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 2010, the estimated resident population of Tasmania was 507,600 people, increasing by 21,300 (4.4%, or 0.9% per year on average) since 30 June 2005. All Statistical Divisions (SDs) experienced population growth over the five years to June 2010. Greater Hobart SD had the largest population of all SDs in Tasmania at June 2010 (214,700 people), followed by Northern (142,300), Mersey-Lyell (112,800) and Southern (37,800).

The following commentary omits specific reference to Local Government Areas (LGAs) with populations of less than 2,000 at 30 June 2010.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION

At June 2010, the age distribution of Tasmania's population was characterised by a lower proportion of people aged 20 to 44 years (30.7%) compared with the total Australian population (35.9%). 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 (43.1%) than Australia as a whole (38.5%). 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 2010, having overtaken South Australia in June 2007. At June 2010, half of the Tasmanian population was younger than 39.9 years and half older. The median age of males was 39.0 years compared with 40.7 years for females.

Between June 2005 and June 2010, the median age increased in every Tasmanian LGA except for Latrobe (M). The greatest increase of 4.3 years occurred in Glamorgan/Spring Bay (M), giving it the third highest median age of any LGA in Australia at June 2010 (52.9 years). Break O'Day (M) and Tasman (M) LGAs had the second highest median ages in Tasmania (both 48.8 years). The LGA with the lowest median age in Tasmania continued to be Brighton (M) (31.1 years), followed by Circular Head (M) (37.1) and Hobart (C) (37.3). The median age of Latrobe (M) fell from 41.1 years at June 2005 to 40.6 at June 2010, the only decline over this period.

CHILDREN (UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE)

Tasmania had 97,600 people under 15 years of age at June 2010. The proportion of the population who were aged less than 15 years decreased from 19.9% in June 2005 to 19.2% in June 2010. Tasmania had a higher proportion in this age group than Australia as a whole at June 2010.

Brighton (M) LGA had the highest proportion of children in Tasmania at June 2010 (27.4%), followed by Circular Head (M) (23.6%) and George Town (M) (22.9%). Between June 2005 and June 2010, the proportion of children under 15 years of age declined in all LGAs except for Tasman (M), George Town (M) and Circular Head (M).

WORKING AGE POPULATION (AGED 15-64 YEARS)

At June 2010, Tasmania had the lowest proportion of people of working age (65.2%) of all states and territories, with 330,900 people aged 15 to 64 years.

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 2005 and June 2010, with increases of 1,600 and 1,500 respectively.

PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER

At June 2010, there were 79,100 people aged 65 years and over in Tasmania, making up 15.6% of the population. Alongside South Australia, Tasmania had the highest proportion of people aged 65 years and over of all 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 (24.2%) at June 2010, reflecting its popularity as a place to retire. This was followed by Break O'Day (M) (20.9%) and Tasman (M) (19.4%).

SEX RATIO

At June 2010, the population of Tasmania consisted of 250,400 males and 257,200 females, a ratio of 97.3 males per 100 females. Greater Hobart SD had the lowest ratio, with 94.9 males per 100 females, followed by Northern (97.7) and Mersey-Lyell (98.4). The only SD with more males than females was Southern, with a sex ratio of 107.2.

West Coast (M) had the highest sex ratio (111.9 males per 100 females) of Tasmanian LGAs and Glenorchy (C) had the lowest (92.8).

For Tasmania as a whole, the highest age-specific sex ratio occurred in the 20 to 24 year age group (106.8 males per 100 females) and the lowest age-specific sex ratios were in the older age groups, reflecting the longer life expectancy of females.