AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY


TOTAL POPULATION

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

MEDIAN AGE

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

SEX RATIO


TOTAL POPULATION

The estimated resident population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at 30 June 2008 was 345,600 people, an increase of 19,900 (6.1%, or 1.2% per year on average) since 30 June 2003.

Gungahlin-Hall Statistical Subdivision (SSD) recorded the largest and fastest growth of all SSDs in the ACT since 30 June 2003, up 10,200 people or 36.9% (an average annual growth rate of 6.5%). North Canberra SSD increased by 5,300 people, Belconnen SSD by 2,900, South Canberra SSD by 2,200 and Woden Valley SSD by 600. Over the same period there was no change in Western Creek-Stromlo SSD and a decrease of 1,200 people in Tuggeranong SSD.

For Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) this summary excludes those with populations of less than 1,000 at 30 June 2008.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

The ACT had lower proportions of people aged 60 and over than the total Australian population. The proportion of younger adults (aged between 20 and 34 years) in the ACT was particularly high compared with Australia, reflecting the number of people of these ages who move to Canberra for tertiary education or employment.

MEDIAN AGE

Overall, the population of the ACT is younger than the total Australian population. At June 2008, the median age (age at which half the population is older and half is younger) in the ACT was 34.7 years, compared with 36.9 years nationally.

Within the ACT, the SLA of Duntroon had the youngest population at 30 June 2008 with a median age of 21.3 years. This was followed by Acton (21.8 years) and Bruce (26.7 years). Isaacs (46.5 years) and Yarralumla (45.0 years) had the highest median ages.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

In the ACT 64,200 people (or 18.6% of the total population) were aged under 15 years at 30 June 2008. This was slightly lower than the Australian proportion of 19.3%.

The SLAs with the highest proportion of people under 15 years were Amaroo (29.5%) in the north of the Canberra Statistical Division (SD) and Conder (26.8%) in the south.

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

In the ACT 246,900 people (or 71.5% of the total population) were aged 15 to 64 years at 30 June 2008. This was higher than the national proportion of 67.5% and the highest of any Australian state or territory.

Of the SLAs with more than 1,000 people, those with the highest proportions of people aged 15 to 64 in 2008 had large student populations or were located near the city centre. These were Acton (98.4%), with the Australian National University; the City (91.6%); Duntroon (91.4%), with the Australian Defence Force Academy; and the inner suburbs of Braddon (87.1%), Barton (86.5%) and Kingston (86.0%).

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

In the ACT 34,500 people (or 10.0% of the population) were aged 65 years and over at 30 June 2008. This had increased from 8.9% in June 2003 but was still lower than the national proportion of 13.2%. The highest proportions of people aged 65 years and over were in the SLAs of Page (21.6%) and Deakin (20.0%).

SEX RATIO

There were 98.4 males for every 100 females in the ACT at 30 June 2008.

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 City had the second highest sex ratio at 140.9. Deakin had the lowest sex ratio in June 2008 at 80.3 followed by Greenway at 83.8.