TASMANIA


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

At 30 June 2009, the estimated resident population of Tasmania was 503,300 people, increasing by 20,500 (4.3%, or 0.8% per year on average) since 30 June 2004. All Statistical Divisions (SDs) experienced population growth over the five years to June 2009. The Greater Hobart SD had the largest population of all SDs in Tasmania at June 2009 (212,000 people), followed by Northern (141,400), Mersey-Lyell (112,400) and Southern (37,500).

The following commentary omits specific reference to Local Government Areas (LGAs) with populations of less than 2,000 at 30 June 2009.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

At June 2009, the age distribution of Tasmania's population was characterised by a lower proportion of people aged 20 to 44 years (30.9%) compared with the total Australian population (35.8%). This in part reflects a net outflow of young adults from Tasmania to pursue education and employment opportunities interstate, also resulting in a loss in population of reproductive age. Tasmania also had a proportionately higher number of people aged 45 years and over (42.8%) than Australia as a whole (38.3%). This partly reflects a trend of adults in this age group moving to the state.

MEDIAN AGE

Tasmania continued to have the oldest median age of all states and territories in June 2009, after having overtaken South Australia in June 2007. At June 2009, half of the Tasmanian population was younger than 39.6 years and half older. The median age of males was 38.8 years compared with 40.4 years for females.

Between June 2004 and June 2009, the median age increased for every LGA in Tasmania. The greatest increase of 4.2 years occurred in Glamorgan/Spring Bay (M), giving it the third-highest median age in Australia (51.8 years). The LGA with the lowest median age in Tasmania continued to be Brighton (M) (31.0). Of the state's 27 LGAs with a population above 2,000, there were 17 LGAs with a median age above that of the state's median.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

Tasmania had 97,700 people under 15 years of age at June 2009. The proportion of the population who were aged less than 15 years decreased from 20.1% in June 2004 to 19.4% in June 2009. Tasmania had a higher proportion in this age group than Australia as a whole.

At June 2009, every Tasmanian LGA other than George Town (M) and Tasman (M) had a lower proportion of its population aged under 15 years than it did in June 2004. Brighton (M) had the highest proportion of children in June 2009, with 27.5% of its population under 15 years of age.

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2009, Tasmania had the lowest proportion of people of working age (65.3%) of all states and territories, with 328,700 people aged 15 to 64 years.

The Hobart (C) LGA had the highest proportion of its population aged 15 to 64 years (72.2%). Kingborough (M) and Brighton (M) had the largest growth in population of working age between June 2004 and June 2009, with increases of 1,550 and 1,440 respectively.

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

At 30 June 2009, there were 76,900 people aged 65 years and over in Tasmania, making up 15.3% of the population. This was the second-highest proportion among the states and territories.

The LGA of Glamorgan/Spring Bay (M) on the east coast had the highest proportion of people aged 65 years and over (22.9%) at June 2009, reflecting its popularity as a place to retire. This was followed by Break O'Day (M) (20.0%), Tasman (M) (18.9%), Central Coast (M) (17.7%), and Devonport (C) (17.6%).

SEX RATIO

At 30 June 2009, the population of Tasmania consisted of 248,300 males and 255,000 females, a ratio of 97.4 males per 100 females. Greater Hobart SD had the lowest ratio, with 94.8 males per 100 females, followed by the SDs of Northern (97.8) and Mersey-Lyell (98.6). The only SD with more males than females was Southern, with a sex ratio of 107.4.

The LGA with the highest sex ratio was West Coast (M) (112.5 males per 100 females) and the lowest was in Glenorchy (C) (92.6).

For Tasmania as a whole, the highest age-specific sex ratio occurred in the 15 to 19 year age group (106.4 males per 100 females) and the lowest age-specific sex ratios were in the older age groups, reflecting the longer life expectancy of females.