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 2009 was 352,200 people, an increase of 24,700 (7.5%, or 1.5% per year on average) since 30 June 2004.

The three northern Statistical Subdivisions (SSDs) experienced the largest population growth in the five years to June 2009. The outer northern SSD of Gungahlin-Hall grew by 11,100 people, North Canberra SSD by 5,100 and Belconnen SSD by 4,600. The population in the southern SSD of Tuggeranong declined in population over this period by 350 people.

For the second year in a row, the combined population of the northern SSDs (179,000 people) was greater than that of the combined southern SSDs (173,200).

For Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) this summary excludes those with populations of less than 1,000 at 30 June 2009.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

The ACT had a lower proportion of people aged 60 and over than Australia as a whole (15.1% and 18.6% respectively).

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. They accounted for 25.1% of the territory's population, compared to 21.5% of Australia's population.

MEDIAN AGE

Overall, the population of the ACT is younger than the total Australian population. At June 2009, the median age (age at which half the population is older and half is younger) was 34.7 years, compared with 36.8 years nationally.

Within the ACT, the SLA of Duntroon had the youngest population at 30 June 2009, with a median age of 21.4 years. This was followed by Acton (21.9 years) and Bruce (27.1). Isaacs (46.8) and Yarralumla (44.6) had the highest median ages.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

In the ACT, 18.4% of the total population (or 64,900 people) were under 15 years of age at 30 June 2009. This was slightly lower than the Australian proportion of 19.1%.

The SLAs with the highest proportion of children under 15 years of age were Amaroo (28.9%) in the north of the Canberra Statistical Division (SD) and Banks (26.4%) in the south.

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2009, 251,600 people in the ACT (or 71.4% of the total population) were aged 15 to 64 years. This was higher than the national proportion of 67.6% and the highest of any state or territory.

The SLAs with the highest proportions of people aged 15 to 64 years had large student populations or were located near the city centre. These were Acton (98.2%), with the Australian National University; Duntroon (91.4%), with the Australian Defence Force Academy; City (90.0%), Braddon (87.4%), Belconnen Town Centre (85.8%) and Barton (85.7%).

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

In the ACT, 10.2% of the population (or 35,800 people) were aged 65 years and over at 30 June 2009, an increase from 9.1% at 30 June 2004. At June 2009, the ACT had a lower proportion of its population in this age group than Australia as a whole (13.3%). The SLAs with the highest proportions of people aged 65 years and over were Page (21.9%) and Deakin (19.7%).

SEX RATIO

There were 98.8 males for every 100 females in the ACT at 30 June 2009.

Duntroon, containing the Australian Defence Force Academy, had the highest sex ratio in the ACT with 276.9 males for every 100 females. The City had the second highest sex ratio at 137.0. Deakin had the lowest sex ratio in June 2009 (79.9) followed by Greenway (83.9).