The Numbers
Spoiler alert!
This section shows how many of the components in Spotlight were calculated, just in case you were wondering where our numbers come from. However, its a lot more fun to have a play with Spotlight itself than to read this list, so if you haven't already, check it out first!
The majority of calculations used in Spotlight are based on Australian Census Data - primarily from the 2006 Census. All Census data has been randomised to protect people's individual information.
So, if you were wondering how we worked out the various calculations in Spotlight, here's a breakdown:
Back to topYour World
Global population has been calculated based on the US Census Bureau World Population Clock (which uses a formula to estimate the current global population)
Back to topYour Country
Australia's current population has been calculated based on the Australian Population Clock, which uses a formula to estimate the current population of Australia. The population clock estimates that a new person is addded to Australia's population every minute and thirty-seven seconds. You can find out more about Australia's population clock here.
Approximate world population counts are based on 6,952,589,639 (August projection).
Back to topWhere you live
The population of your state is based on 2006 Census Data
Calculating the time taken to shake hands with everyone in your state allows for five seconds for each handshake. It also shows the total time without allowing for time to sleep, eat meals or take toilet breaks, which could extend things considerably.
The population of your postcode is based on 2006 Census Data. The number of buses required to move everyone in your postcode is calculated assuming that 58 people can ride on a standard bus.
Back to topYour Age
The amount of the population that shares your age - as well as the proportion of men and women - is based on 2006 Census Data. The seating capacity of the MCG is 95,000. You can find out more here.
The number of people that share your birthday is an esitmate calculated by dividing the number of people who share your age by 365. Spotlight doesn't ask for your exact birthdate for privacy reasons, and so the calculation cannot tell whether or not you were born in a leap year.
The birthday cake ingredients calculations are based on a recipe that you can find here. Not all ingredients of the cake were used for this example.
Population age projections have been calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This is a projection based on current trends, rather than a definitive set of numbers. You can find out more information about projected population trends here.
Back to topWhere you're from
Country of origin statistics have been calculated based on 2006 Census Data.
Non-respondents to this question have been excluded from percentage calculations.
Information about ancestry is also based on 2006 Census Data.
What you do
In this component, Spotlight will show different pieces of content, based on whether you are currently working, a student, or retired, unemployed or not in the labour force.
If you selected working: Information about the number of people who do the same job as you - and what everyone else does for a living - is based on 2006 Census Data. The amount of time that everyone who does your job collectively works for in a standard day is calculated based on an eight hour work day.
If you selected student: Information about the number of people who are the same kind of student as you is based on 2006 Census Data. The size of a classroom or lecturehall big enough to hold you all assumes that each student requires 2 square metres of classroom space.
If you selected unemployed, retired or not in the labour force: Information about the number of hours unpaid domestic work completed by each person is based on 2006 Census Data. This information is then used to calculate the collective number of hours spent each week on unpaid domestic work. This estimate is rounded to the nearest million. This calculation includes unpaid domestic work done by all persons over the age of 15 regardless of their employment or student status
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