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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Service age groups

In 2021, Greater Sydney had similar proportion of male children (under 18) and a lower proportion of males aged 60 or older than Victoria.

The Age Structure of Greater Sydney provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Greater Sydney'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 Greater Sydney'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
Greater Sydney - Total males (Usual residence)20212016Change
Service age group (years)Number%Victoria %Number%Victoria %2016 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)160,7946.26.0159,0296.76.6+1,765
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)236,2699.19.0218,0809.29.0+18,189
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)190,5167.47.3172,0547.27.2+18,462
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)236,3949.18.9233,5609.89.8+2,834
Young workforce (25 to 34)401,12615.515.1381,70516.115.0+19,421
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)555,06621.520.5501,08221.120.3+53,984
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)306,68211.912.0287,63512.112.3+19,047
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)244,4389.510.2219,8569.310.1+24,582
Seniors (70 to 84)213,1288.29.2168,6237.18.1+44,505
Elderly aged (85 and over)40,8211.61.735,1471.51.6+5,674
Total2,585,234100.0100.02,376,771100.0100.0+208,463
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 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 Greater Sydney in 2021 compared to Victoria shows that there was a similar 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, 22.7% of the male population was aged between 0 and 17, and 19.3% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 22.3% and 21.2% respectively for Victoria.

The major differences between the male age structure of Greater Sydney and Victoria were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (21.5% compared to 20.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (8.2% compared to 9.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (9.5% compared to 10.2%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Greater Sydney's male population increased by 208,463 people (8.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.7% 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) (+53,984 males)
  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+44,505 males)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+24,582 males)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+19,421 males)

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