Powered by .id (informed decisions) for Australia
.id community is an evidence base for over 250 local government areas in Australia and New Zealand, helping you make informed decisions.
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 2016 was 35 to 39 year olds, increasing by 70,479 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 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Victoria % | Number | % | Victoria % | 2016 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 290,649 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 287,178 | 6.4 | 6.3 | +3,471 |
| 5 to 9 | 307,523 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 278,506 | 6.2 | 6.2 | +29,017 |
| 10 to 14 | 293,410 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 254,017 | 5.7 | 5.8 | +39,393 |
| 15 to 19 | 274,698 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 269,015 | 6.0 | 6.0 | +5,683 |
| 20 to 24 | 328,543 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 333,367 | 7.4 | 7.0 | -4,824 |
| 25 to 29 | 383,135 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 362,435 | 8.1 | 7.4 | +20,700 |
| 30 to 34 | 405,556 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 367,913 | 8.2 | 7.6 | +37,643 |
| 35 to 39 | 395,798 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 325,319 | 7.3 | 6.8 | +70,479 |
| 40 to 44 | 339,303 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 313,768 | 7.0 | 6.8 | +25,535 |
| 45 to 49 | 320,361 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 307,580 | 6.9 | 6.8 | +12,781 |
| 50 to 54 | 308,742 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 279,728 | 6.2 | 6.4 | +29,014 |
| 55 to 59 | 277,976 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 255,824 | 5.7 | 6.0 | +22,152 |
| 60 to 64 | 252,005 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 221,078 | 4.9 | 5.4 | +30,927 |
| 65 to 69 | 215,194 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 197,002 | 4.4 | 4.9 | +18,192 |
| 70 to 74 | 189,829 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 147,281 | 3.3 | 3.7 | +42,548 |
| 75 to 79 | 137,469 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 112,832 | 2.5 | 2.8 | +24,637 |
| 80 to 84 | 97,528 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 83,219 | 1.9 | 2.0 | +14,309 |
| 85 and over | 100,021 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 89,151 | 2.0 | 2.2 | +10,870 |
| Total population | 4,917,740 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 4,485,213 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +432,527 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to Victoria 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 18.0% and 16.8% respectively for Victoria.
The major differences between the age structure of Greater Melbourne and Victoria were:
- A larger percentage of persons aged 30 to 34 (8.2% compared to 7.7%)
- A larger percentage of persons aged 35 to 39 (8.0% compared to 7.5%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 65 to 69 (4.4% compared to 4.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (3.9% compared to 4.4%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, Greater Melbourne's population increased by 432,527 people (9.6%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.86% 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 (+70,479 persons)
- 70 to 74 (+42,548 persons)
- 10 to 14 (+39,393 persons)
- 30 to 34 (+37,643 persons)
DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.
Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.
ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.