3235.1 - Population by Age and Sex, New South Wales, Jun 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/06/2001  Ceased
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Final Issue - This publication is being replaced by Population by Age and Sex, Australia (Cat. No. 3235.1.55.001) Companion Data.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION

The estimated resident population of NSW at 30 June 2000 was 6,463,455, which represented an increase of 66,752 persons above the 1999 estimates. The average annual growth rate for NSW was 1.0%, compared with 1.2% for Australia.

The Statistical Divisions (SDs) of NSW which experienced positive annual growth during 1999-2000 were Sydney (1.3%), Illawarra (1.2%), Richmond-Tweed (1.1%), Hunter (0.9%), Mid-North Coast (0.8%), South Eastern (0.7%), and Murrumbidgee (0.1%). In contrast, the SDs of Far West (-2.5%), Northern (-0.8%), Murray (-0.5%), North Western (-0.3%) and Central West (-0.1%) experienced negative growth during that period.

Graph F1 shows whether the percentage change in population over the last twelve months has been greater or lesser than the average annual change over the previous three years. The largest differences occurred in the SDs of Far West, Murray and North Western.


F1 PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN SD POPULATION - 1996-1999 and 1999-2000

Graph - F1 Percedntage change in SD population - 1996-1999 and 1999-2000


The population of Sydney SD in June 2000 was 4,085,578, which was 53,634 more people than in 1999, and this represented 63.2% of the total NSW population. The ten fastest growing Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in Sydney SD during 1999-2000 were Sydney-Remainder (12.8%), Camden (6.1%), Liverpool (4.4%), Hurstville (2.8%), Concord (2.8%), Wyong (2.6%), Holroyd (2.5%), Blacktown (2.4%), Baulkham Hills (2.4%) and Bankstown (2.4%). The SLAs which experienced net losses were Sydney-Inner (-0.4%), Marrickville (-0.3%) and Canterbury (-0.3%).

The Greater Metropolitan Region (GMR) is a planning region used by the NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning that includes the SDs of Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra. In June 2000, the population of the GMR was 5,051,712, which was 1.3% higher than in 1999, and 4.8% higher than in 1996. During 1999-2000, the fastest growing SLA in the GMR was Sydney-Remainder (12.8%), whilst the SLA with the largest negative growth was Merriwa (-1.5%).

The majority of SLAs (89%) with populations of 10,000 or more persons experienced positive annual growth during 1999-2000, while many smaller SLAs (71%) with populations of less than 10,000 persons experienced negative annual growth. Table F2 below shows the fastest and slowest growing SLAs in each SD during 1999-2000.


F2 FASTEST AND SLOWEST GROWING SLAs BY SD-1999-2000
HIGHEST
LOWEST
SD Name
SLA Name
% growth
SLA Name
% growth
Sydney
Sydney-Remainder
12.8%
Sydney-Inner
-0.4%
Hunter
Newcastle-Inner
6.3%
Merriwa
-1.5%
Illawarra
Wingecarribee
2.7%
Wollongong
0.4%
Richmond-Tweed
Tweed-Pt A
3.9%
Richmond
Valley-Casino
-1.7%
Mid-North Coast
Hastings
2.8%
Nambucca
-1.3%
Northern
Armidale Dumaresq
Bal.
0.1%
Barraba
-3.6%
North Western
Dubbo
1.1%
Bourke
-2.7%
Central West
Cabonne-Pt B
2.3%
Weddin
-2.5%
South Eastern
Mulwaree
3.1%
Bombala
-3.0%
Murrumbidgee
Griffith
2.4%
Hay
-2.0%
Murray
Murray
1.5%
Windouran
-3.2%
Far West
Central Darling
-1.5%
Unincorporated Far West
-6.9%


AGE DISTRIBUTION

The twelve month period to June 2000 saw the continued ageing of the population of NSW. In June 2000, people aged 65 years or more constituted 12.8% of the NSW population, compared to 12.5% in 1995. While the proportion of older residents in NSW continues to increase, the proportion of younger people continues to decline. In June 2000 the proportion of children aged under 15 years in NSW was 20.4%, compared to 21.3% in 1995.

F3 PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN AGE GROUPS

graph - F3 PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN AGE GROUPS



The age distribution of the population varies throughout NSW. As shown by Graph F4 below, Sydney SD has a lower proportion of children and a higher proportion of persons aged 20 to 40 years, compared to the Balance of State. Sydney SD also has a lower proportion of people aged 55 years and over compared to the Balance of State.

F4 AGE DISTRIBUTION - 2000

graph - F4 AGE DISTRIBUTION - 2000



MEDIAN AGE

The median age of the population is the age at which half the population is younger than that age, and half the population is older. The median age of the NSW population in June 2000 was 34.8 years for males and 36.2 years for females. Since 1995, the median age of males and females in NSW has increased 1.4 years for both males and females. In June 2000, Mid-North Coast SD had the highest median age for males (39.5 years) and females (40.5 years), while Murrumbidgee had the lowest median age for males (33.9 years) and females (35.1 years).

In June 2000, Mid-North Coast SD had the highest median age for males (39.5 years) and females (40.5 years), while Murrumbidgee had the lowest median age for males (33.9 years) and females (35.1 years).


POPULATION AGED UNDER 15 YEARS

In June 2000, there were 1,316,711 children in NSW, representing 20.4% of the State's population. Graph F5 below shows that the proportion of children in all SDs declined between 1995 and 2000. In June 2000, Sydney SD had the lowest proportion of children (19.7%) of all the SDs in NSW. Within Sydney SD, the SLAs with the lowest proportion of children were Sydney Inner (7.9%), Sydney-Remainder (8.1%), South Sydney (8.6%), North Sydney (9.8%) and Leichhardt (12.4%). The SLAs within Sydney SD with the highest proportion of children were Campbelltown (26.0%), Camden (25.2%), Wollondilly (25.0%), Blacktown (24.9%) and Hawkesbury (24.6%).

Outside of Sydney SD, all SDs in NSW except Far West SD had a higher proportion of children when compared to the total NSW level. The SLAs, outside of Sydney SD, with the lowest proportion of children aged under 15 years were Newcastle-Inner (8.8%), Unincorporated Far West (15.1%), Newcastle-Remainder (17.6%), Evans-Pt B(17.6%) and Rylstone (17.8%). The SLAs with the highest proportion of children were Brewarrina (30.9%), Cobar (27.8%), Bourke (27.4%), Windouran (27.1%) and Carrathool (26.8%).

F5 POPULATION AGED UNDER 15 YEARS, Proportion of population in SDs - at 30 June

graph - F5 POPULATION AGED UNDER 15 YEARS, Proportion of population in SDs - at 30 June



POPULATION AGED 15-64 YEARS

People aged 15-64 years made up 66.8% of the resident population of NSW. Graph F6 shows that the SDs of Central West, Richmond-Tweed and Sydney have experienced the greatest change in the proportion of their population aged 15-64 years between 1995 and 2000.

In June 2000, people aged 15-64 years made up 68.7% of the population in Sydney SD. In all other SDs however, the proportion of the population in this age group was lower than the total NSW level. Within Sydney SD, the SLAs with the lowest proportion in this age group were Wyong (60.1%), Gosford (61.7%), Bankstown (64.8%), Blue Mountains (65.8%) and Hurstville (66%). The SLAs with the highest proportion in this age group were Sydney-Remainder (86.7%), Sydney-Inner (83.3%), South Sydney (81.6%), North Sydney (78.5%) and Leichhardt (77.9%).

Outside Sydney SD, the SLAs with the lowest proportion of 15-64 year olds were Great Lakes (56.7%), Tweed-Pt A (57.9%), Eurobodalla (58.3%), Berrigan (58.5%) and Hastings (58.5%). The SLAs with the highest proportion of people aged 15-64 years, outside Sydney SD, were Newcastle-Inner (80%), Unincorporated Far West (75.6%), Yarrowlumla-Pt A (71.8%), Evans-Pt B (71.7%) and Yarrowlumla-Pt B (70.5%).

F6 POPULATION AGED 15-64 YEARS, Proportion of population in SDs - at 30 June

graph - F6 POPULATION AGED 15-64 YEARS, Proportion of population in SDs - at 30 June



POPULATION AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

In June 2000, there were an estimated 828,807 people aged 65 years and over in NSW, representing 12.8% of the population. Graph F7 shows that for all SDs except Sydney SD, the proportion of people aged 65 years and over showed an increase between 1995 and 2000.

Older people represented 11.7% of the population in Sydney SD. The SLAs with the lowest proportions of older people were Sydney-Remainder (5.2%), Campbelltown (5.8%), Penrith (6.7%), Liverpool (6.9%) and Blacktown (7.2%). The highest proportions of older people within Sydney SD were found in the SLAs of Wyong (17.9%), Gosford (17.1%), Rockdale (15.9%), Hunter's Hill (15.7%) and Hurstville (15.6%). Nine of the eleven SDs outside Sydney SD had a higher proportion of people aged 65 years and over when compared to the total NSW level. Outside of Sydney SD, the SLAs with the lowest proportion of people in this age group were Yarrowlumla-Pt A (6.6%), Cobar (8.2%), Singleton (8.3%), Bourke (8.4%) and Queanbeyan (8.4%). The SLAs with the highest proportion of people aged 65 years and over, outside Sydney SD, were Great Lakes (25%), Tweed-Pt A (23.7%), Barraba (22.9%) Eurobodalla (22.4%) and Maclean (21.8%).

F7 POPULATION AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER, Proportion of population in SDs - at 30 June

graph - F7 POPULATION AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER, Proportion of population in SDs - at 30 June



DEPENDENCY RATIO

In NSW the dependency ratio at June 2000 was 49.7, compared to 51.0 in 1995 (see graph F9). The dependency ratio is a measure of the 'independent' population aged 15-64 years in comparison to the 'dependent' population aged under 15 years and 65 years and over.

A reduced value for the dependency ratio indicates that there is more population of working age to support the population of non-working age. Sydney SD recorded the lowest dependency ratio (45.7), while Mid-North Coast SD had the highest dependency ratio (64.5).

F8 DEPENDENCY RATIO, By SD - at 30 June

graph - F8 DEPENDENCY RATIO, By SD - at 30 June



SEX RATIO

At June 2000, the sex ratio for NSW was 98.9 males for every 100 females. However, due to the longer life expectancy of females, the sex ratio decreased with age. Amongst people aged 65 years and over, the sex ratio was 77.8 males for every 100 females, while for those aged 85 years and over it was 43.7 males for every 100 females (see graph F10).

F9 SEX RATIO, Males per 100 females, By age - 2000

graph - F9 SEX RATIO, Males per 100 females, By age - 2000



The sex ratio of males to females varied across NSW. In 2000 the SDs of Richmond-Tweed (97.5), Mid-North Coast (97.5), Illawarra (98.4), Northern (98.6), Hunter (98.8), Sydney (98.8) and Far West (99.3) had a lower number of males than females, while the SDs of North Western (102.6), Murrumbidgee (101.1), Central West (101.1), South Eastern (101.0) and Murray (100.8) had a lower number of females than males.