The population of Tasmania was 485,263 in 2005, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Tasmania's population saw small but steady growth at a rate of about 0.8% per year in the early 1980's. It then slowed to a virtual stop, and declined into the 1990's, due in part to persistently high unemployment.

In recent years, population growth has mirrored an improved economy. The average annual growth rate since 1996 has been 0.9%.

Approximately 20% of the population is under age 15 (in line with the Australian average) and 14% is over age 65 (slightly above the Australian average). In the past 20 years, the average age of Tasmania's population increased by 5.5 years, a quicker rate than the rest of Australia, going from slightly below the national average in the early 1980's to a full year above the national average in 2005.

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Last reviewed 2006-08-06 12:44:23