Joanne Simon-Davies, Statistics and Mapping

Figure 1: share of the Australian population by state/territory, selected intervals

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2018, cat. no. 3101.0 and ABS, Population Projections, Australia, 2017–2066, (Series B), cat. no. 3222.0.

Between 1988 and 2018 the proportion of Australians living in Queensland and Western Australia increased, while the numbers of those living in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania declined. The number of those residing in Victoria, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory were fairly constant. These trends are largely projected to continue—except for Victoria increasing its share of population, and Queensland and Western Australia levelling off by 2038.

Figure 2: share of Australian population by age group, selected intervals

Source: ABS, Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2018, cat. no. 3101.0 and ABS, Population Projections, Australia, 2017–2066, (Series B), cat. no. 3222.0.

Over the 30 years to 2018, Australia’s population has aged, and this trend is projected to continue. The proportion in the under 15 age group fell from 22% in 1988 to 19% in 2018 but may be similar in 2038 at 18%. In contrast, those aged 65 and over increased their share between 1988 and 2018 from 11% to 16% and may represent 19% in 2038.

Figure 3: estimated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population, 1901–2016

Source: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2016, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001.

Since the 1980s the number of Indigenous Australians has grown rapidly. This is primarily due to relatively high fertility rates, falling mortality and an increased propensity to identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Figure 4: total fertility rate, 1901–2017

Source: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2016, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001 and ABS, Births, Australia, 2017, cat. no. 3301.0.

Since Federation, Australia has undergone a demographic transition from high to low fertility and mortality rates. Since the 1970s, fertility (birth) rates have been less than two children per woman, around half pre-World War I levels. Lower rates during the 1930s Depression are evident, as is the post-World War II baby-boomer period.

Figure 5: life expectancy at birth, 1901–2016

Source: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2016, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001.

People in Australia have among the highest life expectancies of any nation. Australians can now expect to have an extra 27 years of life compared to those born at Federation. The improvement in life expectancy has been slowing in recent times, though women still outlive men by around four years on average.

Table 1: leading causes of death in Australia, 2008 and 2017

Causes of death	2008		2017
	No.	Rank	No.	Rank
Ischaemic heart diseases	23 813	1	18 590	1
Dementia, including Alzheimer disease	8 172	3	13 729	2
Cerebrovascular diseases	11 979	2	10 186	3
Chronic lower respiratory diseases	6 255	5	8 357	4
Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung	7 956	4	8 262	5
Malignant neoplasm of colon, sigmoid, rectum and anus	5 274	6	5 325	6
Diabetes	4 181	7	4 839	7
Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue	3 887	8	4 499	8
Influenza and pneumonia	1 760	17	4 269	9
Diseases of the urinary system	3 235	10	3 565	10
Heart failure and complications and ill-defined heart disease	3 363	9	3 487	11
Malignant neoplasm of prostate	3 031	11	3 275	12
Intentional self-harm	2 341	13	3 128	13
Malignant neoplasm of pancreas	2 289	14	2 996	14
Malignant neoplasms of breast	2 789	12	2 928	15

Note: Causes of death data for 2017 are preliminary and subject to a revisions process

Source: ABS, Causes of Death, 2017, cat no. 3303.0.

Table 2: top ten countries of birth outside Australia, 1998 and 2018

1998			2018
Country of birth	No.	% of all overseas born	Country of birth (and rank in 1998)	No.	% of all overseas born
England	943 870	21.9	England (1)	991 530	13.5
New Zealand	328 280	7.6	China (7)	650 700	8.9
Italy	242 460	5.6	India (11)	592 310	8.1
Vietnam	163 020	3.8	New Zealand (2)	568 290	7.7
Scotland	147 250	3.4	Philippines (9)	277 510	3.8
Greece	135 030	3.1	Vietnam (4)	256 310	3.5
China	132 080	3.1	South Africa (16)	189 230	2.6
Germany	120 720	2.8	Italy (3)	186 640	2.5
Philippines	107 620	2.5	Malaysia (12)	173 680	2.4
Netherlands	94 860	2.2	Scotland (5)	135 150	1.8

Source: ABS, Migration, Australia, 2017–18, cat. no. 3412.0.

The proportion of Australians born overseas increased from 23% in 1998 to 29% in 2018. This accompanied a shift in migration patterns over recent decades away from the United Kingdom and other European countries to primarily Asian countries. Those born in China, India, Philippines and South Africa have shown the greatest rise.

Table 3: top ten languages spoken at home other than English, 1996 and 2016

1996			2016
Non-English speaking languages	Number	% of non-English speaking population	Non-English speaking languages	Number	% of non-English speaking population
Italian	367 290	14.8	Mandarin	596 711	12.4
Greek	259 019	10.4	Arabic	321 723	6.7
Cantonese	190 104	7.6	Cantonese	280 947	5.8
Arabic	161 966	6.5	Vietnamese	277 395	5.7
Vietnamese	134 011	5.4	Italian	271 597	5.6
German	96 651	3.9	Greek	237 586	4.9
Mandarin	87 320	3.5	Hindi	159 653	3.3
Spanish	86 860	3.5	Spanish	140 818	2.9
Macedonian	68 126	2.7	Punjabi	132 490	2.7
Tagalog (Filipino)	67 255	2.7	Tagalog	111 271	2.3

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1996 and 2016.

In 1996, 81% of the Australian population only spoke English at home; declining to 73% in 2016. In 2016, more than one in five Australians (21%) spoke a language besides English at home. Mandarin remains the next most common language, spoken at home by one in every 40 Australians (or 12% of all non-English speaking languages).

Table 4: population by religious affiliation, 1996 and 2016

		Number		Percentage
		1996	2016	1996	2016
Christian	Catholic	4 798 950	5 291 839	27.0	22.6
	Anglican	3 903 324	3 101 187	22.0	13.3
	Other Christian	3 880 490	3 808 598	21.9	16.3
	Total Christian	12 582 764	12 201 624	70.9	52.1
Other religions	Islam	200 885	604 244	1.1	7.9
	Buddhism	199 812	563 675	1.1	2.4
	Hinduism	67 279	440 303	0.4	2.4
	Sikhism (a)	–	125 904	–	0.5
	Judaism	79 805	91 023	0.4	0.4
	Other	1 540 863	1 010 431	8.7	4.3
	Total Other	2 221 177	4 198 750	12.5	17.9
No religion		2 948 888	7 001 535	16.6	29.9
Total		17 752 829	23 401 909	100.0	100.0

Note: (a)  In 1996, data on the number of Sikhs was not published separately; however, they are included in the ‘Other’ of ‘Other Religions’ category in 2016 Census data.

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1996 and 2016.

Since 1996, the share of people professing no religious affiliation has risen sharply. While coming off very low bases, the numbers following Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism have also grown relatively strongly, generally reflecting high net overseas migration flows.

Figure 6: highest level of educational attainment, 2006 and 2016

Note: Population aged 18 years and over and not at school.

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1996 and 2016.

Figure 7: share of private sector employment, June 2017

Source: ABS, Australian Industry, 2016–17, cat. no. 8155.0.

Figure 8: trade and non-trade apprentices and trainees in training, 1985–2018

Note: Trade placements includes occupations in metal manufacturing; motor vehicle repair and maintenance; construction; printing; food; hairdressing; wood product manufacturing and textile; and clothing and footwear. Non-trade placements include community and personal service workers (including health and welfare support workers, carers and aides, hospitality workers and protective services workers); clerical and administration workers; sales workers; and machinery operators and drivers.

Source: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Historical Time Series of Apprentices and Traineeships in Australia, 2018.

Figure 9: enrolment in higher education by citizenship category, 2001–2017

Source: Department of Education and Training,Higher Education Data Cube (uCube).

Table 5: key labour force and economic indicators, selected years

	April
Labour force indicators (%)	2009	2014	2018	2019
Unemployment rate (15 years plus) (trend)	5.6	5.9	5.5	5.1
Underemployment rate (15 years plus) (trend) (a)	7.4	7.7	8.5	8.3
Prevalence of long-term unemployment (15 years plus) (trend) (b)	13.4	22.3	24.2	22.9
Youth (15 to 24 years) unemployment rate (trend)	11.7	13.0	12.0	11.8
Youth underemployment rate (trend)	13.7	15.5	17.9	17.7
	March
Economic indicators—annual growth (%)	2009	2014	2018	2019
Consumer Price Index (original)	2.4	2.9	1.9	1.3
	December
	2008	2013	2017	2018
Gross Domestic Product (chain volume) (seasonally adjusted)	1.6	2.4	2.4	2.3
Labour productivity (in whole economy) (seasonally adjusted) (c)	0.5	2.1	-0.7	0.8
Wage Price Index (trend)	4.3	2.6	2.1	2.3

Note: (a) The underemployment rate is the share of people in the labour force that want, and are available for, more hours of work. (b) Prevalence of long-term unemployment is the share of unemployed people who have been actively seeking work for 12 months or more. (c) Labour productivity in the whole economy is measured by annual change in the GDP per hour worked index.

Sources: ABS, Labour Force, Australia, April 2019, cat no. 6202.0; Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, April 2019, cat no. 6291.0.55.001; Consumer Price Index, Australia, March 2019, cat no. 6401.0; Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, December 2018, cat. no. 5206.0; and Wage Price Index, Australia, December 2018, cat no. 6345.0.

Figure 10: unemployment rate in Australia, 1901–2018

Sources: W Vamplez, ed., Australians Historical Statistics, 1987, Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates, Australia, LAB 86-97, pp. 152 (Butlin Estimates from 1901 to 1966); ABS, The Labour Force Australian Historical Summary, 1966–1984, cat no. 6204.0 (data from 1999–1977) and Labour Force, Australia, April 2019, cat no. 6202.0 (data from 1978–2018, seasonally adjusted).

Figure 11: annual and average growth in GDP, 2000–2018

Source: ABS, Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, December 2018, cat. no. 5206.0, Table 1, seasonally adjusted data.

Figure 12: Consumer Price Index, headline and underlying rates, 2003–2018

Source: ABS, Consumer Price Index, March 2019, cat. 6401.0, Tables 1, 2 and 8. Note: The underlying rate excludes volatile price movements due to floods or drought, seasonal conditions or government policy decisions.

Figure 13: Australian exports, imports and trade balance as a proportion of GDP

Source: ABS, Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, December 2018, cat. no. 5206.0.

Table 6: Australia’s top 10 export markets, 2013–14 to 2017–18

Rank	Country	2013–14	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	% share of total	5-year trend growth
1	China	99 986	85 070	87 829	110 012	123 274	30.6	7.5
2	Japan	50 972	46 444	37 975	44 455	51 328	12.7	–0.9
3	Republic of Korea	22 668	20 613	19 971	22 761	23 628	5.9	1.6
4	United States	17 228	20 530	21 897	20 684	21 424	5.3	7.0
5	India	10 616	12 939	13 338	19 268	21 145	5.2	12.3
6	Hong Kong (SAR of China)	12 990	11 501	11 560	15 861	14 506	3.6	6.5
7	New Zealand	11 793	12 718	13 162	13 671	14 370	3.6	5.2
8	Singapore	11 167	12 383	10 070	11 349	13 164	3.3	3.3
9	United Kingdom	8 392	9 095	12 647	12 753	11 757	2.9	6.8
10	Taiwan	8 299	7 907	7 670	9 987	10 952	2.7	5.5
	Total (all countries)	336 322	324 674	319 721	373 740	403 241		4.9

Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia’s trade in goods and services by top 15 partners, 2017–18.

Table 7: Australia’s top 15 export products, 2013–14 to 2017–18

Rank	Commodity (a)	2013–14	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	% share of total	5-year trend growth
1	Iron ores & concentrates	74 671	54 519	47 799	62 617	61 357	15.2	–0.8
2	Coal	39 960	37 882	34 541	54 236	60 356	15.0	9.1
3	Education-related travel services (b)	18 528	21 258	24 145	28 093	32 434	8.0	14.2
4	Natural gas	16 305	16 895	16 576	22 308	30 907	7.7	14.7
5	Personal travel (excl education) services	16 774	18 238	20 669	21 628	21 580	5.4	8.1
6	Gold	13 261	13 506	16 585	18 979	19 293	4.8	7.2
7	Aluminium ores & conc (incl alumina)	6 078	7 106	6 790	7 529	9 448	2.3	9.7
8	Beef	6 422	9 040	8 495	7 115	7 963	2.0	7.5
9	Crude petroleum	10 427	8 154	5 184	5 150	6 507	1.6	–12.2
10	Copper ores & concentrates	5 220	5 242	4 664	4 577	5 720	1.4	–0.5
11	Professional services	4 525	4 967	5 082	4 945	5 211	1.3	3.3
12	Wheat	6 084	5 528	5 096	6 073	4 652	1.2	–5.4
13	Financial services	3 284	3 956	3 897	3 961	4 574	1.1	8.7
14	Meat (excl beef)	3 356	3 840	3 649	3 831	4 526	1.1	9.8
15	Technical & other business services	3 617	3 614	3 977	4 512	4 262	1.1	3.9
	Total (c)	336 322	324 674	319 721	373 740	403 241		4.9

Notes: (a) Goods trade is on a recorded trade basis, Services trade is on a balance of payments basis; (b) Includes student expenditure on tuition fees and living expense; (c) Balance of payments basis.

Source: DFAT, Australia’s trade in goods and services 2017–18.

 

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