Key Points
- The ABS has released new population data
- It has revealed Hawks Nest's median age of 65.5 is the oldest in the country
New South Wales is officially home to the oldest populations in Australia, according to new
The data, released this week, revealed Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest has the oldest median population in the country at 65.5 years, followed by Tuncurry at 62.3.
In contrast, Acton and Duntroon - both in the Australian Capital Territory - have the youngest median ages, at 19.9 and 21.1 respectively. Both regions have large populations of students and military personnel.
The youngest capital is Darwin with a median age of 34.5 years, while Adelaide's 39.3 years is the oldest.
How do regions compare to capital cities?
The ABS found capital cities have younger populations than the rest of Australia, with the median age for capitals sitting at just over 37 years old, while other areas are almost 42.
While the exact demographics varied, the capital city in each state - with the exception of the Northern Territory - has a younger median age than other areas throughout the states, reflecting the pattern of younger people moving to capital cities for both education and employment opportunities.
- Queensland: In Queensland, the capital city of Brisbane has a median age of 36.5 years, while the rest of Queensland sits at 40.5.
- NSW: In New South Wales, the median age of 37.1 in Sydney is younger than in the rest of New South Wales, which is 42.5.
- ACT: In the ACT, the median age is 35.4, compared with 38.4 for Australia as a whole.
- Victoria: In Melbourne, the median age is 36.8 years, with the rest of Victoria at 43.
- Tasmania: In Greater Hobart, the median age is 38.6 years, while in the rest of Tasmania it rises to 44.4.
- South Australia: According to the data, the median age of 39.3 in Adelaide is seven years younger than in the rest of the state, which is 46.4.
- Western Australia: The median age of the population in Perth is 37.6 years, compared with 40.0 in the rest of Western Australia.
- Northern Territory: The median age in Darwin is 34.5 years; almost three years older than in the rest of the Northern Territory, which is 31.7.
What are the ratios of males to females?
The ABS also shared data on the sex ratios around the country, and found Darwin is the only capital where males outnumber females.
According to the data, Acton in the ACT - which contains the Australian National University - has the lowest number of males compared to females, with 81.7 males per 100 females.
Victoria's Mornington - West has the second lowest at 82.8, followed by NSW's Woollahra, with 83.0 males per 100 females.
Wacol in Brisbane's south-west and Chidlow in Perth's north-east have the highest, with 283.8 and 253.3 males per 100 females respectively. The ABS noted Wacol and Chidlow both contain male correctional facilities.
Western Australia's East Pilbara region, an area with significant mining activity, also had a higher sex ratio of 261.2 males per 100 females.
