Australia
Five year age groups
In 2021, the largest age group in Australia was 30 to 34 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2001 was 60 to 64 year olds, increasing by 679,087 people.
The Age Structure of 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 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 Australia's Age Structure should be viewed in conjunction with Household Types and Dwelling Types.
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
Total population
| Age structure - Five year age groups | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2001 | Change | |||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Regional SA % | Number | % | Regional SA % | 2001 to 2021 | |
| 0 to 4 | 1,463,810 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 1,243,974 | 6.6 | 6.6 | +219,836 | 2001 |
| 5 to 9 | 1,586,129 | 6.2 | 5.6 | 1,331,941 | 7.1 | 7.5 | +254,188 | 2002 |
| 10 to 14 | 1,588,058 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 1,336,583 | 7.1 | 7.5 | +251,475 | 2003 |
| 15 to 19 | 1,457,808 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 1,325,262 | 7.1 | 6.4 | +132,546 | 2004 |
| 20 to 24 | 1,579,539 | 6.2 | 4.6 | 1,241,082 | 6.6 | 4.8 | +338,457 | 2005 |
| 25 to 29 | 1,771,675 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 1,318,958 | 7.0 | 5.7 | +452,717 | 2006 |
| 30 to 34 | 1,853,088 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 1,404,239 | 7.5 | 6.7 | +448,849 | 2007 |
| 35 to 39 | 1,838,828 | 7.2 | 5.5 | 1,431,632 | 7.6 | 7.5 | +407,196 | 2008 |
| 40 to 44 | 1,648,855 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 1,436,648 | 7.7 | 7.8 | +212,207 | 2009 |
| 45 to 49 | 1,635,963 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 1,319,852 | 7.0 | 7.2 | +316,111 | 2010 |
| 50 to 54 | 1,610,944 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 1,248,475 | 6.7 | 6.9 | +362,469 | 2011 |
| 55 to 59 | 1,541,911 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 970,738 | 5.2 | 5.8 | +571,173 | 2012 |
| 60 to 64 | 1,468,095 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 789,008 | 4.2 | 5.0 | +679,087 | 2013 |
| 65 to 69 | 1,298,458 | 5.1 | 7.3 | 660,588 | 3.5 | 4.2 | +637,870 | 2014 |
| 70 to 74 | 1,160,769 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 619,583 | 3.3 | 3.9 | +541,186 | 2015 |
| 75 to 79 | 821,919 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 504,645 | 2.7 | 3.0 | +317,274 | 2016 |
| 80 to 84 | 554,606 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 323,364 | 1.7 | 2.0 | +231,242 | 2017 |
| 85 and over | 542,334 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 262,693 | 1.4 | 1.6 | +279,641 | 2018 |
| Total population | 25,422,789 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 18,769,265 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +6,653,524 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2001 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Australia in 2021 compared to Regional SA shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 18.2% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 17.2% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 16.5% and 24.6% respectively for Regional SA.
The major differences between the age structure of Australia and Regional SA were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (7.3% compared to 5.5%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 65 to 69 (5.1% compared to 7.3%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (4.6% compared to 6.7%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 60 to 64 (5.8% compared to 7.7%)
Emerging groups
From 2001 to 2021, Australia's population increased by 6,653,524 people (35.4%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.53% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2001 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 60 to 64 (+679,087 persons)
- 65 to 69 (+637,870 persons)
- 55 to 59 (+571,173 persons)
- 70 to 74 (+541,186 persons)