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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Regional Australia had higher proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Greater Adelaide.
The Age Structure of Regional Australia provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Regional 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 Regional 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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Australia - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2001 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Greater Adelaide % | Number | % | Greater Adelaide % | 2001 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 457,454 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 451,258 | 6.8 | 6.0 | +6,196 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 728,404 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 708,374 | 10.6 | 9.1 | +20,030 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 626,018 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 593,874 | 8.9 | 8.1 | +32,144 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 638,969 | 7.5 | 8.9 | 540,798 | 8.1 | 9.6 | +98,171 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 1,025,708 | 12.1 | 14.0 | 852,033 | 12.8 | 14.0 | +173,675 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 1,541,246 | 18.1 | 19.6 | 1,459,360 | 21.9 | 22.4 | +81,886 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 1,119,068 | 13.2 | 12.5 | 809,987 | 12.2 | 12.2 | +309,081 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 1,115,231 | 13.1 | 11.1 | 586,161 | 8.8 | 7.8 | +529,070 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 1,044,440 | 12.3 | 10.7 | 567,993 | 8.5 | 9.1 | +476,447 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 203,411 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 94,499 | 1.4 | 1.7 | +108,912 |
| Total | 8,499,949 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 6,664,337 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,835,612 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of Regional Australia in 2021 compared to Greater Adelaide shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) as well as a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 21.3% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 27.8% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 20.7% and 24.4% respectively for Greater Adelaide.
The major differences between the age structure of Regional Australia and Greater Adelaide were:
- A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (13.1% compared to 11.1%)
- A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (12.3% compared to 10.7%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (12.1% compared to 14.0%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (18.1% compared to 19.6%)
Emerging groups
From 2001 to 2021, Regional Australia's population increased by 1,835,612 people (27.5%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.22% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2001 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+529,070 people)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+476,447 people)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+309,081 people)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+173,675 people)
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