Australia’s population is set to pass 21 million in two days, according to calculations from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing.
But the official snapshot of our nation – taken every five years – also illustrates that even though Australia's population continues to grow, it is ageing.
There are now fewer people as a proportion in the population aged under 15 than there were in 2001. This age group decreased from 20.8 per cent to 19.8 per cent as a share of total population during the five years from 2001.
However, the good news is that the Census also provides some evidence that we have turned the corner and that the long-term decline in fertility rates has bottomed. This baby boom of recent years would help rebalance our demographic profile and begin the task of setting us up to address the ageing of the population.
The Census plays a key role in many aspects of our lives. It shows us who we are, where we live and what we do. Many decisions across all levels of government are based on Census data, in applying a variety of economic measures on a per capita basis, maintaining the distribution of electorates across Australia, or looking at the allocation of funding to the States and Territories. Census data is the foundation of our population counts, and gives richness and depth to many of the surveys the ABS conducts.
This Census underscores the need for Australia to take the necessary tough policy decisions required for us to meet the challenges posed by demographic change.
Projected population data shows that the next decade will experience a shrinking taxpayer population. For example, there are currently five people of working age to support each person aged 65 and over. By 2047, there will be only 2.4 people to every person aged 65 and over. This is a result of declining fertility rates since the 1960s and increasing life expectancy.
However, the 2006 Census also reveals that there has been a turnaround in the number of births.
Preliminary figures show that the number of births in Australia in 2006 was 266,000 – the highest number since 1971 and the second highest in Australian history. This is a good thing, because if we are able to increase the number of children and young people in our society over the long term, then it will help us cope with the ageing of the population.
I welcome the release of this data.