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Toowoomba Regional CouncilCommunity profile

Toowoomba

Service age groups

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In 2021, Toowoomba had higher proportion of children (under 18) and a similar proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Regional QLD.

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 (Usual residence)20212016Change
Service age group (years)Number%Regional QLD %Number%Regional QLD %2016 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)10,2005.95.410,3156.46.1-115
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)15,9999.28.915,6769.89.4+323
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)15,0398.77.813,3658.37.7+1,674
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)14,5748.47.914,0828.88.3+492
Young workforce (25 to 34)21,84612.612.419,79512.312.4+2,051
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)30,57917.719.029,48018.319.6+1,099
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)20,84712.013.220,26612.613.4+581
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)19,79411.412.218,03411.211.7+1,760
Seniors (70 to 84)19,95711.511.315,9589.99.4+3,999
Elderly aged (85 and over)4,3812.52.13,8022.41.9+579
Total173,216100.0100.0160,773100.0100.0+12,443
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 Regional QLD shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a similar proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).

Overall, 23.8% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 25.5% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 22.1% and 25.5% respectively for Regional QLD.

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

  • A larger percentage of 'Secondary schoolers' (8.7% compared to 7.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (17.7% compared to 19.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Older workers & pre-retirees' (12.0% compared to 13.2%)

Emerging groups

From 2016 to 2021, Toowoomba's population increased by 12,443 people (7.7%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.5% 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) (+3,999 people)
  • Young workforce (25 to 34) (+2,051 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+1,760 people)
  • Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) (+1,674 people)

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