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South Gippsland ShireCommunity profile

Foster and surrounds

Service age groups

In 2021, Foster and surrounds had lower proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than South Gippsland Shire.

The Age Structure of Foster and surrounds provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Foster and surrounds'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 Foster and surrounds'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
Foster and surrounds - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Service age group (years)Number%South Gippsland Shire %Number%South Gippsland Shire %2016 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)683.04.7833.95.5-15
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)1406.18.31225.78.6+18
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)1205.27.31376.57.2-17
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)1044.55.71065.06.1-2
Young workforce (25 to 34)1376.08.61155.48.8+22
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)29412.816.229413.917.00
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)29913.114.329914.115.00
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)46020.116.640819.216.2+52
Seniors (70 to 84)53123.215.542219.912.7+109
Elderly aged (85 and over)1355.92.81366.42.8-1
Total2,288100.0100.02,122100.0100.0+166
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the service age groups of Foster and surrounds in 2021 compared to South Gippsland Shire 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, 14.3% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 49.2% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 20.3% and 34.9% respectively for South Gippsland Shire.

The major differences between the age structure of Foster and surrounds and South Gippsland Shire were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (23.2% compared to 15.5%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (20.1% compared to 16.6%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Frail aged' (5.9% compared to 2.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (12.8% compared to 16.2%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Foster and surrounds's population increased by 166 people (7.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.52% 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) (+109 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+52 people)

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