Victoria's Demography 2004

The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released a Report on Victoria's Demography as at 2004. The population trends highlighted will be of interest to dentists looking at their long term business plans. Selected extracts from the report are presented below.

"At 30 June 2004, the estimated resident population of Victoria was 4,963,000 persons, approximately one-quarter of the Australian population. In 2003-04, Victoria's population increased by 51,500 persons, consisting of natural increase (28,800 persons) and overseas migration (25,000 persons). This was a growth rate of 1.0% compared to a rate of 1.1% for Australia. The states and territories that had the highest rates of growth in 2003-04 were Queensland (2.3%) and Western Australia (1.4%). "

"Between 1993-94 and 2003-04, Victoria's population increased by 475,000 persons, a growth rate of 11% compared to 13% for Australia. In the same period, the highest rates of growth occurred in Queensland (22%), Western Australia (16%) and the Northern Territory (15%). "

"In 2004, the upward trend in life expectancy continued for females and males in Victoria. Females born in 2004 could expect to live an average of 83.3 years compared to 81.1 years for those born in 1994. The corresponding figures for males were 78.5 years (2004) and 75.7 years (1994). The ACT had the highest life expectancies of all the states and territories with females and males born in 2004 expected to live an average of 83.9 years and 79.7 years respectively."

With more of these people keeping most of their natural teeth for life, and with those people presenting with more complex conditions requiring treatment by fully trained dentists, there is increasing pressure on our universities to provide a greater number of new dentists to meet the growing level of demand.