Fed: Australia s median age up by six years in a decade

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2000
Fed: Australia s median age up by six years in a decade

New figures show the rise of the childless family has helped drive up Australia's mid-life
age by over six years in just twenty years.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the median age of Australians has risen to
35 in June, up from 29 years in June 1980.

It says Australia's population is ageing because of a sustained low level of fertility,
which has resulted in proportionally fewer children in the population, and increased life
expectancy.

The proportion of children aged 0-14 has dropped from 22 per cent of Australia's 19.2
million people to 20 per cent.

South Australia, with a median age of 37, has the oldest population of all the states
and territories, while the two territories have the youngest populations.

New South Wales, the most populous state, has a mid-life median of 36 years, ahead
of Victoria and Queensland.

The figures show Australia's population profile is most closely matched by Canada and
the United States.

AAP RTV rft/daw/klw/jx u

KEYWORD: AGE (CANBERRA)

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