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Wollongong City CouncilCommunity profile

Wollongong City

Service age groups

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In 2021, Wollongong City had similar proportion of children (under 18) and a lower proportion of persons aged 60 or older than Regional NSW.

The Age Structure of Wollongong City provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Wollongong City'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 Wollongong City'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
Wollongong City - Total persons (Enumerated)20211996Change
Service age group (years)Number%Regional NSW %Number%Regional NSW %1996 to 2021
Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4)12,0985.75.512,4107.07.3-312
Primary schoolers (5 to 11)17,7468.38.616,8799.610.9+867
Secondary schoolers (12 to 17)15,1937.17.414,3758.28.9+818
Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24)20,9429.87.720,03611.48.8+906
Young workforce (25 to 34)28,27013.211.726,43515.013.4+1,835
Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49)40,45319.017.537,05321.021.8+3,400
Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59)26,27912.312.818,08410.310.4+8,195
Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69)23,55611.013.215,3678.79.0+8,189
Seniors (70 to 84)23,13110.812.913,8797.98.4+9,252
Elderly aged (85 and over)5,7982.72.71,5830.91.1+4,215
Total213,466100.0100.0176,101100.0100.0+37,365
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 Wollongong City in 2021 compared to Regional NSW shows that there was a similar proportion of people in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (60+ years).

Overall, 21.1% of the population was aged between 0 and 17, and 24.6% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 21.4% and 28.9% respectively for Regional NSW.

The major differences between the age structure of Wollongong City and Regional NSW were:

  • A larger percentage of 'Tertiary education & independence' (9.8% compared to 7.7%)
  • A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (13.2% compared to 11.7%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (11.0% compared to 13.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (10.8% compared to 12.9%)

Emerging groups

From 1996 to 2021, Wollongong City's population increased by 37,365 people (21.2%). This represents an average annual population change of 0.77% 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) (+9,252 people)
  • Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+8,195 people)
  • Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+8,189 people)
  • Elderly aged (85 and over) (+4,215 people)

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