• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

	MEDIA RELEASE
18 August 2016	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	91/2016

There were 2.2 million people aged 65 years and over living in Australia’s capital cities in 2015 (up from 1.8 million in 2010). Additionally, 1.4 million live in areas outside our capitals (up from 1.2 million in 2010).

Hobart has the oldest population of any Australian capital city.

Hobart’s median age – the age at which half the population is older and half is younger – was 39.8 years at June 2015, compared to 37.4 years for Australia.

Adelaide was the next oldest capital (38.8 years) followed by Sydney (36.1) and Melbourne (36.0). Darwin was the youngest capital city (33.3).

The residents of Tea Gardens – Hawks Nest, near Port Stephens on the New South Wales coast, were officially Australia’s oldest, with a median age of 61.0 years in 2015.

People living in Tuncurry, on the NSW mid north coast, were the next oldest (59.7 years), followed by residents of Bribie Island in Queensland (59.3), Paynesville in Victoria’s Gippsland region (59.0) and Victor Harbor on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula (58.1).

“The older populations in these areas reflect a preference among many Australians to retire to coastal and rural parts of the country," said ABS Director of Demography Beidar Cho.

People aged 65 years and over contributed to more than 60 per cent of population growth in areas outside of capital cities between 2010 and 2015.

For more information see Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2015 (cat. no. 3235.0), available for free download from the ABS website:https://www.abs.gov.au

Media notes:

• Unless otherwise stated, areas mentioned in this release are Statistical Areas Level 2 and capital cities are Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, as defined in the Australia Statistical Geography Standard.
• When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
• For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070 (8.30am - 5pm Mon-Fri).
• Subscribe to our email notification service and get media releases or products sent to you on release.