Powered by .id (informed decisions) for RDA Darling Downs and South West Region
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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region had higher proportion of children (under 18) and a similar proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Regional QLD.
The Age Structure of the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region'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 the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDA Darling Downs and South West Region - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Regional QLD % | Number | % | Regional QLD % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 16,387 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 17,137 | 6.4 | 6.0 | -750 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 25,969 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 26,089 | 9.8 | 9.1 | -120 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 23,306 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 21,579 | 8.1 | 7.4 | +1,727 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 22,270 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 21,619 | 8.1 | 8.1 | +651 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 34,482 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 32,413 | 12.1 | 12.3 | +2,069 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 49,210 | 17.5 | 18.7 | 49,199 | 18.4 | 19.3 | +11 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 35,456 | 12.6 | 13.1 | 34,925 | 13.1 | 13.4 | +531 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 34,452 | 12.3 | 12.6 | 31,282 | 11.7 | 12.3 | +3,170 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 33,016 | 11.7 | 11.8 | 26,748 | 10.0 | 10.1 | +6,268 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 6,690 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 5,958 | 2.2 | 2.0 | +732 |
| Total | 281,238 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 266,949 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +14,289 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region in 2021 compared to Regional QLD shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a similar proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 23.3% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 26.4% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.6% and 26.4% respectively for Regional QLD.
The major difference between the age structure of the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region and Regional QLD is:
- A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (17.5% compared to 18.7%)
Emerging groups
From 2016 to 2021, RDA Darling Downs and South West Region's population increased by 14,289 people (5.4%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.05% 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) (+6,268 people)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+3,170 people)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+2,069 people)
- Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) (+1,727 people)
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