3311.2.55.001 - Demography, Victoria, 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

    NOTES


    OVERVIEW

    This electronic product provides a demographic overview of Victoria, 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 Ken Willis on Melbourne (03) 9615 7392.



      SUMMARY COMMENTARY


      POPULATION

      At 30 June 2003, the estimated resident population of Victoria was 4,911,400 persons, one-quarter of the Australian population. In 2002-03, Victoria's population increased by 54,200 persons, consisting of natural increase (27,400 persons) and overseas migration (26,800 persons). This was a growth rate of 1.1% compared to a rate of 1.2% for Australia. The States and Territories that had the highest rates of growth in 2002-03 were Queensland (2.4%) and Western Australia (1.3%).


      Between 1992-93 and 2002-03, Victoria's population increased by 439,000 persons, a growth rate of 10% compared to 12% for Australia. In the same period, the highest rates of growth occurred in Queensland (22%), Western Australia and the Northern Territory (both 16%).

      POPULATION COMPONENTS, Victoria - 1993-2003
      Graph: POPULATION COMPONENTS, Victoria—1993-2003


      POPULATION, Victoria - Selected years at 30 June
      1993
      2002
      2003
      Estimated resident population('000)
      4,472.4
      4,857.2
      4,911.4
      Components of population change(a)
      Natural increase(b)no.
      33,679
      27,882
      27,392
      Net overseas migration(c)no.
      7,965
      20,252
      26,777
      Net interstate migrationno.
      -25,388
      4,368
      28
      Total increase(d)no.
      17,385
      52,502
      54,197
      Annual growth rate%
      0.39
      1.09
      1.12
      Estimates resident households(e)('000)
      1,617.4
      (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 is under review.



      MIGRATION

      In 2002-03, Victoria recorded the second highest net migration gain of all the States and Territories (26,800 persons). Almost all of this migration gain was due to overseas migration.


      The contribution of net overseas migration to Victoria's population growth fluctuated each year from 1992-93 to 2002-03. During this period, the highest contribution (35,300 persons) occurred in 2000-01 and the lowest (8,000 persons) occurred in 1992-93.


      Historically, in the period 1972-73 to 1997-98, net interstate migration meant population loss from Victoria. From 1998-99 to 2002-03, it has provided small population gains to Victoria, the highest contributions (5,200 persons) occurring in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, the lowest (30 persons) occurring in 2002-03.

      NET MIGRATION, Victoria - 1993-2003
      Graph: NET MIGRATION, Victoria—1993-2003


      MIGRATION, Victoria - Selected years at 30 June
      1993
      2002
      2003
      Overseas migration
      Permanent and long-term movement(a)
      Arrivalsno.
      48,591
      83,181
      91,058
      Departuresno.
      32,978
      48,932
      49,720
      Net overseas migration(b)no.
      7,965
      20,252
      26,777
      Interstate migration
      Arrivalsno.
      56,866
      74,393
      74,204
      Departuresno.
      82,254
      70,025
      74,176
      Net Interstate migrationno.
      -25,388
      4,368
      28
      (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.



      BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS

      In 2003, there were 60,000 confinements resulting in 61,100 live births registered to mothers usually resident in Victoria. Registrations of births were slightly lower than in 2002 (61,500 births).


      The total fertility rate, that is the average number of babies that a woman could expect to give birth to in her lifetime if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates, was 1.67 babies per woman in 2003. This was the second lowest of all the States and Territories and was a slight decrease from the rate of 1.69 in 2002.


      The median age of all Victorian mothers giving birth increased to 31.2 years in 2003, compared to a median age of 29.3 years in 1993. In 2003, this was the highest median age of mothers of all the States and Territories.

      TOTAL FERTILITY RATES(a), Australia and Victoria - 1993-2003
      Graph: TOTAL FERTILITY RATES(a), Australia and Victoria—1993-2003


      BIRTHS AND CONFINEMENTS(a), Victoria - Selected years
      1993
      2002
      2003
      Live births
      Numberno.
      64,049
      61,478
      61,058
      Crude birth rate(b)rate
      14.3
      12.7
      12.4
      Total fertility rate(c)rate
      1.780
      1.687
      1.669
      Net reproduction rate(d)rate
      0.854
      0.809
      0.805
      All confinements
      Numberno.
      63,172
      60,435
      59,989
      Median age of mother(e)years
      29.3
      31.0
      31.2
      Nuptial confinements
      Numberno.
      50,655
      44,546
      43,944
      Median age of mother(e)years
      29.9
      31.6
      31.8
      Median age of father(e)years
      32.1
      33.6
      33.7
      First nuptial confinements
      Numberno.
      20,769
      19,235
      19,377
      Median age of mother(e)years
      28.5
      30.5
      30.6
      (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.



      DEATHS

      In 2003, there were 32,900 registered deaths of persons usually resident in Victoria. The standardised death rate (see Glossary) was 6.3 deaths per 1,000 population, which was slightly lower than the national rate of 6.4 deaths per 1,000 population.


      In 2003, the upward trend in life expectancy continued for females and males in Victoria. Females born in 2003 could expect to live an average of 83.1 years compared to 81.1 years for those born in 1993, and males could expect to live an average of 78.2 years compared to 75.4 years in 1993. In 2003, these life expectancies were each the second highest of all the States and Territories.

      LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH, Victoria - 1993-2003
      Graph: LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH, Victoria—1993-2003


      DEATHS(a), Victoria - Selected years
      1993
      2002
      2003
      Numberno.
      31,197
      33,772
      32,925
      Crude death rate(b)rate
      7.0
      7.0
      6.7
      Standardised death rate(c)rate
      7.9
      6.6
      6.3
      Median age at death(d)
      Malesyears
      73.5
      76.8
      76.8
      Femalesyears
      80.1
      82.5
      82.6
      Infant deaths
      Numberno.
      347
      305
      309
      Infant mortality rate(e)rate
      5.4
      5.0
      5.1
      Life expectancy at birth
      Malesyears
      75.4
      77.8
      78.2
      Femalesyears
      81.1
      82.8
      83.1
      (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.



      MARRIAGES

      In 2003, there were 25,200 marriages registered in Victoria. These represent a crude marriage rate of 5.1 marriages per 1,000 persons residing in Victoria, lower than the national rate of 5.4 marriages per 1,000 population.


      Between 1993 and 2003, the number of marriages registered in Victoria declined by 8%, although the decline was not uniform over this period. The numbers decreased each year from 1993 to 1997, then increased in 1998 and 1999 before decreasing again in 2000 and 2001. There was a slight increase from 2001 to 2003.


      There has been a continual increase in median ages at marriage for brides and bridegrooms in Victoria. The median ages at marriage for brides were 26.4 years in 1993 and 29.3 years in 2003, while for bridegrooms the corresponding figures were 28.6 years and 31.2 years respectively.

      NUMBER OF MARRIAGES REGISTERED, Victoria - 1993-2003
      Graph: NUMBER OF MARRIAGES REGISTERED, Victoria—1993-2003


      MARRIAGES, Victoria - Selected years
      1993
      2002
      2003
      Number registeredno.
      27,418
      25,058
      25,211
      Crude marriage rate(a)rate
      6.1
      5.2
      5.1
      Median age at marriage(b)
      Bridegroomyears
      28.6
      30.9
      31.2
      Brideyears
      26.4
      29.1
      29.3
      (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 12,900 divorces granted in Victoria, a crude divorce rate of 2.6 divorces per 1,000 population. The national rate was slightly higher at 2.7 divorces per 1,000 population.


      The 12,900 divorces granted in 2003 are a 16% increase over the 11,050 granted in 1993 and a 6% decrease from the 13,700 granted in 2001, which was the highest number on record. The proportion of divorces granted through the Federal Magistrates Service in 2003 increased to 68%, compared to 59% in 2001 and 65% in 2002. The Federal Magistrates Service was established in September 2000.


      Median duration of marriage (see Glossary) was 12.3 years in 2003 compared to 10.6 years in 1993. The median interval between marriage and separation also increased in the same period, from 7.7 years in 1993 to 8.7 years in 2003.

      NUMBER OF DIVORCES GRANTED, Victoria - 1993-2003
      Graph: NUMBER OF DIVORCES GRANTED, Victoria—1993-2003


      DIVORCES, Victoria - Selected Years
      1993
      2002
      2003
      Number grantedno.
      11,050
      12,987
      12,865
      Crude divorce rate(a)rate
      2.5
      2.7
      2.6
      Median duration of marriage
      To separationyears
      7.7
      8.7
      8.7
      To divorceyears
      10.6
      12.0
      12.3
      (a) Divorces per 1,000 population.

      Demographic data for all Victorian 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.