    8.3
    9.8
    9.3
    To divorceyears
    11.2
    13.4
    12.8
    (a) Divorces per 1,000 population.



    REGIONAL SUMMARY

    The resident population of the Adelaide Statistical Division (SD) was estimated to have reached 1,119,100 persons at 30 June 2003, accounting for 73.3% of the South Australian population. The Adelaide SD is comprised of four Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs) - Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western - which contain smaller Statistical Local Areas (SLAs). At 30 June 2003, Northern Adelaide was the most populated SSD with 355,100 persons or 31.7% of Adelaide SD's population. It also contained the most populated SLA, Salisbury (C) - South-East with 35,700 persons.


    At 30 June 2003, Outer Adelaide (118,800 persons), Northern (78,100) and Murray Lands (68,500) were estimated to be the most populated SDs outside the Adelaide SD. Lower South East (43,800 persons), Riverland (41,800) and Mt Lofty Ranges (40,500) were the most populated non-metropolitan SSDs while Mount Gambier (C) was the most populated non-metropolitan SLA with 23,600 persons.


    The Adelaide SD recorded 72.8% of the state's births and 72.7% of the state's deaths, reflecting the region's share of the population. However, Adelaide SD's three-year average fertility rate (1.6) and its three-year average indirect standardised death rate (6.5) were both lower than those recorded in non-metropolitan South Australia (2.0 and 7.1 respectively).

    LARGEST NON-METROPOLITAN POPULATIONS, South Australia - by SLA(a) - at 30 June 2003
    Graph: LARGEST NON-METROPOLITAN POPULATIONS, South Australia—by SLA(a)—at 30 June 2003



    Demographic data for all South Australian SLAs are available from the data cube linked at the foot of this page.



    RELATED LINKS

    The following releases provide more specific or in-depth analysis and information.