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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, New South Wales had higher proportion of children (under 18) and a lower proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Tasmania.
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 an indicator of New South Wales's residential role and function and how it is likely to change in the future.
Service age groups divide the population into age categories that reflect typical life-stages. They indicate the level of demand for services that target people at different stages in life and how that demand is changing.
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 - Service age groups | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Tasmania % | Number | % | Tasmania % | 1996 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 467,573 | 5.8 | 5.1 | 427,690 | 7.1 | 7.3 | +39,883 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 701,765 | 8.7 | 8.0 | 601,018 | 10.0 | 10.7 | +100,747 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 578,124 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 506,840 | 8.5 | 9.2 | +71,284 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 674,204 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 598,471 | 10.0 | 9.5 | +75,733 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 1,140,407 | 14.2 | 13.9 | 918,489 | 15.3 | 14.3 | +221,918 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 1,617,599 | 20.1 | 17.9 | 1,334,856 | 22.3 | 22.6 | +282,743 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 987,926 | 12.3 | 13.1 | 607,313 | 10.1 | 10.1 | +380,613 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 882,062 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 475,248 | 7.9 | 7.6 | +406,814 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 819,271 | 10.2 | 12.1 | 456,668 | 7.6 | 7.5 | +362,603 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 183,604 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 64,381 | 1.1 | 1.1 | +119,223 |
| Total | 8,052,535 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 5,990,974 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +2,061,561 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of New South Wales in 2021 compared to Tasmania shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 21.7% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 23.4% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 20.1% and 27.3% respectively for Tasmania.
The major differences between the age structure of New South Wales and Tasmania were:
- A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (20.1% compared to 17.9%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (11.0% compared to 13.0%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (10.2% compared to 12.1%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Older workers & pre-retirees' (12.3% compared to 13.1%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, New South Wales's population increased by 2,061,561 people (34.4%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.19% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+406,814 people)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+380,613 people)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+362,603 people)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+282,743 people)
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