Regional population by age and sex

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Statistics about the population by age and sex for Australia's capital cities and regions

Reference period
2019
Released
28/08/2020

Key statistics

  • The median age for capital cities (36.0 years) was younger than the rest of Australia (41.2).
  • The oldest capital was Hobart with a median age of 39.6 years, while Darwin was the youngest (34.3).
  • Darwin was the only capital with more males than females.

The median age is defined as the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.
The sex ratio is defined as the number of males per 100 females.
Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to area refers to Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2).

Capital cities

  • People aged 20 to 49 years made up 45% of the combined capital city population, compared with 36% of the population in the rest of Australia.
  • People aged 50 years and over made up a smaller proportion of the population in capital cities (31%) than in the rest of Australia (39%).
  • In both capital cities and the rest of Australia, there were higher proportions of females than males in the older age groups.
     

Median age and sex ratio

  • Hobart had the oldest median age of all capital cities at 39.6 years, ahead of Adelaide at 38.8.
  • Darwin was the youngest capital city with a median age of 34.3, followed by Canberra at 35.4.
  • Adelaide had the lowest sex ratio of all capital cities (96.7 males per 100 females), while Darwin had the highest (109.9).
     
Capital cityMedian Age (years)Sex ratio
Sydney35.898.9
Melbourne35.698.1
Brisbane35.697.6
Adelaide38.896.7
Perth36.798.7
Hobart39.699.1
Darwin34.3109.9
Canberra35.497.8
Total capital cities36.098.4
Total Australia37.498.4

Regions

Median age

The areas with the oldest median ages were all popular retirement destinations on the coast including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (63.0 years) and Tuncurry (61.2) in New South Wales
  • Bribie Island and Cooloola (both 60.6) in Queensland
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Acton (21.9 years) and Duntroon (22.6) in the Australian Capital Territory, which had large populations of students or military personnel
  • Yarrabah (22.8) and Northern Peninsula (23.4) in Queensland, which had high proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
     

Areas with the oldest median ages

SA2SA4Median age (years)
Tea Gardens - Hawks NestHunter Valley exc Newcastle (NSW)63.0
TuncurryMid North Coast (NSW)61.2
Bribie IslandMoreton Bay - North (Qld)60.6
CooloolaWide Bay (Qld)60.6
Goolwa - Port ElliotSouth Australia - South East59.6

Areas with the youngest median ages

SA2SA4Median age (years)
ActonAustralian Capital Territory21.9
DuntroonAustralian Capital Territory22.6
YarrabahCairns (Qld)22.8
Northern PeninsulaQueensland - Outback23.4
St LuciaBrisbane - West24.5

Sex ratio

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Howard Springs (306.2 males per 100 females) in Darwin and Wacol (250.2) in Ipswich, which both contain correctional centres for men
  • East Pilbara (289.5) and Ashburton (243.2) in Western Australia, which are areas with significant mining activity
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Deakin (80.8 males per 100 females) in the Australian Capital Territory which contains a boarding school for girls
  • Woollahra (81.0) in Sydney and Bowral (84.1) in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, which both have older age profiles and reflect the longer life expectancy of females
     

Areas with the highest sex ratios

SA2SA4Sex ratio
Howard SpringsDarwin306.2
East PilbaraWestern Australia - Outback (North)289.5
WacolIpswich (Qld)250.2
AshburtonWestern Australia - Outback (North)243.2
ChidlowPerth - North East220.8

Areas with the lowest sex ratios

SA2SA4Sex ratio
DeakinAustralian Capital Territory80.8
WoollahraSydney - Eastern Suburbs81.0
BowralSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven (NSW)84.1
Mosman Park - Peppermint GrovePerth - Inner84.5
Millbank - AvocaWide Bay (Qld)84.6

New South Wales

  • Greater Sydney had a younger age distribution than the rest of New South Wales, reflecting the pattern of young adults moving to capital cities for education and work purposes.
  • People aged 20 to 39 years made up 32% of Sydney's population, compared with 23% in the rest of the state.
  • People aged 60 years or over made up 19% of Sydney's population, compared with 27% in the rest of New South Wales.
     

Median age

The median age in Sydney (35.8 years) was younger than in the rest of New South Wales (42.2).

The areas with the oldest median ages were regional areas on or near the coast, including:

  • Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest (63.0 years) near Port Stephens
  • Tuncurry (61.2) on the mid north coast
  • Sussex Inlet - Berrara (59.1) on the south coast
     

The areas with the youngest median ages contained or were located near higher education campuses, including:

  • Kensington (25.7 years) which contains the University of NSW, and neighbouring Kingsford (26.4)
  • Shortland - Jesmond (25.5) in Newcastle, Wagga Wagga - North (28.4) and Tamworth - West (29.9), which are all within major regional centres

Sex ratio

The sex ratio was higher in Sydney (98.9) than in the rest of New South Wales (97.9).

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Auburn - North in western Sydney (143.4 males per 100 females)
  • Junee (133.9) which contains the Junee Correctional Centre
  • Surry Hills (132.5), Darlinghurst (130.8), and Potts Point - Woolloomooloo (129.3), all in inner Sydney
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Woollahra (81.0) in Sydney's east
  • Bowral (84.1) in the Southern Highlands

Victoria

  • Greater Melbourne had a younger age distribution than the rest of Victoria, as younger adults tend to migrate out of regional areas to pursue work and education in the capital city.
  • People aged 20 to 44 years made up 39% of the population in Melbourne, compared with 29% in the rest of the state.
  • There was a lower proportion of people aged 50 years and over in Melbourne (30%) than in the rest of Victoria (41%).
     

Median age

The median age in Melbourne was 35.6 years, which was younger than in the rest of Victoria (42.3).

The areas with the oldest median ages were popular coastal retirement areas, including:

  • Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff (58.8 years) and neighbouring Portarlington (58.4), both in Geelong
  • Paynesville (58.8), Orbost (55.2) and Lakes Entrance (54.5), all in the Gippsland region
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were all in Melbourne, including:

  • Carlton (24.7 years) and Parkville (26.5), which are adjacent to the University of Melbourne
  • Clayton (24.9) which contains the main Monash University campus

Sex ratio

The sex ratio was slightly lower in Melbourne (98.1) than in the rest of Victoria (98.3).

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (144.6 males per 100 females) and Rosedale (144.1), both of which contain large correctional facilities for men
  • Beaufort (126.5) and Ararat (118.2), both in rural Victoria
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Mornington (88.2 males per 100 females) on the coast
  • Armadale (88.2), Northcote and South Yarra - West (both 88.3), and Carlton (88.4), all inner suburbs of Melbourne

Queensland

  • Greater Brisbane had a higher proportion of its population aged 20 to 44 years (37%) than the rest of Queensland (31%), reflecting the pattern of young adults moving to capital cities for work and education purposes.
  • In contrast, Brisbane had a lower proportion aged 45 years and over (37%) than the rest of the state (43%).
     

Median age

The median age in Brisbane (35.6 years) was younger than in the rest of Queensland (39.6).

The areas with the oldest median ages were on the coast, including:

  • Bribie Island (60.6 years) in the Moreton Bay region
  • Cooloola (60.6) in the Wide Bay region
  • Redland Islands (57.7) in Brisbane's east
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Yarrabah (22.8 years) near Cairns and Northern Peninsula (23.4) in the far north of the state, which both had a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • St Lucia (24.5) in Brisbane's west and Douglas (25.3) in Townsville, reflecting the large numbers of university students in these areas

Sex ratio

Females outnumbered males in both Brisbane (with a sex ratio of 97.6) and the rest of Queensland (97.9).

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Wacol (250.2 males per 100 females), which contains a male correctional centre
  • Tablelands (150.5) in the state's far north
  • Broadsound - Nebo (133.4) in the Bowen Basin region
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Millbank - Avoca (84.6), a suburb of Bundaberg
  • Chermside (85.2) in Brisbane's north
  • Coombabah (85.8) on the Gold Coast

South Australia

  • Greater Adelaide had a younger age distribution than the rest of South Australia.
  • People aged 20 to 39 years made up 28% of the population in Adelaide, compared with 21% in the rest of the state. This is indicative of young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.
     

Median age

The median age in Adelaide (38.8 years) was six years younger than in the rest of the state (45.2).

The areas with the oldest median ages were popular retirement destinations on the coast, including:

  • Goolwa - Port Elliot (59.6 years) and Victor Harbor (58.7) on the Fleurieu Peninsula
  • Yorke Peninsula - South (57.5), Yorke Peninsula - North (55.6) and Moonta (55.5) on the Yorke Peninsula
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • APY Lands in the state's north (28.6 years), which had a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • Munno Para West - Angle Vale (29.2) and Davoren Park (29.6) in Adelaide's outer north
  • inner-city Adelaide (29.4)

Sex ratio

Adelaide had more females than males (with a sex ratio of 96.7), while in the rest of South Australia there were more males than females (100.9).

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Outback (166.5 males per 100 females), which covers much of the state's north-east
  • Grant (130.8) in the state's south-east
  • the mining town of Roxby Downs (128.2)
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Warradale (87.1 males per 100 females), a southern suburb of Adelaide
  • Victor Harbor (88.4) on the Fleurieu Peninsula

Western Australia

  • The proportion of children aged less than 15 years in Greater Perth (19%) was similar to that in the rest of Western Australia (20%).
  • Perth had a higher proportion of its population aged 15 to 34 years (28%) than the rest of the state (23%). This is consistent with young adults moving to the capital city for employment or education purposes.
     

Median age

The median age of the population in Perth was 36.7 years, compared with 39.4 in the rest of Western Australia.

The areas with the oldest median ages were popular retirement and tree-change/sea-change locations, including:

  • York - Beverley (52.9 years) and Toodyay (52.4) in the northern wheat belt
  • Pemberton (51.2) in the state's south-west
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Roebuck (28.0 years) and Halls Creek (28.8) in the Kimberley region
  • Alkimos - Eglinton (29.3) in Perth's north-west

Sex ratio

Females outnumbered males in Perth (with a sex ratio of 98.7), while males outnumbered females in the rest of Western Australia (104.1).

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • East Pilbara (289.5 males per 100 females), Ashburton (243.2), Roebourne (158.9) and Meekatharra (155.7), which are all located in areas of significant mining activity
  • Chidlow (220.8), which contains a large male correctional centre
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Mosman Park - Peppermint Grove (84.5 males per 100 females), an inner suburb of Perth
  • Willagee (87.1) in Perth's south west

Tasmania

  • Tasmania had a lower proportion of people aged 20 to 44 years (30%) than Australia (35%) as a whole. This in part reflects young adults pursuing education and employment opportunities interstate.
  • Tasmania also had a higher proportion of people aged 45 years and over (47%) than Australia (40%). This partly reflects a trend of adults in this age group moving into the state.
     

Median age

The median age in Greater Hobart (39.6 years) was younger than in the rest of Tasmania (44.5).

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Forestier - Tasman (56.6 years), Triabunna - Bicheno (56.4) and St Helens - Scamander (55.9), all on Tasmania's eastern seaboard
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Mowbray (31.3 years) in Launceston, which is close to the University of Tasmania and other educational facilities
  • Rokeby (32.5) and Bridgewater - Gagebrook (32.8), both on the eastern shore of the Derwent River in Hobart

Sex ratio

The sex ratio was higher in Hobart (99.1) than in the rest of Tasmania (97.0).

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Risdon Vale (129.4 males per 100 females) in Hobart's north-eastern suburbs, which contains male correctional centres
  • Flinders and Cape Barren Islands (121.0), off the state's north-east coast
  • Central Highlands (115.8) and Waratah (113.3) in regional Tasmania
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Prospect Vale - Blackstone (87.0), Newstead (87.4) and Norwood (88.4), all inner suburbs of Launceston
  • East Devonport and Miandetta - Don (both 88.7), on Tasmania's north coast

Northern Territory

  • Greater Darwin had a lower proportion of its population under 25 years of age (32%) compared with the rest of the Northern Territory (38%).
  • Darwin had a higher proportion of people aged 50 years and over (26%) than the rest of the Northern Territory (23%).
     

Median age

The median age in Darwin (34.3 years) was higher than in the rest of the Northern Territory (31.4).

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Ross (46.2 years) which is a suburb of Alice Springs
  • Alligator (43.6) in the Top End
  • Virginia (41.4) in the Litchfield region
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Victoria River (26.0 years) and Gulf (26.4), both in the Katherine region
  • East Arnhem (26.8) in the territory's north-east

Sex ratio

Males outnumbered females in both Darwin (with a sex ratio of 109.9) and the rest of the Northern Territory (102.5).

The areas with the highest sex ratios included:

  • Howard Springs (306.2 males per 100 females) and Larrakeyah (120.5), both with large numbers of defence force personnel
  • Weddell (128.0) in Litchfield
  • Sandover - Plenty (123.3) surrounding Alice Springs
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Tanami (87.4 males per 100 females) and Yuendumu - Anmatjere (93.0), both in central Australia
  • Mount Johns (88.8), Flynn (92.4) and East Side (92.7) which are all suburbs of Alice Springs

Australian Capital Territory

  • The proportion of young adults in the Australian Capital Territory was relatively high compared with Australia as a whole, reflecting the number young adults who move to the territory for education or employment.
  • People aged 20 to 39 years accounted for 33% of the territory's population, compared with 29% of Australia's population.
     

Median age

The median age in the Australian Capital Territory (35.4 years) was younger than Australia's median age (37.4).

The areas with the oldest median ages were:

  • Yarralumla (50.5 years) in southern Canberra
  • Isaacs (48.1) and O'Malley (47.1), both in Woden Valley
     

The areas with the youngest median ages were:

  • Acton (21.9 years) which contains the Australian National University
  • Duntroon (22.6) which has a large number of defence force personnel

Sex ratio

There were 97.8 males for every 100 females in the Australian Capital Territory.

The areas with the highest sex ratios were:

  • Duntroon (215.8 males for every 100 females) which contains the Royal Military College
  • Reid (112.3) in northern Canberra
  • Red Hill (108.3) in southern Canberra
     

The areas with the lowest sex ratios were:

  • Deakin (80.8) in southern Canberra
  • Ainslie (87.3) and Acton (87.9), both in northern Canberra

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More information

Data downloads

Data cubes

Population estimates by age and sex, by SA2, 2019

Population estimates by age and sex - summary statistics, by SA2 and above, 2014 and 2019

Population estimates by age and sex, by LGA, 2019

Population estimates by age and sex - summary statistics, by LGA, 2019

Geopackages

Population estimates by age and sex, by SA2, 2019, in GeoPackage

Population estimates by age and sex, by LGA, 2019, in GeoPackage

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3235.0.
 

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