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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Australia had similar proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Greater Capital Cities.
The Age Structure of Australia provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of 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 Australia'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2011 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2011 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 1,463,817 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 1,420,913 | 6.6 | 6.6 | +42,904 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 2,223,721 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 1,895,438 | 8.8 | 8.6 | +328,283 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 1,837,476 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 1,673,158 | 7.8 | 7.5 | +164,318 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 2,150,358 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 2,020,048 | 9.4 | 10.0 | +130,310 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 3,624,767 | 14.3 | 15.3 | 2,966,255 | 13.8 | 15.0 | +658,512 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 5,123,628 | 20.2 | 21.1 | 4,566,516 | 21.2 | 21.7 | +557,112 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 3,152,871 | 12.4 | 12.1 | 2,744,238 | 12.8 | 12.3 | +408,633 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 2,766,553 | 10.9 | 9.9 | 2,125,219 | 9.9 | 9.1 | +641,334 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 2,537,285 | 10.0 | 8.9 | 1,690,198 | 7.9 | 7.2 | +847,087 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 542,340 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 402,708 | 1.9 | 1.8 | +139,632 |
| Total | 25,422,816 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 21,504,691 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +3,918,125 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of Australia in 2021 compared to Greater Capital Cities shows that there was a similar proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 21.7% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 23.0% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.8% and 20.7% respectively for Greater Capital Cities.
The major differences between the age structure of Australia and Greater Capital Cities were:
- A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (10.0% compared to 8.9%)
- A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (10.9% compared to 9.9%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (14.3% compared to 15.3%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (20.2% compared to 21.1%)
Emerging groups
From 2011 to 2021, Australia's population increased by 3,918,125 people (18.2%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.69% 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) (+847,087 people)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+658,512 people)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+641,334 people)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+557,112 people)
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