Western Australia
Service age groups
In 2021, Western Australia had higher proportion of children (under 18) and a lower proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Regional Australia.
The Age Structure of Western Australia provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Western Australia'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 Western Australia's Age Structure should be viewed in conjunction with Household Types and Dwelling Types.
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
Total population
| Age structure - Service age groups | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2011 | Change | ||||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Regional Australia % | Number | % | Regional Australia % | 2011 to 2021 | ||
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 161,834 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 151,213 | 6.7 | 6.5 | +10,621 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 242,418 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 200,406 | 8.9 | 9.1 | +42,012 | 1001 | 1000 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 196,850 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 177,548 | 7.9 | 8.2 | +19,302 | 1002 | 1000 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 217,400 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 217,956 | 9.7 | 8.2 | -556 | 1003 | 1000 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 372,990 | 14.0 | 12.1 | 325,777 | 14.5 | 11.4 | +47,213 | 1004 | 1000 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 556,311 | 20.8 | 18.1 | 491,186 | 21.8 | 20.3 | +65,125 | 1005 | 1000 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 338,119 | 12.7 | 13.2 | 287,609 | 12.8 | 13.7 | +50,510 | 1006 | 1000 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 285,875 | 10.7 | 13.1 | 211,580 | 9.4 | 11.5 | +74,295 | 1007 | 1000 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 247,468 | 9.3 | 12.3 | 155,619 | 6.9 | 9.2 | +91,849 | 1008 | 1000 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 50,090 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 34,373 | 1.5 | 2.0 | +15,717 | 1009 | 1000 |
| Total | 2,669,355 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,253,267 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +416,088 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of Western Australia in 2021 compared to Regional Australia shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 22.5% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 21.9% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.3% and 27.8% respectively for Regional Australia.
The major differences between the age structure of Western Australia and Regional Australia were:
- A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (20.8% compared to 18.1%)
- A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (14.0% compared to 12.1%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (9.3% compared to 12.3%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (10.7% compared to 13.1%)
Emerging groups
From 2011 to 2021, Western Australia's population increased by 416,088 people (18.5%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.71% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2011 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+91,849 people)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+74,295 people)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+65,125 people)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+50,510 people)