One born every minute as Australia reaches 23 million

Today, 23 April 2013, Australia’s population reached 23 million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

According to the Canberra Times, in 1918 the population was just 5 million. Each year the population grew at an average of 1.7%, with the state of Western Australia increasing greater than the national rate (at 3.4%). Making up the 1.7% growth, or 1,048 people per day, is one birth every one minute and 44 seconds and a new arrival from overseas every 2 minutes and 23 seconds, minus a death every 3 minutes and 32 seconds. That equates to a population increase of one person every minute and 23 seconds. This represents the fastest growth rate in the developed world. This compares to a growth rate of 0.9% in the United States, 0.6% in the United Kingdom, and 1.4% in India. Globally, the rate of growth is 1.1%.

Australia’s increase is largely made up of migrants, which were predominantly male in the early years. By 1979 there were more women than men arriving in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) maintains the growth rate is mainly due to migration rather than elevated birth rates. The net overseas migration accounted for 60% of Australia’s population increase in 2012. The upward trend in migration is due to the number of people on temporary visas (people on working holidays, visitors, or New Zealanders) who make up about half of the growth in net migration. Australia has no cap (ceiling) on the number of people that can take a working holiday—and most working holiday makers are from Ireland, Taiwan, and England. Even permanent arrivals (66% in 2012—which is 488,100 people) were on some kind of working visa, with 30% on family visas and 7% on humanitarian visas.

The proportion of births decreased from 46% to 40%, although the average number of children per women has remained relatively stable at about 1.9 children. Despite the downward trend, births still hit a record high in 2012, surpassing 300,000 for the first time. Last year Australia recorded twice as many births (303,600) than deaths (149,100).

From 5 million in 1918, the population reached 10 million in 1959, 15 million in 1982, and 20 million in 2003. The ABS predicts that by 2028 there will be more people aged over 60 years than those below 20 years. And in 30 years (by 2043) there will be almost 35 million people in Australia.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/data-point/23million

Comments

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog