Comment on latest ABS data release (December 2006)

2006 Census update!! Tasmania's median age now the oldest in Australia
Tasmania's median age is now 39.8 years, a fraction older than that for South Australia (39.7 years). As the graph shows, the gap between these two States has been closing for some time. In Tasmania's case the sharp upward shift around 2000 was driven by a significant net migration loss of people in the 18-38 year age groups, and with them, their children. Notably this loss has reduced over recent years, but its legacy will remain for many decades....[more]

2006 Cenusus update!! Population Growth positive but slowing
For the year ending December 2006, Tasmania's population grew by approximately 3,107 (0.6 per cent), just below the growth rate for the previous December year. The increase resulted in a total population of around 491,666....[more]

Natural increase - an upward swing, but slowing
As elsewhere in Australia, Tasmania's natural increase has trended upwards over the past few years. During the year to December 2006 it increased slightly to 2,482 (up from 2,416 for the December 2005 year), although as the graph shows, the trend is slowing. Underlying it is a small increase in births (6,423 up from 6,262 the previous December year) slightly offset by a similarly small increase in deaths (3,941 up from 3,846)....[more]

Migration positive but slowing
Tasmania's total net migration continues to be positive, but the trend has slowed significantly since 2003, and is being held up by international migration (941 for the year to December 2006, up from 871 the previous December year). Net interstate migration for the year ended December 2006 was -390, a significant (negative) change over the very positive 337 for the previous December year....[more]

Migrant age distribution
Tasmania's migration continues to be characterised by young leavers and older arrivals. The loss at the young adult ages occurs even when overall migration is strongly positive, as occurred in the 2003-04 year when net interstate migration was 2,475. Overall for the 2005-06 year, Tasmania lost a net 976 people aged 10-29 years, but gained 127 below age 10 and 909 above age 30....[more]

The 'bite' in Tasmania's age structure
Significant net migration losses in the 18-38 year age group (and with them, many children) across the 1992-2002 period created a deep 'bite' in the age structure at those ages. These losses reduced significantly between 2002 and 2005 but have again become significant....[more]