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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in South Australia was 35 to 39 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2016 was 70 to 74 year olds, increasing by 22,358 people.
The Age Structure of South Australia provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is also an indicator of South Australia's residential role and function and how it is likely to change in the future.
Five year age groups present a classic age profile of the population. Each age group covers exactly five years, which enables direct comparison between each group.
To get a more complete picture South Australia's Age Structure should be viewed in conjunction with Household Types and Dwelling Types.
Q:
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
| Age structure - Five year age groups | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Western Australia % | Number | % | Western Australia % | 2016 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 94,191 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 96,797 | 5.8 | 6.5 | -2,606 |
| 5 to 9 | 103,661 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 100,162 | 6.0 | 6.6 | +3,499 |
| 10 to 14 | 105,050 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 95,234 | 5.7 | 6.1 | +9,816 |
| 15 to 19 | 99,013 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 100,363 | 6.0 | 6.0 | -1,350 |
| 20 to 24 | 108,673 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 107,444 | 6.5 | 6.4 | +1,229 |
| 25 to 29 | 116,831 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 106,673 | 6.4 | 7.5 | +10,158 |
| 30 to 34 | 117,889 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 110,137 | 6.6 | 7.8 | +7,752 |
| 35 to 39 | 118,805 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 102,225 | 6.2 | 7.0 | +16,580 |
| 40 to 44 | 107,464 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 106,039 | 6.4 | 7.0 | +1,425 |
| 45 to 49 | 109,536 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 112,831 | 6.8 | 7.0 | -3,295 |
| 50 to 54 | 114,407 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 112,303 | 6.8 | 6.6 | +2,104 |
| 55 to 59 | 113,671 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 110,474 | 6.7 | 6.1 | +3,197 |
| 60 to 64 | 111,752 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 100,282 | 6.0 | 5.4 | +11,470 |
| 65 to 69 | 100,817 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 93,464 | 5.6 | 4.8 | +7,353 |
| 70 to 74 | 92,698 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 70,340 | 4.2 | 3.4 | +22,358 |
| 75 to 79 | 66,203 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 52,635 | 3.2 | 2.5 | +13,568 |
| 80 to 84 | 45,388 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 38,789 | 2.3 | 1.7 | +6,599 |
| 85 and over | 47,195 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 44,242 | 2.7 | 1.7 | +2,953 |
| Total population | 1,773,244 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,660,434 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +112,810 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of South Australia in 2021 compared to Western Australia shows that there was a lower proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) and a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 17.1% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 19.9% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 19.0% and 16.2% respectively for Western Australia.
The major differences between the age structure of South Australia and Western Australia were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (5.2% compared to 4.4%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 75 to 79 (3.7% compared to 2.9%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 85 and over (2.7% compared to 1.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 35 to 39 (6.7% compared to 7.6%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, South Australia's population increased by 112,810 people (6.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.32% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 70 to 74 (+22,358 persons)
- 35 to 39 (+16,580 persons)
- 75 to 79 (+13,568 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+11,470 persons)
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