This month: sugar cane, Indigenous regional statistics and cancer in Australia.

Statistics releases in February 2022

If you are interested in any of the forthcoming releases or datasets, please contact the Parliamentary Library to discuss in more detail.

Please contact the Library if you would like to see further information on any of these releases. Note: Release dates may be subject to change without notice.

New reports

Sugarcane, experimental regional estimates (ABS)

According to the ABS, in 2020:

• Production of sugarcane during the 2020 harvest period grew by 3%.

• Almost 95% of sugarcane production came from Queensland, with just over 5% from New South Wales.

• Sugarcane production in the Cairns Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) region grew by 12% (from 5,626,000 tonnes to 6,305,500 tonnes) between the 2019 and 2020 harvest periods. Production in the Wide Bay SA4 region fell by over 14% (2,238,700 tonnes compared to 2,614,000 tonnes) due to decreased production around Bundaberg.

• Estimates show that the Burdekin and Ingham Statistical Area Level 2 regions are the largest sugarcane producers in tonnes produced, area harvested and number of sugarcane businesses, with Burdekin having 444 sugarcane businesses and Ingham 419.

Regional insights for Indigenous communities (AIHW)

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Regional Insights for Indigenous Communities (RIFIC) website brings together a range of regional statistics about the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. According to AIHW, the aim of the website is ‘to provide access to data at a local level, to help communities set their priorities and participate in joint planning with government and service providers.’

Major topics included: People and communities, Education and work, Mothers and babies, Health risk factors, Health conditions, Life expectancy and mortality and Housing circumstances and health.

Users can also explore national, state/territory and remoteness areas statistics by Life stages (mothers and babies, children, adolescents and youth, adults, older people).

Statistics of the month

Cancer in Australia (AIHW)

According to AIHW:

‘There are over 1 million people alive in Australia who are either currently living with or have lived with cancer. This number is expected to grow over time as both cancer incidence and cancer survival continue to increase. In 2021, it is estimated that 151,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer (excluding basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin), and 49,000 people will die as a result of cancer. Influenced by population growth and older people becoming a larger proportion of the population (Australia’s ageing population), the number of new cases of cancer diagnosed is estimated to increase to 185,000 in 2031.’ In summary:

• In 2021, the Australian population is expected to exceed 26 million, increasing about 36% since 2001. Over the same time, the number of cancer cases diagnosed is estimated to have increased by 67% (90,000 cases in 2001 compared with an estimated 151,000 in 2021).
• In 2021 in Australia, it is estimated that 150,782 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed and 72% of new cancer cases will occur in people aged 60 and over.
• In 2001, colorectal cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. However, age-standardised incidence rates have decreased substantially, and in 2021, colorectal cancer is estimated to be the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer (following breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma of the skin).

Table 1: Estimated 10 most commonly diagnosed cancers among persons in 2021, all ages, 2001 and 2021

Note: ASR refers to age-standardised rate. The rates were age-standardised to the 2001 Australian Standard Population and are expressed per 100,000 population.

Source: AIHW, Cancer in Australia (Canberra, 2021)

Interested in finding out what the latest statistics are telling us about the Australian economy and population?

Each month the Parliamentary Library will publish a Flag Post listing new reports on a wide variety of topics. The list will include important upcoming releases from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as well as other research organisations and government departments.