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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Greater Melbourne had lower proportion of male children (under 18) and a lower proportion of males 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 males (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Queensland % | Number | % | Queensland % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 149,255 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 147,382 | 6.7 | 6.5 | +1,873 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 218,814 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 196,236 | 8.9 | 9.7 | +22,578 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 174,435 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 154,600 | 7.0 | 7.8 | +19,835 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 224,677 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 227,317 | 10.3 | 9.4 | -2,640 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 390,596 | 16.1 | 13.5 | 359,284 | 16.3 | 13.7 | +31,312 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 520,437 | 21.5 | 19.7 | 463,939 | 21.1 | 20.0 | +56,498 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 285,353 | 11.8 | 12.5 | 260,527 | 11.8 | 12.7 | +24,826 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 222,810 | 9.2 | 10.8 | 199,304 | 9.1 | 10.6 | +23,506 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 195,856 | 8.1 | 9.8 | 157,806 | 7.2 | 8.1 | +38,050 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 38,491 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 33,202 | 1.5 | 1.4 | +5,289 |
| Total | 2,420,724 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,199,597 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +221,127 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the male service age groups of Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to Queensland shows that there was a lower proportion of males in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) as well as a lower proportion of males in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 22.4% of the male population was aged between 0 and 17, and 18.9% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 23.4% and 22.0% respectively for Queensland.
The major differences between the male age structure of Greater Melbourne and Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (16.1% compared to 13.5%)
- A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (21.5% compared to 19.7%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (8.1% compared to 9.8%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (9.2% compared to 10.8%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, Greater Melbourne's male population increased by 221,127 people (10.1%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.93% 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:
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+56,498 males)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+38,050 males)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+31,312 males)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+24,826 males)
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