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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Regional Australia had similar proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Victoria.
The Age Structure of Regional Australia provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Regional 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 Regional 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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Australia - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Victoria % | Number | % | Victoria % | 1996 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 457,454 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 474,928 | 7.4 | 7.0 | -17,474 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 728,404 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 696,195 | 10.9 | 10.0 | +32,209 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 626,018 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 570,137 | 8.9 | 8.4 | +55,881 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 638,969 | 7.5 | 8.6 | 575,199 | 9.0 | 10.4 | +63,770 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 1,025,708 | 12.1 | 15.1 | 905,869 | 14.2 | 15.8 | +119,839 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 1,541,246 | 18.1 | 20.6 | 1,406,272 | 22.0 | 22.5 | +134,974 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 1,119,068 | 13.2 | 12.2 | 657,009 | 10.3 | 10.0 | +462,059 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 1,115,231 | 13.1 | 10.4 | 544,694 | 8.5 | 7.5 | +570,537 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 1,044,440 | 12.3 | 9.5 | 495,756 | 7.8 | 7.2 | +548,684 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 203,411 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 66,055 | 1.0 | 1.1 | +137,356 |
| Total | 8,499,949 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 6,392,114 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +2,107,835 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of Regional Australia 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, 21.3% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 27.8% 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 Australia and Victoria were:
- A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (13.1% compared to 10.4%)
- A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (12.3% compared to 9.5%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (12.1% compared to 15.1%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (18.1% compared to 20.6%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Regional Australia's population increased by 2,107,835 people (33.0%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.15% 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) (+570,537 people)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+548,684 people)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+462,059 people)
- Elderly aged (85 and over) (+137,356 people)
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