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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, South Australia had lower proportion of male children (under 18) and a higher proportion of males aged 60 or older than Australia.
The Age Structure of South Australia provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of South 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 South 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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia - Total males (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 48,352 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 49,910 | 6.0 | 6.5 | -1,558 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 74,923 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 71,274 | 8.6 | 9.2 | +3,649 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 63,265 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 59,882 | 7.2 | 7.4 | +3,383 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 76,300 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 76,093 | 9.2 | 9.4 | +207 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 117,670 | 13.4 | 14.3 | 108,274 | 13.1 | 14.4 | +9,396 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 166,131 | 18.9 | 20.1 | 160,371 | 19.4 | 20.1 | +5,760 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 112,815 | 12.8 | 12.3 | 110,602 | 13.4 | 12.6 | +2,213 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 103,972 | 11.8 | 10.7 | 96,151 | 11.6 | 10.5 | +7,821 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 96,930 | 11.0 | 9.6 | 77,107 | 9.3 | 8.2 | +19,823 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 18,220 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 16,340 | 2.0 | 1.6 | +1,880 |
| Total | 878,578 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 826,004 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +52,574 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the male service age groups of South Australia in 2021 compared to Australia 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, 21.2% of the male population was aged between 0 and 17, and 24.9% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 22.6% and 22.0% respectively for Australia.
The major differences between the male age structure of South Australia and Australia were:
- A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (11.0% compared to 9.6%)
- A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (11.8% compared to 10.7%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (18.9% compared to 20.1%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (13.4% compared to 14.3%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, South Australia's male population increased by 52,574 people (6.4%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.24% 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) (+19,823 males)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+9,396 males)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+7,821 males)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+5,760 males)
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