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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, South East Queensland had lower proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Northern Territory.
The Age Structure of South East Queensland provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of South East Queensland'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 East Queensland'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 East Queensland - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Northern Territory % | Number | % | Northern Territory % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 204,761 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 200,484 | 6.3 | 7.7 | +4,277 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 322,514 | 9.0 | 10.1 | 294,977 | 9.2 | 10.0 | +27,537 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 273,250 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 237,473 | 7.4 | 7.7 | +35,777 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 321,855 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 310,964 | 9.7 | 9.6 | +10,891 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 506,518 | 14.1 | 18.4 | 458,291 | 14.3 | 18.8 | +48,227 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 739,227 | 20.6 | 21.9 | 663,570 | 20.7 | 22.3 | +75,657 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 441,853 | 12.3 | 12.0 | 397,094 | 12.4 | 12.1 | +44,759 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 367,212 | 10.2 | 8.4 | 327,910 | 10.2 | 7.8 | +39,302 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 341,583 | 9.5 | 4.8 | 255,722 | 8.0 | 3.5 | +85,861 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 66,951 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 59,609 | 1.9 | 0.4 | +7,342 |
| Total | 3,585,724 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 3,206,094 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +379,630 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of South East Queensland in 2021 compared to Northern Territory shows that there was a lower proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a higher proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 22.3% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 21.6% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 24.7% and 13.7% respectively for Northern Territory.
The major differences between the age structure of South East Queensland and Northern Territory were:
- A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (9.5% compared to 4.8%)
- A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (10.2% compared to 8.4%)
- A larger percentage of 'Frail aged' (1.9% compared to 0.5%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (14.1% compared to 18.4%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, South East Queensland's population increased by 379,630 people (11.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 2.26% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2016 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+85,861 people)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+75,657 people)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+48,227 people)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+44,759 people)
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