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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 1991 was 55 to 59 year olds, increasing by 837,329 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 (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1991 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 1991 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 1,463,810 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 1,262,783 | 7.5 | 7.2 | +201,027 |
| 5 to 9 | 1,586,129 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 1,256,059 | 7.5 | 7.1 | +330,070 |
| 10 to 14 | 1,588,058 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 1,245,657 | 7.4 | 7.2 | +342,401 |
| 15 to 19 | 1,457,808 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 1,314,229 | 7.8 | 8.0 | +143,579 |
| 20 to 24 | 1,579,539 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 1,343,396 | 8.0 | 8.5 | +236,143 |
| 25 to 29 | 1,771,675 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 1,335,574 | 7.9 | 8.2 | +436,101 |
| 30 to 34 | 1,853,088 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 1,386,903 | 8.2 | 8.3 | +466,185 |
| 35 to 39 | 1,838,828 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 1,292,505 | 7.7 | 7.7 | +546,323 |
| 40 to 44 | 1,648,855 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 1,261,676 | 7.5 | 7.7 | +387,179 |
| 45 to 49 | 1,635,963 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 1,000,949 | 5.9 | 6.1 | +635,014 |
| 50 to 54 | 1,610,944 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 820,618 | 4.9 | 4.9 | +790,326 |
| 55 to 59 | 1,541,911 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 704,582 | 4.2 | 4.1 | +837,329 |
| 60 to 64 | 1,468,095 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 715,223 | 4.2 | 4.0 | +752,872 |
| 65 to 69 | 1,298,458 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 651,746 | 3.9 | 3.7 | +646,712 |
| 70 to 74 | 1,160,769 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 501,234 | 3.0 | 2.9 | +659,535 |
| 75 to 79 | 821,919 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 376,723 | 2.2 | 2.2 | +445,196 |
| 80 to 84 | 554,606 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 225,323 | 1.3 | 1.3 | +329,283 |
| 85 and over | 542,334 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 152,078 | 0.9 | 0.9 | +390,256 |
| Total population | 25,422,789 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 16,847,258 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +8,575,531 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Australia in 2021 compared to Greater Capital Cities shows that there was a similar 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 18.5% and 15.4% respectively for Greater Capital Cities.
The major differences between the age structure of Australia and Greater Capital Cities were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 65 to 69 (5.1% compared to 4.5%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (4.6% compared to 4.0%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (7.3% compared to 7.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 35 to 39 (7.2% compared to 7.8%)
Emerging groups
From 1991 to 2021, Australia's population increased by 8,575,531 people (50.9%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.38% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 1991 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 55 to 59 (+837,329 persons)
- 50 to 54 (+790,326 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+752,872 persons)
- 70 to 74 (+659,535 persons)
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