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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Australia was 30 to 34 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2006 was 70 to 74 year olds, increasing by 544,718 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.
Q:
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
| Age structure - Five year age groups | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2006 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Northern Territory % | Number | % | Northern Territory % | 2006 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 1,463,817 | 5.8 | 7.0 | 1,260,399 | 6.3 | 8.3 | +203,418 |
| 5 to 9 | 1,586,139 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 1,308,865 | 6.6 | 8.4 | +277,274 |
| 10 to 14 | 1,588,059 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 1,367,942 | 6.9 | 8.1 | +220,117 |
| 15 to 19 | 1,457,803 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 1,356,907 | 6.8 | 7.5 | +100,896 |
| 20 to 24 | 1,579,546 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 1,347,373 | 6.8 | 7.8 | +232,173 |
| 25 to 29 | 1,771,677 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 1,276,926 | 6.4 | 8.1 | +494,751 |
| 30 to 34 | 1,853,085 | 7.3 | 9.4 | 1,399,465 | 7.0 | 8.5 | +453,620 |
| 35 to 39 | 1,838,819 | 7.2 | 8.3 | 1,466,180 | 7.4 | 8.4 | +372,639 |
| 40 to 44 | 1,648,843 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 1,471,658 | 7.4 | 7.8 | +177,185 |
| 45 to 49 | 1,635,952 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 1,446,727 | 7.3 | 7.3 | +189,225 |
| 50 to 54 | 1,610,939 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 1,315,791 | 6.6 | 6.4 | +295,148 |
| 55 to 59 | 1,541,915 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 1,234,599 | 6.2 | 5.2 | +307,316 |
| 60 to 64 | 1,468,103 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 958,079 | 4.8 | 3.4 | +510,024 |
| 65 to 69 | 1,298,463 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 757,386 | 3.8 | 2.1 | +541,077 |
| 70 to 74 | 1,160,775 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 616,057 | 3.1 | 1.2 | +544,718 |
| 75 to 79 | 821,915 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 543,607 | 2.7 | 0.8 | +278,308 |
| 80 to 84 | 554,599 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 404,479 | 2.0 | 0.4 | +150,120 |
| 85 and over | 542,340 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 322,847 | 1.6 | 0.3 | +219,493 |
| Total population | 25,422,789 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 19,855,287 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +5,567,502 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Australia in 2021 compared to Northern Territory 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, 18.2% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 17.2% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 21.0% and 8.9% respectively for Northern Territory.
The major differences between the age structure of Australia and Northern Territory were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (4.6% compared to 2.6%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 75 to 79 (3.2% compared to 1.4%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (7.3% compared to 9.4%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 25 to 29 (7.0% compared to 9.0%)
Emerging groups
From 2006 to 2021, Australia's population increased by 5,567,502 people (28.0%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.66% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2006 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 70 to 74 (+544,718 persons)
- 65 to 69 (+541,077 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+510,024 persons)
- 25 to 29 (+494,751 persons)
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