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While Tasmania is the most decentralised state in terms of population distribution, with nearly 60% of the population living outside the capital city statistical division, the population is concentrated in three main areas: the urban areas of Hobart, Launceston and Burnie/Devonport. Large areas of the state, including the Central Plateau, South West and West Coast (in the Southern and Mersey-Lyell statistical divisions), are uninhabited or sparsely inhabited.

• Estimated resident population - At 30 June 2005, Tasmania's resident population was estimated at 485,676, or 2.4% of the Australian total (20,339,759). The Greater Hobart-Southern Region accounted for 49.3% of the population of the Tasmanian total.
• Population growth - In the 12 months to June 2005, the Tasmanian resident population increased by 0.7%. Some 18 of Tasmania's 29 local government areas recorded population growth, with Brighton municipality recording the fastest growth rate of 2.8%.
• Median age - At 30 June 2005, Tasmania had a median age of 38.7 years. There were four local government areas with median ages at or above 45 years: Glamorgan/Spring Bay, Tasman, Break O'Day and Flinders.