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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Western Australia was 35 to 39 year olds. The group that changed the most since 1996 was 60 to 64 year olds, increasing by 90,013 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 (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 1996 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 161,834 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 123,283 | 7.2 | 7.1 | +38,551 |
| 5 to 9 | 173,131 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 130,124 | 7.6 | 7.2 | +43,007 |
| 10 to 14 | 171,758 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 131,591 | 7.7 | 7.3 | +40,167 |
| 15 to 19 | 153,141 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 125,467 | 7.3 | 7.0 | +27,674 |
| 20 to 24 | 158,633 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 130,258 | 7.6 | 7.4 | +28,375 |
| 25 to 29 | 176,318 | 6.6 | 7.0 | 132,703 | 7.7 | 7.6 | +43,615 |
| 30 to 34 | 196,675 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 135,912 | 7.9 | 7.8 | +60,763 |
| 35 to 39 | 201,607 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 139,199 | 8.1 | 8.0 | +62,408 |
| 40 to 44 | 179,445 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 132,383 | 7.7 | 7.4 | +47,062 |
| 45 to 49 | 175,265 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 123,690 | 7.2 | 7.1 | +51,575 |
| 50 to 54 | 174,412 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 92,036 | 5.4 | 5.5 | +82,376 |
| 55 to 59 | 163,706 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 74,564 | 4.4 | 4.5 | +89,142 |
| 60 to 64 | 152,063 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 62,050 | 3.6 | 3.9 | +90,013 |
| 65 to 69 | 133,812 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 58,111 | 3.4 | 3.8 | +75,701 |
| 70 to 74 | 116,155 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 48,098 | 2.8 | 3.3 | +68,057 |
| 75 to 79 | 78,215 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 32,996 | 1.9 | 2.3 | +45,219 |
| 80 to 84 | 53,098 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 23,266 | 1.4 | 1.6 | +29,832 |
| 85 and over | 50,090 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 17,272 | 1.0 | 1.1 | +32,818 |
| Total population | 2,669,358 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,713,003 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +956,355 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Western Australia in 2021 compared to 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, 19.0% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 16.2% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.2% and 17.2% respectively for Australia.
There were no major differences between Western Australia and Australia in 2021.
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Western Australia's population increased by 956,355 people (55.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.79% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 60 to 64 (+90,013 persons)
- 55 to 59 (+89,142 persons)
- 50 to 54 (+82,376 persons)
- 65 to 69 (+75,701 persons)
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