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AustraliaCommunity profile

New South Wales

Service age groups

In 2021, New South Wales had higher proportion of male children (under 18) and a lower proportion of males aged 60 or older than South Australia.

The Age Structure of New South Wales provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of New South Wales'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 New South Wales'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
New South Wales - Total males (Enumerated)20212001Change
Service age group (years)Number%South Australia %Number%South Australia %2001 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)240,3976.05.5216,8837.06.4+23,514
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)360,6809.18.6321,76010.39.9+38,920
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)297,7467.57.2271,2808.78.7+26,466
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)346,7358.78.7295,1639.59.3+51,572
Young workforce (25 to 34)563,43314.213.4450,63714.513.9+112,796
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)796,41320.019.0694,00522.322.4+102,408
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)482,88112.112.8372,00911.912.4+110,872
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)425,87110.711.8243,8267.88.1+182,045
Seniors (70 to 84)389,2619.810.9223,3447.28.0+165,917
Elderly aged (85 and over)70,9771.82.127,5790.91.1+43,398
Total3,974,394100.0100.03,116,486100.0100.0+857,908
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 male service age groups of New South Wales in 2021 compared to South Australia shows that there was a higher proportion of males in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of males in the older age groups (60+ years).

Overall, 22.6% of the male population was aged between 0 and 17, and 22.3% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.3% and 24.8% respectively for South Australia.

The major differences between the male age structure of New South Wales and South Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (20.0% compared to 19.0%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (14.2% compared to 13.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (9.8% compared to 10.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (10.7% compared to 11.8%)

Emerging groups

From 2001 to 2021, New South Wales's male population increased by 857,908 people (27.5%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.22% per year over the period.

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

  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+182,045 males)
  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+165,917 males)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+112,796 males)
  • Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+110,872 males)

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