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Toowoomba Regional CouncilCommunity profile

Toowoomba

Service age groups

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In 2021, Toowoomba had lower proportion of children (under 18) and a higher proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Kingsthorpe - Gowrie Junction and District.

The Age Structure of Toowoomba provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Toowoomba'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 Toowoomba'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
Toowoomba - Total persons (Enumerated)20211996Change
Service age group (years)Number%Kingsthorpe - Gowrie Junction and District %Number%Kingsthorpe - Gowrie Junction and District %1996 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)10,2025.95.99,2887.59.2+914
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)15,9939.311.513,42610.813.8+2,567
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)15,2248.88.813,25110.711.8+1,973
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)14,6258.59.113,73811.17.5+887
Young workforce (25 to 34)21,71012.612.317,28613.916.2+4,424
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)30,43017.618.425,48520.523.7+4,945
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)20,58811.913.811,9669.69.6+8,622
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)19,52311.311.59,0527.35.1+10,471
Seniors (70 to 84)19,84711.57.79,1617.43.1+10,686
Elderly aged (85 and over)4,3652.50.91,5921.30.1+2,773
Total172,507100.0100.0124,245100.0100.0+48,262
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 1996 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 Toowoomba in 2021 compared to Kingsthorpe - Gowrie Junction and District 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, 24.0% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 25.4% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 26.2% and 20.1% respectively for Kingsthorpe - Gowrie Junction and District.

The major differences between the age structure of Toowoomba and Kingsthorpe - Gowrie Junction and District were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (11.5% compared to 7.7%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Frail aged' (2.5% compared to 0.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Primary schoolers' (9.3% compared to 11.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Older workers & pre-retirees' (11.9% compared to 13.8%)

Emerging groups

From 1996 to 2021, Toowoomba's population increased by 48,262 people (38.8%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.32% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:

  • Seniors (70 to 84) (+10,686 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+10,471 people)
  • Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+8,622 people)
  • Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+4,945 people)

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