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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Western Australia had higher proportion of male children (under 18) and a lower proportion of males aged 60 or older than New South Wales.
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 an indicator of Western Australia'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 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 - Service age groups | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia - Total males (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | New South Wales % | Number | % | New South Wales % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 83,249 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 83,155 | 6.7 | 6.5 | +94 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 124,020 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 116,141 | 9.4 | 9.2 | +7,879 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 101,391 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 91,875 | 7.4 | 7.4 | +9,516 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 111,145 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 113,232 | 9.1 | 9.3 | -2,087 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 183,972 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 190,956 | 15.4 | 14.3 | -6,984 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 275,786 | 20.8 | 20.0 | 260,100 | 21.0 | 19.9 | +15,686 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 167,495 | 12.7 | 12.1 | 155,668 | 12.6 | 12.7 | +11,827 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 137,657 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 122,735 | 9.9 | 10.7 | +14,922 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 118,497 | 9.0 | 9.8 | 88,716 | 7.2 | 8.5 | +29,781 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 19,644 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 15,846 | 1.3 | 1.7 | +3,798 |
| Total | 1,322,856 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,238,424 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +84,432 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the male service age groups of Western Australia in 2021 compared to New South Wales shows that there was a higher proportion of males in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of males in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 23.3% of the male population was aged between 0 and 17, and 20.8% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 22.6% and 22.4% respectively for New South Wales.
The major differences between the male age structure of Western Australia and New South Wales were:
- A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (20.8% compared to 20.0%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (9.0% compared to 9.8%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, Western Australia's male population increased by 84,432 people (6.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.33% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the male age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+29,781 males)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+15,686 males)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+14,922 males)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+11,827 males)
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