New Major in Demography launched in 2020

New in 2020, the Major in Demography aims to equip students to navigate tomorrow's changing society.

Over the next 40 years, Australia will see a great many changes. The number of Australians over the age of 65 will double, as Australians continue to enjoy among the lowest life expectancies in the world. Australians will have children later in life, fewer Australians will be part of the workforce, and migration rates will fluctuate. These and many more changes will have significant implications to our economy, to the way we build our cities, and to the way we raise our families. And these are not changes affecting Australia alone, as countries around the world face similar issues for the future.

The new Major in Demography launched in 2020 at ANU aims to equip future decision makers and policy shapers to identify and understand these tremendous changes.

"I have loved studying demography at the ANU," says William Hugh-Jones. "I took a course in demography, DEMO2001, because I am fascinated with the structure of society and the consequences of population change. The study of demography literally tells us how the world works – it’s pretty cool. What I find most interesting about demography is that I can analyse how economics, culture, and social factors influence the population. And so, studying demography allows me to ask (and answer) some pretty big questions, such as how will Australia’s ageing population impact the economy?"

Demography is fundamental to our understanding of the political, social, and economic transformations happening in society today and what the future might hold. Demographers study populations from around the world, and evaluate how population dynamics are linked to key societal concerns, including migration and conflict, climate change and sustainable development, fertility and changing dimensions of the family, and how health and living longer impact on individuals and societies.

ANU is the leading research university in demography in Australia. Students develop a demographic perspective and toolkit, a fundamental way of understanding and evaluating how populations are linked and change throughout time and space and how they interact with different dimensions of society and the wider environment. A demography degree provides students with an analytical skillset and understanding that is in demand and highly valued by a variety of careers, including policy and market research, health and social issue professions, government departments, and international agencies.

Find out more here: https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/major/demo-maj