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AUSTRALIAN POPULATION GRID 2011

Please Note: This publication can be viewed in three formats:



ESRI Grid format -for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) only. GeoTIFF format - for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and in some graphics software. PNG format - for use in any graphics software including those bundled with major operating systems (Microsoft Windows, Apple OS X & iOS).

This release presents the first time population data has been published in 1km² grid format by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The grid displays Usual Resident Population (URP) from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing using 1km² grid cells across Australia. The 1km² resolution of the grid therefore offers a measure of population density for Australia. The data has been modelled from perturbed Mesh Block level URP values.



The grid offers a consistently sized spatial unit and gives a refined model of population distribution, particularly for the non-urban areas of Australia. Another spatial unit, known as Mesh Block, was previously the most detailed geographic unit available. Figure 1 is a population density map using Mesh Blocks. Figure 2 is a population density map using the the 1 km² grid. This release presents the first time population data has been published in 1km² grid format by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The grid displays Usual Resident Population (URP) from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing using 1km² grid cells across Australia. The 1km² resolution of the grid therefore offers a measure of population density for Australia. The data has been modelled from perturbed Mesh Block level URP values.The grid offers a consistently sized spatial unit and gives a refined model of population distribution, particularly for the non-urban areas of Australia. Another spatial unit, known as Mesh Block, was previously the most detailed geographic unit available. Figure 1 is a population density map using Mesh Blocks. Figure 2 is a population density map using the the 1 km² grid.

Figure 1. Mesh Block Population Density August 2011





Figure 2. Population Density 1km² Grid August 2011





Australia's most densely populated residential area in 2011 based on the grid was in Sydney around the suburbs of Potts Point and Woolloomooloo. The 1 km² grid cell covering these suburbs had a usual resident population of 14,747 in 2011. The consistent sized cells of the grid format lend themselves to comparison of regions. Figure 3 compares the population grid for Sydney and Melbourne. It shows that Sydney had more areas in the highest density range shown in the map with 21km² exceeding 8,000 people per square kilometre compared to Melbourne which only had one grid cell exceeding 8,000 people per square kilometre, around the suburb of Carlton. Sydney also had larger and more widely spread areas of the second highest density class with 93km² of between 5,000 and 8,000 people per square kilometre, while Melbourne had 33km² in the same range. Brisbane was the only other capital city to register in these higher density categories with 3km² between 5,000 and 8,000 people per square kilometre.

Figure 3. Population Density 1km² Grid August 2011 - Melbourne and Sydney



Table 1 shows the area within each Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) under 6 population density classes, from no population to very high. These areas are calculated from the Population Grid and the classes are based on the ranges used in Figures 2 and 3. The Brisbane GCCSA had the largest area of very low population density (less than 500 people per square kilometre) at 9,275km² in 2011. This highlights the spread of low density population around Brisbane and also the relatively large extent of the Brisbane GCCSA when compared with other capital cities.

Table 1: Total area in six population density classes in Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (km²). No population Very low Low Medium High Very High (0)* (Less than 500)* (500-2000)* (2000-5000)* (5000-8000)* (More than 8000)* Sydney 6562 4013 890 785 93 21 Melbourne 2742 5376 1013 837 33 1 Brisbane 5459 9275 777 324 3 0 Adelaide 232 2345 441 233 0 0 Perth 2500 2913 711 292 0 0 Hobart 456 1108 120 11 0 0 Darwin 2203 908 48 14 0 0 Canberra 1845 276 206 33 0 0 * people per square kilometre These population density classes have been used for analysis purposes only and are not an ABS standard classification



Figure 4 presents the maximum population density found in each of the Australian capital cities in 2011. Sydney and Melbourne clearly had the highest densities, both exceeding 10,000 people per square kilometre in the most densely populated areas. Brisbane had the next highest density at 6,216 people per square kilometre. Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart had comparable maximum population densities around 3,000 people per square kilometre. Darwin had the lowest value with a maximum density of 2,620 people per square kilometre.

Figure 4. Maximum population density for Australian capital cities August 2011

The 1km² resolution of the grid matches a European population grid for 2011 produced by Eurostat, a Directorate-General of the European Commission. This common resolution enables consistent and equal comparisons between regions and cities in Australia and Europe. Figure 5 compares the population grids for Sydney, Australia and London, England. London had significantly higher population density over a much larger area compared to Sydney. London had a maximum population density of 20,477 people per square kilometre in 2011.

Figure 5. Population Density 1km² Grid 2011 - Sydney and London





Some of the advantages the grid format provides are:

· it enables accurate comparison with other countries using grid based measures of population and population density; · it offers greater spatial accuracy in rural regions where traditional geographies are very large; and · it enables accurate and efficient integration of population data with other data traditionally produced in grid format such as environmental datasets.

Figure 4 presents the maximum population density found in each of the Australian capital cities in 2011. Sydney and Melbourne clearly had the highest densities, both exceeding 10,000 people per square kilometre in the most densely populated areas. Brisbane had the next highest density at 6,216 people per square kilometre. Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart had comparable maximum population densities around 3,000 people per square kilometre. Darwin had the lowest value with a maximum density of 2,620 people per square kilometre.The 1km² resolution of the grid matches a European population grid for 2011 produced by Eurostat, a Directorate-General of the European Commission. This common resolution enables consistent and equal comparisons between regions and cities in Australia and Europe. Figure 5 compares the population grids for Sydney, Australia and London, England. London had significantly higher population density over a much larger area compared to Sydney. London had a maximum population density of 20,477 people per square kilometre in 2011.Some of the advantages the grid format provides are: The grid files in GeoTIFF format and ESRI Grid format are for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and are located in the 'Downloads' tab of this publication. These GIS files are aligned to the National Nested Grid (NNG) standard for Australia. The PNG file is also available in the 'Downloads' tab of this publication.



