107,361 ▲ +12.2%
Higher than 59% of section of state areas.
- 2011: 95,671
- 2016: 98,715
- 2021: 107,361
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Rural Balance · Section of State
Demographics & Identity in Rural Balance
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
Over half of the people in Rural Balance are married, reflecting a community with a strong focus on family ties. The area has grown by 12% since 2011 to reach 107,361 people, though the population is becoming noticeably older. This shift is clear in the typical resident's age, which is now 46.
107,361
▲ +12.2%
- 1–2: 3 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–5: 0 areas
- 5–9: 0 areas
- 9–16: 2 areas
- 16–28: 1 area
- 28–49: 1 area
- 49–85: 0 areas
- 85–149: 1 area
- 149–260: 1 area
- 260–453: 0 areas
- 453–789: 4 areas
- 789–1,376: 2 areas
- 1,376–2,399: 1 area
- 2,399–4,182: 3 areas
- 4,182–7,292: 0 areas
- 7,292–12,713: 3 areas
- 12,713–22,166: 1 area
- 22,166–38,647: 3 areas
- 38,647–67,381: 3 areas
- 67,381–117,481: 2 areas
- 117,481–204,831: 6 areas
- 204,831–357,126: 2 areas
- 357,126–622,657: 5 areas
- 622,657–1,085,615: 2 areas
- 1,085,615–1,892,791: 2 areas
- 1,892,791–3,300,120: 1 area
- 3,300,120–5,753,827: 3 areas
All section of state areas, 2021. The marker is Rural Balance — higher than 59% of areas.
| Rural Balance | 107,361 |
|---|---|
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population reached 107,361 people in 2021, making it larger than about 60% of similar areas. The typical resident is now 46, which is far older than the national figure of 38 and three years older than in 2011.
46 yrs ▲ +7.0%
Older than 79% of section of state areas.
- 2011: 43 yrs
- 2016: 46 yrs
- 2021: 46 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
A growing number of seniors live here, with those aged 65 and over making up 20.2% of the population—well above the Australian figure. Meanwhile, children under 15 fell to 16.7%, which is a little below the national average.
20.2% ▲ +55.2%
Higher than 69% of section of state areas.
- 2011: 13.0%
- 2016: 17.5%
- 2021: 20.2%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
16.7% ▼ -15.5%
Lower than 58% of section of state areas.
- 2011: 19.8%
- 2016: 17.8%
- 2021: 16.7%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →In Rural Balance, the largest group is Older adults (45–64) at 32%, followed by Young adults (25–44) (21%) and Seniors (65+) (20%).
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
People in de facto relationships make up 14.8% of the population, which is well above the national figure. Additionally, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people rose to 5.7%, slightly higher than the Australian average.
5.7% ▲ +41.4%
Higher than 53% of section of state areas.
- 2011: 4.0%
- 2016: 4.8%
- 2021: 5.7%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
14.8% ▲ +22.0%
Higher than 82% of section of state areas.
- 2011: 12.1%
- 2016: 13.1%
- 2021: 14.8%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →In Rural Balance, Married is the majority at 51%; Never married is next at 32%.
Age & sex structure
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Rural Balance
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Demographics & Identity in Rural Balance [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sos/SOS63/rural-balance/topic/demographics-identity