Australia's population to double to 46 million by 2075: ABS

Australia's population is projected to double to 46 million by 2075, according to the latest population projections released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Tuesday.

Population projections are based on assumptions of future levels of fertility, life expectancy and migration, which are guided by recent population trends.

According to a statement of the ABS based on these projections, with medium growth, Australian population will double to 46 million by the year 2075, but under Australia's high and low scenarios it could be as early as 2058 or after 2101.

Bjorn Jarvis, director of Demography at the ABS, confirmed that highlights from the ABS projections include Perth overtaking Brisbane in 2028, at 3 million people, and then 10 years later, the Australian Capital Territory overtaking Tasmania. Tasmania's population is projected to level out by around 2040 and then fall slightly from 2047 onwards.

He also said that Melbourne and Sydney should be neck and neck by 2053, with 7.9 million people each.

"By 2040, Western Australia's population is projected to almost double in size, from 2.4 million people in 2012 to 4.7 million. Queensland will have gone from 4.6 million people to 7.3 million, and the Australian Capital Territory will have grown from 375,000 people to 586,000," he added.

And according to Jarvis, the population of the Northern Territory is projected to grow from 240,000 people in 2012 to 360, 000 people in 2040, Victoria 5.6 million to 8.4 million, New South Wales 7.3 million to 9.9 million, South Australia 1.7 million to 2. 1 million and Tasmania 510,000 to 570,000.

In addition, the number of people aged 65 and over is projected to double, from 3.2 million people, (14 percent of the population) in 2012 to 6.8 million (20 percent) by 2040.

Similarly, the number of people aged 85 years and over is projected to almost triple by 2040, increasing by 770,000 people to reach 1.2 million in 2040. By then, people aged 85 years or over will make up 4 percent of Australia's population, compared to only 2 percent in 2012.

"The ageing of Australia's population as a result of sustained low fertility, combined with increasing life expectancy is likely to continue. In 2012 Australia's median age was 37 years old, by 2040, it could be 40.5 years." Jarvis said.