Oldest population: Tasmania overtakes SA
Overall, Australia’s population continues to age, with the number of people aged 65 years and over at 30 June 2007 increasing by 2.7% (or 72,000 people) on the past year.
Those aged 85 and over also increased for this period, by a large 7.1%. The ageing of the population is mainly due to sustained low levels of fertility and increasing life expectancy. Tasmania had the oldest population of the nation as at 30 June 2007, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) for Tasmania was 39.1 years, overtaking South Australia. The migration of young adults to the mainland has contributed to Tasmania’s accelerated ageing.
South Australia has typically recorded the highest median age, but fell short with 38.9 years at 30 June 2007. Meanwhile, the Northern Territory remains the youngest, with a median age of 31.1 years.
