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Sunshine Coast CouncilCommunity profile
Service age groups Five year age groups Age-sex pyramid

Sunshine Coast

Service age groups

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In 2021, Sunshine Coast had lower proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than South East Queensland.

The Age Structure of Sunshine Coast provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Sunshine Coast'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 Sunshine Coast'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?'

Refers to:

Total population

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Age structure - Service age groups
Sunshine Coast - Total persons (Enumerated)20212011Change
Service age group (years)Number%South East Queensland %Number%South East Queensland %2011 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)17,0865.05.715,5245.96.7+1,562
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)29,2938.59.023,7089.19.0+5,585
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)25,9847.67.621,2338.17.9+4,751
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)24,8997.29.018,6757.29.9+6,223
Young workforce (25 to 34)37,74511.014.126,31410.114.0+11,430
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)64,79018.920.653,95120.721.4+10,839
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)44,96213.112.234,51413.212.2+10,448
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)43,59512.710.232,60012.59.7+10,994
Seniors (70 to 84)45,89913.49.628,47810.97.4+17,420
Elderly aged (85 and over)9,2162.71.96,1182.31.7+3,098
Total343,469100.0100.0261,119100.0100.0+82,349
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2021 (Enumerated data). Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2011 and 2021 (Enumerated data). Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Dominant groups

Analysis of the service age groups of Sunshine Coast in 2021 compared to South East Queensland 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, 21.1% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 28.7% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 22.4% and 21.7% respectively for South East Queensland.

The major differences between the age structure of Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (13.4% compared to 9.6%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (12.7% compared to 10.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Young workforce' (11.0% compared to 14.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Tertiary education & independence' (7.2% compared to 9.0%)

Emerging groups

From 2011 to 2021, Sunshine Coast's population increased by 82,350 people (31.5%). This represents an average annual population change of 2.78% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 2011 and 2021 were in the age groups:

  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+17,420 people)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+11,430 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+10,994 people)
  • Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+10,839 people)

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