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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Western Australia had higher proportion of female children (under 18) and a lower proportion of females 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 females (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 78,503 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 78,574 | 6.4 | 6.0 | -71 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 117,682 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 110,154 | 8.9 | 8.5 | +7,528 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 95,321 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 87,264 | 7.1 | 6.9 | +8,057 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 106,541 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 106,619 | 8.6 | 8.9 | -78 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 188,385 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 188,224 | 15.2 | 14.4 | +161 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 278,341 | 20.8 | 20.2 | 257,461 | 20.8 | 20.3 | +20,880 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 168,905 | 12.6 | 12.5 | 156,668 | 12.7 | 12.8 | +12,237 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 145,192 | 10.9 | 11.1 | 126,163 | 10.2 | 10.8 | +19,029 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 127,830 | 9.6 | 10.3 | 98,291 | 8.0 | 8.9 | +29,539 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 30,459 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 26,579 | 2.2 | 2.6 | +3,880 |
| Total | 1,337,159 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,235,997 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +101,162 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the female service age groups of Western Australia in 2021 compared to Australia shows that there was a higher proportion of females in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of females in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 21.8% of the female population was aged between 0 and 17, and 22.7% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 20.8% and 24.0% respectively for Australia.
The major difference between the female age structure of Western Australia and Australia is:
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (9.6% compared to 10.3%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, Western Australia's female population increased by 101,162 people (8.2%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.59% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the female age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+29,539 females)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+20,880 females)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+19,029 females)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+12,237 females)
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