Demographic Characteristics of Australia Age structure Population distribution Ethnic Composition Gender Population growth Rates Population size © Karen

Demographic Demographic Characteristics of Characteristics of

AustraliaAustraliaAge structureAge structure

Population distributionPopulation distributionEthnic CompositionEthnic Composition

Gender Gender Population growth RatesPopulation growth Rates

Population sizePopulation size

© Karen Devine 2010

Age StructureAge Structure

The Australian The Australian population is population is growing and is growing and is now now approximately 22 approximately 22 mil.mil.

The average life The average life expectancy is:expectancy is:

a)a) men- 79 yearsmen- 79 years

b)b) women – 82 years.women – 82 years.



Australia’s Australia’s population is population is ageing because ageing because the numbers of the numbers of people over 40 is people over 40 is growing.growing.

Yet, the numbers Yet, the numbers of younger people of younger people is declining.is declining.

Australia has a low Australia has a low death rate and a death rate and a low birth rate.low birth rate. © Karen Devine 2010


An ageing An ageing population means population means that there will be that there will be smaller numbers smaller numbers of working age of working age people supporting people supporting an elderly an elderly population.population.



People are living People are living longer and will longer and will need to be need to be supported on supported on pensions for pensions for longer periods of longer periods of time.time.


ConsequencesConsequences

More More infrastructure, infrastructure, such as hospitals such as hospitals and nursing and nursing homes will need homes will need to be provided for to be provided for an ageing an ageing population.population.


Population DistributionPopulation Distribution

Most of the Most of the Australian Australian population resides population resides in the South in the South Eastern Coastal Eastern Coastal belt.belt.


Population DistributionPopulation Distribution

Sydney is Sydney is Australia’s largest Australia’s largest city and city and demonstrates demonstrates urban sprawl urban sprawl or or conurbationconurbation where satellite where satellite towns are towns are becoming absorbed becoming absorbed into the main city.into the main city.



Increased pressure on natural Increased pressure on natural resources in South Eastern Australia.resources in South Eastern Australia.

Greater population density increases Greater population density increases pressure on housing.pressure on housing.

State governments must plan for State governments must plan for effects of urban sprawl.effects of urban sprawl.

Pressures on transport systems and Pressures on transport systems and road networks.road networks.


Ethnic CompositionEthnic Composition

Australia still Australia still has an Anglo-has an Anglo-Celtic “face” Celtic “face” despite despite multicultural multicultural immigration immigration since the since the 1970’s.1970’s.


Ethnic CompositionEthnic Composition

Migration for Migration for humanitarian humanitarian reasons has seen reasons has seen refugees arriving refugees arriving from Vietnam from Vietnam (1970’s), the (1970’s), the former Yugoslavia former Yugoslavia (1990’s) and the (1990’s) and the Middle East, Sudan Middle East, Sudan and Afghanistan and Afghanistan (2000’s).(2000’s).



Increased Increased provision of provision of migrant services.migrant services.

Increased Increased numbers of numbers of English language English language centres.centres.

Migrant media and Migrant media and information information servicesservices


GenderGender

Approximately Approximately 105 males per 105 males per 100 females exist 100 females exist at birth, yet there at birth, yet there is higher male is higher male mortality for the mortality for the 30-64 years age 30-64 years age group. group.


GenderGender

Migration can also Migration can also influence the sex influence the sex ratio.ratio.

Above age 65, Above age 65, higher male higher male mortality affects mortality affects the numbers of the numbers of males.males.


GenderGender

The sex ratio of The sex ratio of the total the total population for population for Australia is 98.9 Australia is 98.9 males per 100 males per 100 females. (2008 females. (2008 figs)figs)



Studies indicate Studies indicate that women live that women live longer than men longer than men and have lower and have lower mortality rates in mortality rates in all age groups. all age groups.


Population Growth RatesPopulation Growth Rates

Australia's Australia's population grew population grew by 1.9% during by 1.9% during 2008.2008.

Migration is still a Migration is still a larger larger contribution to contribution to population growth population growth rates.rates.



Migration rates allow Migration rates allow an increase in the an increase in the Australian workforce in Australian workforce in the short term.the short term.

However, increases in However, increases in the rate of natural the rate of natural increase allow an increase allow an increase in the increase in the working age working age population in the long population in the long term.term.


Population SizePopulation Size

The Australian The Australian population is population is approximately approximately 21,600,000 21,600,000 persons. (2008 persons. (2008 figs)figs)

This was an This was an increase of (1.9%) increase of (1.9%) since 2007.since 2007.



Australia’s Australia’s population density population density is low.is low.

Yet, it is high in Yet, it is high in urban areas in urban areas in South Eastern South Eastern Australia. Australia.

This has This has implications for implications for planners.planners.


Pause Point!Pause Point!

View the Census.View the Census.


Question Time?Question Time?

Write a brief Write a brief report on the report on the demographic demographic nature of the nature of the Australian Australian population.population.


Documents

Demographic Characteristics of Australia Age structure Population distribution Ethnic Composition Gender Population growth Rates Population size © Karen