Geography Australias population

Australias location (in relation to other countries)

35.3080 S, 149.1245 E
Neighbouring countries
o New Zealand
o Indonesia
o Papua New Guinea
Neighbouring islands
o New Caledonia
o Solomon Islands
o Vanuatu
Australias population in its regional and global context
Most significant age group for males and females is 20-30 years
o Ageing population as number of old people are increasing.
o Lower death rates (people living longer), higher birth rates
o In 2000, there were less people aged over 70
o Lowest crude death rates
o Lowest crude birth rates
o Highest life expectancy
o Children of baby boom are reaching retirement
o Older aged migrants
Fastest growing areas growing in most densely populated areas, eg. fringes of capital cities
such as Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne.
Most Australians live in a coastal narrow strip from Brisbane to Adelaide
o 86% of Australians live in the densest regions of Australia
Australia has one of the lowest population densities in the world; however, from statistics of
2012, it has the largest growth rate per annum (increase of 2.1%)
Highly developed country high exports numbers leads to a high standard of living
Since 1945, immigration from Europe (Greece, Italy) and more recently, Asian countries
has turned Australia into one of the most ethnically diverse countries in world.
o Recently, more Asian immigrants
o Includes (from largest to smallest) Other, New Zealand, UK, HK and Chinese
immigrants
Current population 23.5 million
Indigenous communities are similar in size than that of 2002 i.e. smaller population; less
older-aged people Reasons for population growth
o Natural increase birth rate is higher than death rate
Geography Australias population
o Migration Proportion of population born overseas increased from <10% (1947) to
23% (1996)






Implications
From 1788 to 1988,
nearly half of Australias forest areas have been cleared.
o Caused issues for plants, animals and birds (loss of natural habitat)
o Led to problems such as land degradation and decreased biodiversity and land
clearing
o More funds from government trying to sustain the environment
Increased population and faster growing areas leads to:
o New housing estates
o Shops
o Schools
o Medical services
o Sporting facilities
o Goods and services in direct demand
o Rise in housing prices
o Essential services food and water
o Electricity
o Communications
o Infrastructures
o Transport
o Structure of towns
Impacts of ageing population
o Taxpayers providing more funds for pension
o Governments increasing expenditure in areas of health and welfare for elderly
Migration
o Multicultural society
o Varied cultures, food, values, religions, dispersed within the Australian community
o Many migrants ever since end of World War II
o Governments making decisions to allow migrants with other organisations and
states, for family, skilled or humanitarian reasons: this determines migration levels
that contributes to global development
Geography Australias population
o Difficulty (language barriers)
o Those seeking refuge
o Language can however help commerce and overseas links
Interstate migration
o Due to housing prices
o Job offers
o Less rural areas still in use
Less work
Harsh climate
Isolation
Coast and city much more attractive, especially to older people looking to
settle down
Summary changes of demography
Different ethnic composition
Declining birth rate
Ageing population
Larger Indigenous population
Population overwhelmingly concentrated on the coast
Sustainable population
Rate at which number of inhabitants of given area can increase without overburdening
areas economic, social, natural resources
When population growth exceeds areas carrying capacity, growth is considered
UNSUSTAINABLE, as resources are not sufficient to sustain population
Growth is an ISSUE it will eventually grow to a point where it is unsustainable
o Increased demand for resources, especially essential ones (food, water)
o Effects environment pollution, land clearing
o Many resources are unrenewable

1 birth every 1 minute 45 secs
1 death every 3 minutes and 43 seconds
A net gain of one international migration every 3 minutes and 11 seconds, leading to:
An overall total population increase of one person every 1 minute and 37 seconds





Geography Australias population



Geography Australias population