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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Greater Sydney was 30 to 34 year olds. The group that changed the most since 1996 was 55 to 59 year olds, increasing by 138,980 people.
The Age Structure of Greater Sydney provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is also an indicator of Greater Sydney'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 Greater Sydney'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Sydney - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Regional Australia % | Number | % | Regional Australia % | 1996 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 311,771 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 259,845 | 7.0 | 7.4 | +51,926 |
| 5 to 9 | 327,929 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 253,125 | 6.8 | 7.8 | +74,804 |
| 10 to 14 | 320,601 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 250,666 | 6.8 | 7.8 | +69,935 |
| 15 to 19 | 293,365 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 256,353 | 6.9 | 6.8 | +37,012 |
| 20 to 24 | 341,071 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 292,244 | 7.9 | 6.5 | +48,827 |
| 25 to 29 | 391,848 | 7.5 | 5.9 | 303,445 | 8.2 | 6.8 | +88,403 |
| 30 to 34 | 416,689 | 8.0 | 6.1 | 308,620 | 8.3 | 7.4 | +108,069 |
| 35 to 39 | 412,365 | 7.9 | 6.1 | 299,277 | 8.1 | 7.8 | +113,088 |
| 40 to 44 | 363,449 | 7.0 | 5.8 | 273,038 | 7.4 | 7.3 | +90,411 |
| 45 to 49 | 343,687 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 263,916 | 7.1 | 6.8 | +79,771 |
| 50 to 54 | 321,272 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 207,108 | 5.6 | 5.5 | +114,164 |
| 55 to 59 | 302,006 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 163,026 | 4.4 | 4.8 | +138,980 |
| 60 to 64 | 274,009 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 136,048 | 3.7 | 4.3 | +137,961 |
| 65 to 69 | 232,739 | 4.5 | 6.3 | 132,193 | 3.6 | 4.3 | +100,546 |
| 70 to 74 | 203,383 | 3.9 | 5.7 | 119,350 | 3.2 | 3.6 | +84,033 |
| 75 to 79 | 146,478 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 86,599 | 2.3 | 2.5 | +59,879 |
| 80 to 84 | 102,004 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 58,423 | 1.6 | 1.6 | +43,581 |
| 85 and over | 105,566 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 42,403 | 1.1 | 1.1 | +63,163 |
| Total population | 5,210,232 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 3,705,679 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,504,553 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Greater Sydney in 2021 compared to Regional Australia 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, 18.4% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 15.2% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 17.8% and 21.0% respectively for Regional Australia.
The major differences between the age structure of Greater Sydney and Regional Australia were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (8.0% compared to 6.1%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 35 to 39 (7.9% compared to 6.1%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 65 to 69 (4.5% compared to 6.3%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (3.9% compared to 5.7%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Greater Sydney's population increased by 1,504,553 people (40.6%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.37% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 55 to 59 (+138,980 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+137,961 persons)
- 50 to 54 (+114,164 persons)
- 35 to 39 (+113,088 persons)
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