VICTORIA

TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of Victoria at 30 June 2006 was 5.13 million, an increase of 323,600 people since June 2001 at an average annual growth rate of 1.3%.

At June 2006, there were 3.74 million people residing in the Melbourne Statistical Division (SD), an increase of 272,700 people over the five years to June 2006. Melbourne SD was home to nearly three-quarters (73.0%) of Victoria's population at June 2006.


AGE DISTRIBUTION

In the five years to June 2006, the proportion of Victoria's residents aged less than 15 years declined, while the proportion in most five-year age groups from and over 55-59 years increased.



MEDIAN AGE

In the five years to June 2006, Victoria's median age increased from 35.8 to 36.7 years. The median age of Victorian males in June 2006 was 35.9 years (up from 35.0 in June 2001) and 37.5 years for Victorian females (up from 36.6 in June 2001).

Melbourne SD recorded the lowest median age for Victorian SDs (35.9 years) and was the only SD with a lower median age than the state as a whole. In comparison, the median age in regional Victoria (all SDs, excluding Melbourne) was 39.4 years, with the highest median ages occurring in East Gippsland (42.7 years), Wimmera (42.3) and Gippsland (40.1).

The Local Government Area (LGA) with the highest median age in both June 2001 and June 2006 was Queenscliffe (B), at 48.7 and 52.3 years respectively, reflecting a high proportion of older people residing there. Other LGAs recording high median ages in June 2006 were Strathbogie (S) (47.3 years), Bass Coast (S) (46.0 years), Yarriambiack (S) (45.7 years) and Central Goldfields (S) (45.6 years).

The LGA with the lowest median age in both June 2001 and June 2006 was Melbourne (C), at 28.9 years and 28.0 years respectively. The LGA of Melbourne (C) includes Melbourne's central business district, Docklands, Southbank and inner suburbs such as Carlton, North Melbourne and East Melbourne. Along with Melbourne (C), the only other LGAs in Victoria to experience a decrease in median age between June 2001 and June 2006 were Maribyrnong (C) (down from 35.1 to 34.5 years) and Monash (C) (38.2 to 38.1). Other LGAs with low median ages in June 2006 were Melton (S) (31.1 years), Wyndham (C) (32.4), Hume (C) (32.6) and Casey (C) (32.7).


CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

Children (people aged 0-14 years) represented 19.0% of the Victorian population at June 2006, a decrease from the June 2001 proportion (20.0%).

In June 2006, Melbourne SD had the lowest proportion of children (18.5%), compared to 20.3% of the population for the remainder of the state. The SD of Mallee had the highest proportion of children (21.4%), while the lowest proportion outside Melbourne SD was in East Gippsland (19.1%).

Although regional Victoria had a higher proportion of children than Melbourne SD, the LGAs with the highest proportions of children in June 2006 were in the fringe areas of Melbourne SD. These LGAs were Cardinia (S) (24.4%), Melton (S) (24.2%) and Casey (C) (24.1%). In June 2001, Casey (C) recorded the highest proportion of children (26.0%).

The LGA with the lowest proportion of children at June 2006 was Melbourne (C) (6.0%), which also recorded the lowest proportion of children in June 2001 (8.2%). Other LGAs with a low proportion of children in June 2006 included Port Philip (C) (9.7%), Yarra (C) (10.9%) and Stonnington (C) (13.0%).


WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

People of working age (15-64 years) accounted for 67.7% of the Victorian population in June 2006. This compared with 67.0% in June 2001.

Melbourne SD recorded the highest proportion of people aged 15-64 years in June 2006, at 69.0%, while only 64.2% of persons in regional Victoria were aged 15-64 years. The SD with the lowest proportion of this age group was Wimmera (61.3%).

The LGAs containing the highest proportions of people aged 15-64 years in June 2006 were Melbourne (C) (87.9%), Port Phillip (C) (80.0%) and Yarra (C) (79.6%). This reflects the high number of students and professionals living in these LGAs. Melbourne (C) also had the highest proportion of people in this age group at June 2001 (83.7%).

In June 2006, the lowest proportions of people aged 15-64 years were recorded in the LGAs of Queenscliffe (B) (54.1%), Hindmarsh (S) and Buloke (S) (both 57.6%). Queenscliffe (B) also had the lowest proportion of people in this age group in June 2001 (53.5%).


OLDER PEOPLE

AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

People aged 65 years and over accounted for 13.3% of the Victorian population in June 2006, up slightly from 13.0% in June 2001.

An estimated 12.5% of Melbourne SD's population was aged 65 years and over in June 2006, compared with 15.6% in regional Victoria. At the SD level the highest proportion was in Wimmera (19.1%).

In June 2006, the LGA with the largest proportion of people aged 65 years and over was Queenscliffe (B), at 31.3% considerably higher than Hindmarsh (S) (23.3%) and Yarriambiack (S) (23.0%), the LGAs with the second and third-highest proportions. Queenscliffe (B) was also home to the highest proportion of people aged 65 years and over in June 2001, at 30.5%.

The LGAs with the lowest proportions of people aged 65 years and over in June 2006 were Melton (S) (5.6%), Melbourne (C) (6.1%) and Wyndham (C) (6.7%). Melton (S) also had the lowest proportion of people aged 65 years and over in June 2001, at 5.0%.

AGED 85 YEARS AND OVER

People aged 85 years and over accounted for 1.6% of the Victorian population in June 2006, up slightly from 1.5% in June 2001.

An estimated 1.5% of Melbourne SD's population was aged 85 years and over in June 2006, compared with 1.9% in regional Victoria. At the SD level the highest proportion was recorded in Wimmera (2.5%).

In June 2006, the LGAs with the highest proportions of people aged 85 years and over were Queenscliffe (B) (5.5%), Hindmarsh (S) (4.1%) and Strathbogie (S) (3.1%). Queenscliffe (B) also had the highest proportion of people aged 85 years and over in June 2001 (5.3%).

The LGAs with the lowest proportions of people aged 85 years and over in June 2006 were Golden Plains (S), Melton (S), Hume (C) and Wyndham (C) (all 0.6%). Melton (S) also had the lowest proportion of people in this age group in June 2001 (0.4%).


SEX RATIO

The sex ratio (the number of males per 100 females) for Victoria increased from 97.0 at June 2001 to 98.0 at June 2006. There were more males than females aged 0-29 years and more females than males aged 30 years and over, with lower sex ratios for older age groups reflecting the longer life expectancy of females.




The highest sex ratio for June 2006 was in the LGA of Pyrenees (S) (108.2 males per 100 females). Other LGAs which recorded a high sex ratio were Golden Plains (S) (105.6), Loddon (S) (105.5), Melbourne (C) (104.7) and Murrindindi (S) (104.6).

The lowest sex ratio for June 2006 was in Queenscliffe (B) (87.2 males per 100 females). Other LGAs with a low sex ratio were Bayside (C) (91.5), Whitehorse (C) (93.0), Boroondara (C) (93.6) and Ballarat (C) (94.2).