AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY


TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at 30 June 2007 was 339,800 people, an increase of 5,600 (1.7%) since 30 June 2006.

At 30 June 2007 the population of the ACT made up 1.6% of Australia's population.

Gungahlin-Hall Statistical Subdivision (SSD) recorded the fastest and largest growth of all SSDs in the ACT since 30 June 2006, up 7.1% (or 2,300 people). North Canberra SSD increased by 2.7% (1,200 people) and South Canberra SSD by 2.1% (520 people). Belconnen SSD and Weston Creek-Stromlo SSD had smaller percentage increases of 1.6% (1,400 people) and 0.8% (190 people) respectively. Over the same period there was little change in Woden Valley SSD with an increase of 0.2% (or 60 people) and no change in Tuggeranong SSD.

For Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) this summary excludes those with populations of less than 1,000 at 30 June 2007.


AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

The ACT had lower proportions of people at all ages over 56 years compared with the total Australian population. The proportion of young adults (aged between 18 and 34 years) in the ACT is particularly high compared with Australia, reflecting the number of people at these ages who move to Canberra for tertiary education or employment.

MEDIAN AGE

The population of the ACT is generally younger than the total Australian population. At June 2007, the median age of the ACT's population (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) was 34.5 years, compared with a national median age of 36.8 years.

Within the ACT, the SLA of Duntroon had the youngest population at 30 June 2007 with a median age of 21.1 years. This was followed by Acton (21.5 years), Bruce (26.5 years) and Belconnen Town Centre (28.4 years). Isaacs (46.4 years) and Yarralumla (45.4 years) had the highest median ages.


CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

There were 63,300 people aged under 15 years in the ACT at 30 June 2007, making up 18.6% of the population. This was less than the Australian proportion of 19.4%.

The SLAs with the highest proportion of population under 15 years were Amaroo (30.1%) in the north of the Canberra Statistical Division (SD) and Conder (27.7%) in the south. The SLA of Acton had the lowest proportion of the population under 15 at 0.3%.

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

There were 243,300 people aged 15 to 64 years in the ACT at 30 June 2007, making up 71.6% of the population. In comparison the proportion of 15 to 64 year olds in the Australian population was 67.4%.

Of the SLAs with more than 1,000 people, those with the highest proportions of people aged 15 to 64 in 2007 had large student populations or were near the city centre. These were Acton (99.1%), with the Australian National University; Duntroon (91.7%), with the Australian Defence Force Academy; Belconnen Town Centre (86.8%), near the University of Canberra; and the inner suburbs of Barton (87.6%), Braddon (86.9%) and Kingston (86.6%).

The SLAs of Hughes at 61.8% and Page at 62.3% had the lowest proportions of working age people in 30 June 2007.


PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

There were 33,200 people aged 65 years and over in the ACT at 30 June 2007, making up 9.8% of the population. The highest proportions of people aged 65 years and over were in the SLAs of Page (23.0%), Deakin (20.7%) and Hughes (19.9%).


SEX RATIO

There were 98.1 males for every 100 females in the ACT at 30 June 2007.

Of the SLAs with more than 1,000 people, Duntroon, containing the Australian Defence Force Academy had the highest sex ratio in the ACT with 272.9 males for every 100 females. The North Canberra SLA of Reid had the second highest sex ratio at 117.7. Deakin had the lowest sex ratio in June 2007 at 79.6 followed by Greenway at 84.7.