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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Melbourne

Service age groups

In 2021, Greater Melbourne had lower proportion of children (under 18) and a lower proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Queensland.

The Age Structure of Greater Melbourne provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Greater Melbourne'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 Greater Melbourne'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
Greater Melbourne - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Service age group (years)Number%Queensland %Number%Queensland %2016 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)290,6495.95.7287,1786.46.3+3,471
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)426,4548.79.0382,9068.59.4+43,548
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)338,8656.97.7302,6086.77.5+36,257
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)438,8618.98.6449,38810.09.2-10,527
Young workforce (25 to 34)788,68916.013.6730,34516.313.8+58,344
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)1,055,46521.519.9946,66921.120.2+108,796
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)586,72511.912.6535,55111.912.8+51,174
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)467,1979.510.9418,0839.310.7+49,114
Seniors (70 to 84)424,8298.610.0343,3387.78.3+81,491
Elderly aged (85 and over)100,0212.01.989,1512.01.8+10,870
Total4,917,755100.0100.04,485,217100.0100.0+432,538
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 Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to Queensland shows that there was a lower proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) as well as a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).

Overall, 21.5% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 20.2% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 22.4% and 22.8% respectively for Queensland.

The major differences between the age structure of Greater Melbourne and Queensland were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (16.0% compared to 13.6%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (21.5% compared to 19.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (9.5% compared to 10.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (8.6% compared to 10.0%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Greater Melbourne's population increased by 432,538 people (9.6%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.86% per year over the period.

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

  • Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+108,796 people)
  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+81,491 people)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+58,344 people)
  • Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+51,174 people)

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