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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 (Enumerated)20212001Change
Service age group (years)Number%Victoria %Number%Victoria %2001 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)155,8015.55.8157,3466.76.5-1,545
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)243,6838.68.6250,03510.69.8-6,352
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)209,8527.47.0212,6029.08.3-2,750
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)217,5957.78.6189,5828.09.5+28,013
Young workforce (25 to 34)331,86911.715.1283,16512.015.0+48,704
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)498,08717.520.6511,16321.622.4-13,076
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)364,63712.812.2286,34612.111.6+78,291
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)375,30113.210.4216,8999.27.6+158,402
Seniors (70 to 84)367,40412.99.5221,0299.37.7+146,375
Elderly aged (85 and over)78,0382.72.236,0101.51.5+42,028
Total2,842,267100.0100.02,364,177100.0100.0+478,090
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 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 28.9% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.5% and 22.1% respectively for Victoria.

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

  • A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (12.9% compared to 9.5%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (13.2% compared to 10.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (11.7% compared to 15.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (17.5% compared to 20.6%)

Emerging groups

From 2001 to 2021, Regional NSW's population increased by 478,090 people (20.2%). This represents an average annual population change of 0.93% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2001 and 2021 were in the age groups:

  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+158,402 people)
  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+146,375 people)
  • Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+78,291 people)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+48,704 people)

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