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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 Westbrook.

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)20212016Change
Service age group (years)Number%Westbrook %Number%Westbrook %2016 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)10,2025.97.810,2896.49.9-87
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)15,9939.312.815,6819.813.3+312
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)15,2248.811.213,7618.610.2+1,463
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)14,6258.58.213,9778.88.0+648
Young workforce (25 to 34)21,71012.613.019,66412.312.9+2,046
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)30,43017.621.629,17718.322.9+1,253
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)20,58811.911.219,92212.510.7+666
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)19,52311.38.117,53211.07.4+1,991
Seniors (70 to 84)19,84711.55.615,7139.84.2+4,134
Elderly aged (85 and over)4,3652.50.53,8152.40.4+550
Total172,507100.0100.0159,531100.0100.0+12,976
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 Toowoomba in 2021 compared to Westbrook 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 31.8% and 14.2% respectively for Westbrook.

The major differences between the age structure of Toowoomba and Westbrook were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Seniors' (11.5% compared to 5.6%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (11.3% compared to 8.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (17.6% compared to 21.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Primary schoolers' (9.3% compared to 12.8%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Toowoomba's population increased by 12,976 people (8.1%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.58% 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) (+4,134 people)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+2,046 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+1,991 people)
  • Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) (+1,463 people)

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