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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in New South Wales was 30 to 34 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2016 was 35 to 39 year olds, increasing by 79,703 people.
The Age Structure of New South Wales provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is also an indicator of New South Wales'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 New South Wales'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 2016 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 467,573 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 464,970 | 6.2 | 6.3 | +2,603 |
| 5 to 9 | 500,133 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 478,201 | 6.4 | 6.4 | +21,932 |
| 10 to 14 | 500,676 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 443,012 | 5.9 | 6.0 | +57,664 |
| 15 to 19 | 457,609 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 448,745 | 6.0 | 6.1 | +8,864 |
| 20 to 24 | 495,681 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 490,585 | 6.6 | 6.7 | +5,096 |
| 25 to 29 | 555,163 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 527,413 | 7.1 | 7.1 | +27,750 |
| 30 to 34 | 585,247 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 540,123 | 7.2 | 7.3 | +45,124 |
| 35 to 39 | 579,261 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 499,558 | 6.7 | 6.7 | +79,703 |
| 40 to 44 | 522,240 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 503,332 | 6.7 | 6.8 | +18,908 |
| 45 to 49 | 516,102 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 492,610 | 6.6 | 6.8 | +23,492 |
| 50 to 54 | 499,242 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 485,089 | 6.5 | 6.5 | +14,153 |
| 55 to 59 | 488,682 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 468,333 | 6.3 | 6.2 | +20,349 |
| 60 to 64 | 469,032 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 417,392 | 5.6 | 5.6 | +51,640 |
| 65 to 69 | 413,026 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 381,142 | 5.1 | 5.1 | +31,884 |
| 70 to 74 | 369,330 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 290,137 | 3.9 | 3.8 | +79,193 |
| 75 to 79 | 266,925 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 216,156 | 2.9 | 2.8 | +50,769 |
| 80 to 84 | 183,013 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 155,196 | 2.1 | 2.0 | +27,817 |
| 85 and over | 183,604 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 167,045 | 2.2 | 2.1 | +16,559 |
| Total population | 8,052,539 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 7,469,039 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +583,500 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of New South Wales in 2021 compared to Australia shows that there was a similar proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) as well as a similar proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 18.2% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 17.6% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.2% and 17.2% respectively for Australia.
There were no major differences between New South Wales and Australia in 2021.
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, New South Wales's population increased by 583,500 people (7.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.52% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 35 to 39 (+79,703 persons)
- 70 to 74 (+79,193 persons)
- 10 to 14 (+57,664 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+51,640 persons)
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