Population statistics - Australia and world

Population statistics - Australia and world

Population Statistics

Two population data reports have been released recently:

Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2014 from the Australian Bureau of Statistics contains the latest available estimates by age and gender of the resident populations of areas of Australia as at 30 June.  In June 2014 there were 23.5 million people living in Australia, with two thirds of them living in capital cities. 11.7 million were males and 11.8 million were females. 7.5 million people lived in New South Wales, including 4.8 million in Greater Sydney.

2015 Revision of World Population Prospects is the official United Nations population estimates and projections. The main results give key demographic indicators for each development group, income group, major area, region and country for selected periods or dates within 1950-2100. According to this report, the world population reached 7.3 billion as of mid-2015 - an increase of approximately one billion people in the the last twelve years. 60% of the global population lives in Asia, 16% in Africa and 10% in Europe. China and India are the largest countries, having 19% and 18% of the world's total population.

Health and Climate Change - Lancet report

Health and Climate Change - Lancet report

Climate Global health Population

Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health has been published by the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change.  It examines the impacts of climate change on the health of worldwide populations and suggests policy responses. This Commission includes 60 international experts from multidisciplinary fields and its central message is that tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.

Using clean renewable energy sources, energy-efficient buildings and active transport options are considered by the report authors to be particularly important in the effort to reduce air pollution and improve the incidence of heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental illness and respiratory disease.

Program on the Global Demography of Aging - working papers

Program on the Global Demography of Aging - working papers

Aged care Ageing Global health Population

The purpose of the Working Paper Series on global demography and ageing is to share research prior to journal publication and stimulate debate and critical comments. Working papers also give an opportunity to authors to publish longer and more detailed material than can appear in a journal.  All papers go through a review process at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies. 

PGDA’s research focuses on six main themes:

• Measurement of the global patterns of disease, mortality, and morbidity in aging populations
• Social determinants of population health and aging
• Economics of health care provision for the elderly
• Economics of aging (macroeconomics, behavioral and experimental)
• Migration and aging
• Aging and HIV/AIDS

No Longer Just an Inner City Issue: Meeting the Demand for Needles, Syringes and Opioid Replacement Therapies (ORTs) Across Melbourne's Western Suburbs

No Longer Just an Inner City Issue: Meeting the Demand for Needles, Syringes and Opioid Replacement Therapies (ORTs) Across Melbourne's Western Suburbs

Drug addiction Population Public Health

Sufficient access to needles, syringes and opioid replacement therapies (ORTs) across the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, is an important health issue for the people who require these services, the organisations that support their health and welfare and the communities they live in. This document, prepared by HealthWest Partnership, outlines current issues with access to these services in the western metropolitan region and makes recommendations for action. (APO 6 August 2013)

Gambling Problems Amongst the CALD Population of Australia: Hidden, Visible or Not a Problem?

Gambling Problems Amongst the CALD Population of Australia: Hidden, Visible or Not a Problem?

Gambling Population

There have been mixed research results when studying gambling problems in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Australia and internationally. This study, published in the Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, tests the feasibility of using nationally representative General Social Surveys for examining trends and patterns in gambling problems and other life stressors amongst the Australian CALD population. Two surveys were analysed to determine whether the CALD population experienced gambling problems and other life stressors at different levels to the non-CALD population, and to identify, using multivariable models, whether CALD related variables showed evidence of an association with reported gambling problems after adjustment for other covariates. There was no evidence that 2002 estimates of gambling problems were different in CALD and non-CALD populations. In 2006, there was evidence that gambling problems were lower in the CALD population compared with the non-CALD population (1.3% cf. 3.5%). In 2002 multivariable models there was no evidence of an association between CALD status or related variables with gambling problems, after adjustment for other variables. In 2006 multivariable models, there was evidence of an association between being the CALD population (protective), and being born in Oceania or New Zealand (risk) with gambling problems, after adjustment for other variables. The authors of this article are Matthew Stevens and Kate Golebiowska. (APO 20 Feb 2013)

Australia's Welfare 2013 - AIHW

Australia's Welfare 2013 - AIHW

Population Statistics Wellbeing

Australia's Welfare 2013 is the 11th biennial welfare report from the AIHW.  The report provides an overview of the wellbeing of Australians in terms of healthy living, autonomy and participation and social cohesion.  It includes information on:

• population factors underpinning the demand for welfare services
• particular needs and assistance provided to key groups
• resourcing of welfare services in Australia

The data from the report includes the fact that people outside major cities experience several areas of disadvantage in higher death and disability rates and lower education. Australians overall are better educated than ten years ago, adoptions are at their lowest ever level, more children are abused and neglected and house prices are comparatively much higher than in 2002.

A useful companion publication, Australia's welfare 2013 - in brief is also freely available for download.