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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Australia had similar proportion of male children (under 18) and a higher proportion of males 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 males (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 752,563 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 752,143 | 6.5 | 6.7 | +420 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 1,141,781 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 1,064,992 | 9.2 | 9.2 | +76,789 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 946,720 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 855,900 | 7.4 | 7.3 | +90,820 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 1,098,928 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 1,090,903 | 9.4 | 10.0 | +8,025 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 1,791,239 | 14.3 | 15.4 | 1,663,904 | 14.4 | 15.8 | +127,335 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 2,518,614 | 20.1 | 21.1 | 2,324,005 | 20.1 | 20.9 | +194,609 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 1,541,412 | 12.3 | 12.0 | 1,458,077 | 12.6 | 12.1 | +83,335 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 1,337,049 | 10.7 | 9.6 | 1,213,577 | 10.5 | 9.4 | +123,472 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 1,206,398 | 9.6 | 8.4 | 942,799 | 8.2 | 7.2 | +263,599 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 210,432 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 180,356 | 1.6 | 1.5 | +30,076 |
| Total | 12,545,136 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 11,546,656 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +998,480 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the male service age groups of Australia in 2021 compared to Greater Capital Cities shows that there was a similar 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, 22.6% of the male population was aged between 0 and 17, and 22.0% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 22.8% and 19.5% respectively for Greater Capital Cities.
The major differences between the male age structure of Australia and Greater Capital Cities were:
- A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (9.6% compared to 8.4%)
- A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (10.7% compared to 9.6%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (14.3% compared to 15.4%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (20.1% compared to 21.1%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, Australia's male population increased by 998,480 people (8.6%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.67% 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:
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+263,599 males)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+194,609 males)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+127,335 males)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+123,472 males)
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