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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Regional Australia was 60 to 64 year olds. The group that changed the most since 1996 was 60 to 64 year olds, increasing by 308,198 people.
The Age Structure of Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Australia - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 1996 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 457,454 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 474,937 | 7.4 | 6.9 | -17,483 |
| 5 to 9 | 514,625 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 495,974 | 7.8 | 6.9 | +18,651 |
| 10 to 14 | 538,650 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 497,660 | 7.8 | 7.0 | +40,990 |
| 15 to 19 | 482,718 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 432,874 | 6.8 | 7.2 | +49,844 |
| 20 to 24 | 457,365 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 415,070 | 6.5 | 8.0 | +42,295 |
| 25 to 29 | 505,740 | 5.9 | 7.4 | 435,033 | 6.8 | 8.1 | +70,707 |
| 30 to 34 | 519,968 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 470,856 | 7.4 | 8.1 | +49,112 |
| 35 to 39 | 519,570 | 6.1 | 7.8 | 501,560 | 7.8 | 8.0 | +18,010 |
| 40 to 44 | 492,388 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 466,991 | 7.3 | 7.4 | +25,397 |
| 45 to 49 | 529,275 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 437,755 | 6.8 | 7.2 | +91,520 |
| 50 to 54 | 551,801 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 352,198 | 5.5 | 5.5 | +199,603 |
| 55 to 59 | 567,242 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 304,831 | 4.8 | 4.4 | +262,411 |
| 60 to 64 | 580,502 | 6.8 | 5.3 | 272,304 | 4.3 | 3.6 | +308,198 |
| 65 to 69 | 534,740 | 6.3 | 4.5 | 272,412 | 4.3 | 3.5 | +262,328 |
| 70 to 74 | 484,228 | 5.7 | 4.0 | 232,422 | 3.6 | 3.2 | +251,806 |
| 75 to 79 | 339,453 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 160,113 | 2.5 | 2.3 | +179,340 |
| 80 to 84 | 220,779 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 103,221 | 1.6 | 1.6 | +117,558 |
| 85 and over | 203,411 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 70,498 | 1.1 | 1.2 | +132,913 |
| Total population | 8,499,909 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 6,396,709 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +2,103,200 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Regional Australia in 2021 compared to Greater Capital Cities 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, 17.8% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 21.0% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.5% and 15.4% respectively for Greater Capital Cities.
The major differences between the age structure of Regional Australia and Greater Capital Cities were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 65 to 69 (6.3% compared to 4.5%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (5.7% compared to 4.0%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (6.1% compared to 7.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 35 to 39 (6.1% compared to 7.8%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Regional Australia's population increased by 2,103,200 people (32.9%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.14% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 60 to 64 (+308,198 persons)
- 55 to 59 (+262,411 persons)
- 65 to 69 (+262,328 persons)
- 70 to 74 (+251,806 persons)
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