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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Greater Melbourne had lower proportion of female children (under 18) and a lower proportion of females 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 females (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Queensland % | Number | % | Queensland % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 141,400 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 139,793 | 6.1 | 6.1 | +1,607 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 207,642 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 186,671 | 8.2 | 9.0 | +20,971 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 164,430 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 148,011 | 6.5 | 7.3 | +16,419 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 214,181 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 222,074 | 9.7 | 9.1 | -7,893 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 398,093 | 15.9 | 13.7 | 371,061 | 16.2 | 13.8 | +27,032 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 535,030 | 21.4 | 20.2 | 482,729 | 21.1 | 20.4 | +52,301 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 301,364 | 12.1 | 12.7 | 275,025 | 12.0 | 12.9 | +26,339 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 244,389 | 9.8 | 11.1 | 218,780 | 9.6 | 10.7 | +25,609 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 228,971 | 9.2 | 10.2 | 185,529 | 8.1 | 8.5 | +43,442 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 61,530 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 55,950 | 2.4 | 2.3 | +5,580 |
| Total | 2,497,030 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,285,623 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +211,407 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the female service age groups of Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to Queensland shows that there was a lower proportion of females in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) as well as a lower proportion of females in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 20.6% of the female population was aged between 0 and 17, and 21.4% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.5% and 23.5% respectively for Queensland.
The major differences between the female age structure of Greater Melbourne and Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (15.9% compared to 13.7%)
- A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (21.4% compared to 20.2%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (9.8% compared to 11.1%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (9.2% compared to 10.2%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, Greater Melbourne's female population increased by 211,407 people (9.2%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.79% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the female age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+52,301 females)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+43,442 females)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+27,032 females)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+26,339 females)
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