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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Canberra had lower proportion of male children (under 18) and a higher proportion of males aged 60 or older than Northern Territory.
The Age Structure of Canberra provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Canberra'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 Canberra'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra - Total males (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Northern Territory % | Number | % | Northern Territory % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 13,746 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 13,892 | 7.1 | 7.6 | -146 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 20,856 | 9.3 | 10.2 | 17,992 | 9.2 | 10.0 | +2,864 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 15,683 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 13,360 | 6.8 | 7.7 | +2,323 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 22,901 | 10.2 | 9.6 | 21,427 | 11.0 | 9.9 | +1,474 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 38,637 | 17.2 | 17.8 | 32,368 | 16.6 | 18.5 | +6,269 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 48,728 | 21.8 | 21.5 | 42,022 | 21.5 | 22.3 | +6,706 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 24,971 | 11.1 | 12.0 | 22,594 | 11.6 | 12.1 | +2,377 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 18,852 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 17,285 | 8.8 | 8.0 | +1,567 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 16,779 | 7.5 | 5.0 | 12,169 | 6.2 | 3.5 | +4,610 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 2,868 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2,316 | 1.2 | 0.3 | +552 |
| Total | 224,021 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 195,425 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +28,596 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the male service age groups of Canberra in 2021 compared to Northern Territory shows that there was a lower proportion of males in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a higher proportion of males in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 22.4% of the male population was aged between 0 and 17, and 17.2% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 25.2% and 13.9% respectively for Northern Territory.
The major differences between the male age structure of Canberra and Northern Territory were:
- A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (7.5% compared to 5.0%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Babies and pre-schoolers' (6.1% compared to 7.2%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Primary schoolers' (9.3% compared to 10.2%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Older workers & pre-retirees' (11.1% compared to 12.0%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, Canberra's male population increased by 28,596 people (14.6%). This represents an average annual population change of 2.77% 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) (+6,706 males)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+6,269 males)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+4,610 males)
- Primary schoolers (5 to 11) (+2,864 males)
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