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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Western Australia had higher proportion of children (under 18) and a lower proportion of persons aged 60 or older than 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.
Q:
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
| Age structure - Service age groups | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 1996 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 161,834 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 123,283 | 7.2 | 7.1 | +38,551 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 242,418 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 183,005 | 10.7 | 10.1 | +59,413 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 196,850 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 154,049 | 9.0 | 8.6 | +42,801 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 217,400 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 180,386 | 10.5 | 10.3 | +37,014 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 372,990 | 14.0 | 14.3 | 268,615 | 15.7 | 15.5 | +104,375 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 556,311 | 20.8 | 20.2 | 395,272 | 23.1 | 22.5 | +161,039 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 338,119 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 166,600 | 9.7 | 10.0 | +171,519 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 285,875 | 10.7 | 10.9 | 120,161 | 7.0 | 7.6 | +165,714 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 247,468 | 9.3 | 10.0 | 104,360 | 6.1 | 7.2 | +143,108 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 50,090 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 16,138 | 0.9 | 1.0 | +33,952 |
| Total | 2,669,355 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,711,869 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +957,486 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of Western Australia in 2021 compared to 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 21.7% and 23.0% respectively for Australia.
There were no major differences between Western Australia and Australia in 2021.
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Western Australia's population increased by 957,486 people (55.9%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.79% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+171,519 people)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+165,714 people)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+161,039 people)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+143,108 people)
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