What Are The Trends That Affect Australia's Population

With Australia’s population at approximately 21 million and counting, it is an important challenge for the future of the nation. Over the years, there have been many factors that have affected the Australian population and in the future there will be plenty more. During the post-WWII period, a catchphrase used by politicians and industrialists was ‘populate or perish’, used along with the claim that Australia would not be able to defend itself if under attack. A larger population was argued to help boost the Australian economy. Trends that have affected Australia’s population include population growth, age structure and spacial distribution.

Population growth is an important trend that affects the population of Australia. Over the past 100 years, Australia’s population has boomed. Take, for example, the Australian population of 3.8 million in 1990. By the end of the 20th Century (1999), Australia’s population was 18.9 million. By 2003, the population had risen to 20 million. In the period after World War II,
This trend is evident in the current age structure and is determined to continue well into the future. This ageing population is determined to continue due to declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy. In 2002, the average life expectancy was 35.9 years, however by 2051, life expectancy is estimated to rise to 46 and 49.9 years. Additionally, the proportion of the population under the age of 15 percent was 20% in 2002 and is estimated to drop to 12-15% in 2051. As the ageing population grows, the government must meet the challenges of providing healthcare, nursing homes and other needs of the elderly. The government must also deal with a smaller workforce, as more of the population would be retired, resulting in fewer people working to pay taxes which fund government services for the