Powered by .id (informed decisions) for RDA Darling Downs and South West Region
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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Western Downs Regional Council area had higher proportion of children (under 18) and a lower proportion of persons aged 60 or older than the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region.
The Age Structure of Western Downs Regional Council area provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Western Downs Regional Council area'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 Downs Regional Council area'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 Downs Regional Council area - Total persons (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | RDA Darling Downs and South West Region % | Number | % | RDA Darling Downs and South West Region % | 1996 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 2,214 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 1,845 | 8.3 | 7.7 | +368 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 3,482 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 2,630 | 11.8 | 11.1 | +852 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 2,844 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 2,078 | 9.3 | 10.0 | +766 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 2,702 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 1,803 | 8.1 | 9.9 | +898 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 4,839 | 13.5 | 12.3 | 3,175 | 14.2 | 14.2 | +1,664 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 6,714 | 18.8 | 17.5 | 4,641 | 20.8 | 20.8 | +2,072 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 4,763 | 13.3 | 12.6 | 2,483 | 11.1 | 10.2 | +2,280 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 4,115 | 11.5 | 12.3 | 1,778 | 8.0 | 7.7 | +2,337 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 3,423 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 1,599 | 7.2 | 7.2 | +1,823 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 620 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 277 | 1.2 | 1.2 | +343 |
| Total | 35,716 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 22,313 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +13,403 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the service age groups of Western Downs Regional Council area in 2021 compared to the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region 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, 23.9% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 22.8% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 23.3% and 26.4% respectively for the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region.
The major differences between the age structure of Western Downs Regional Council area and the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region were:
- A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (18.8% compared to 17.5%)
- A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (13.5% compared to 12.3%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (9.6% compared to 11.7%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Western Downs Regional Council area's population increased by 13,403 people (60.1%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.9% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+2,337 people)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+2,280 people)
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+2,072 people)
- Seniors (70 to 84) (+1,823 people)
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