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AustraliaCommunity profile

Regional NSW

Service age groups

In 2021, Regional NSW had similar proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Victoria.

The Age Structure of Regional NSW provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Regional NSW'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 Regional NSW'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
Regional NSW - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Service age group (years)Number%Victoria %Number%Victoria %2016 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)155,2295.55.8154,6155.86.3+614
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)242,4148.68.6234,7458.98.6+7,669
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)208,3537.47.0194,1657.36.9+14,188
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)214,4327.68.5208,8287.99.5+5,604
Young workforce (25 to 34)328,52311.615.0290,38811.015.0+38,135
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)494,88817.520.5474,70018.020.4+20,188
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)362,61112.812.2366,04913.812.4-3,438
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)376,41213.310.5346,77113.110.3+29,641
Seniors (70 to 84)368,66213.09.7301,87111.48.5+66,791
Elderly aged (85 and over)78,1152.82.271,3982.72.2+6,717
Total2,829,639100.0100.02,643,530100.0100.0+186,109
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the service age groups of Regional NSW in 2021 compared to Victoria shows that there was a similar proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).

Overall, 21.4% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 29.1% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.4% and 22.4% respectively for Victoria.

The major differences between the age structure of Regional NSW and Victoria were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (13.0% compared to 9.7%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (13.3% compared to 10.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (11.6% compared to 15.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (17.5% compared to 20.5%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Regional NSW's population increased by 186,109 people (7.0%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.37% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:

  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+66,791 people)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+38,135 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+29,641 people)
  • Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+20,188 people)

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