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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the largest age group in Greater Melbourne was 30 to 34 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2001 was 35 to 39 year olds, increasing by 126,659 people.
The Age Structure of Greater Melbourne 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 Melbourne'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 Melbourne'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 Melbourne - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2001 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | New South Wales % | Number | % | New South Wales % | 2001 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 290,649 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 218,748 | 6.4 | 6.6 | +71,901 |
| 5 to 9 | 307,523 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 229,184 | 6.7 | 7.1 | +78,339 |
| 10 to 14 | 293,410 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 226,979 | 6.7 | 7.1 | +66,431 |
| 15 to 19 | 274,698 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 232,663 | 6.8 | 7.1 | +42,035 |
| 20 to 24 | 328,543 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 244,913 | 7.2 | 6.6 | +83,630 |
| 25 to 29 | 383,135 | 7.8 | 7.0 | 260,443 | 7.6 | 7.0 | +122,692 |
| 30 to 34 | 405,556 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 279,494 | 8.2 | 7.5 | +126,062 |
| 35 to 39 | 395,798 | 8.0 | 7.2 | 269,139 | 7.9 | 7.6 | +126,659 |
| 40 to 44 | 339,303 | 6.9 | 6.5 | 260,654 | 7.7 | 7.7 | +78,649 |
| 45 to 49 | 320,361 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 235,824 | 6.9 | 7.0 | +84,537 |
| 50 to 54 | 308,742 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 221,240 | 6.5 | 6.7 | +87,502 |
| 55 to 59 | 277,976 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 170,274 | 5.0 | 5.2 | +107,702 |
| 60 to 64 | 252,005 | 5.1 | 5.8 | 136,696 | 4.0 | 4.2 | +115,309 |
| 65 to 69 | 215,194 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 115,867 | 3.4 | 3.5 | +99,327 |
| 70 to 74 | 189,829 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 109,078 | 3.2 | 3.3 | +80,751 |
| 75 to 79 | 137,469 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 89,542 | 2.6 | 2.7 | +47,927 |
| 80 to 84 | 97,528 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 56,963 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +40,565 |
| 85 and over | 100,021 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 47,920 | 1.4 | 1.4 | +52,101 |
| Total population | 4,917,740 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 3,405,621 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,512,119 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to New South Wales shows that there was a similar proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 18.1% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 15.0% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.2% and 17.2% respectively for New South Wales.
The major differences between the age structure of Greater Melbourne and New South Wales were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (8.2% compared to 7.3%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 25 to 29 (7.8% compared to 7.0%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 35 to 39 (8.0% compared to 7.2%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 65 to 69 (4.4% compared to 5.1%)
Emerging groups
From 2001 to 2021, Greater Melbourne's population increased by 1,512,119 people (44.4%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.85% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2001 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 35 to 39 (+126,659 persons)
- 30 to 34 (+126,062 persons)
- 25 to 29 (+122,692 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+115,309 persons)
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