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AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Five year age groups

In 2021, the largest age group in Western Australia was 35 to 39 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2016 was 70 to 74 year olds, increasing by 32,285 people.

The Age Structure of Western 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 Western 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 Western 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
Western Australia - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Five year age groups (years)Number%Regional NSW %Number%Regional NSW %2016 to 2021
0 to 4161,7536.15.5161,7276.55.8+26
5 to 9172,6546.56.1164,1536.66.4+8,501
10 to 14171,3776.46.3150,8066.16.1+20,571
15 to 19153,2635.85.7149,9976.16.0+3,266
20 to 24158,8176.05.4160,3326.55.6-1,515
25 to 29176,0456.65.7184,9087.55.5-8,863
30 to 34196,3127.45.9194,2677.95.5+2,045
35 to 39200,9047.65.9173,0417.05.4+27,863
40 to 44178,5896.75.6171,9967.06.1+6,593
45 to 49174,6326.66.1172,5207.06.4+2,112
50 to 54173,6226.56.2162,4386.66.8+11,184
55 to 59162,7786.16.6149,8996.17.1+12,879
60 to 64150,6675.76.9132,1455.36.7+18,522
65 to 69132,1865.06.4116,7554.76.4+15,431
70 to 74115,1964.35.982,9113.45.0+32,285
75 to 7978,0122.94.361,5092.53.7+16,503
80 to 8453,1152.02.942,5901.72.6+10,525
85 and over50,1061.92.842,4201.72.7+7,686
Total population2,660,028100.0100.02,474,414100.0100.0+185,614
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the five year age groups of Western Australia in 2021 compared to Regional NSW 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, 19.0% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 16.1% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 17.9% and 22.2% respectively for Regional NSW.

The major differences between the age structure of Western Australia and Regional NSW were:

  • A larger percentage of persons aged 35 to 39 (7.6% compared to 5.9%)
  • A larger percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (7.4% compared to 5.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (4.3% compared to 5.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons aged 65 to 69 (5.0% compared to 6.4%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Western Australia's population increased by 185,614 people (7.5%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.46% per year over the period.

The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:

  • 70 to 74 (+32,285 persons)
  • 35 to 39 (+27,863 persons)
  • 10 to 14 (+20,571 persons)
  • 60 to 64 (+18,522 persons)

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