Australia
Five year age groups
In 2021, the largest age group in Australia was 30 to 34 year olds. The group that changed the most since 2006 was 70 to 74 year olds, increasing by 544,718 people.
The Age Structure of Australia provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is also an indicator of Australia's residential role and function and how it is likely to change in the future.
Five year age groups present a classic age profile of the population. Each age group covers exactly five years, which enables direct comparison between each group.
To get a more complete picture Australia's Age Structure should be viewed in conjunction with Household Types and Dwelling Types.
Derived from the Census question:
'What is the person's date of birth or age?'
Total population
| Age structure - Five year age groups | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2006 | Change | |||||
| Five year age groups (years) | Number | % | Queensland % | Number | % | Queensland % | 2006 to 2021 | |
| 0 to 4 | 1,463,817 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 1,260,399 | 6.3 | 6.6 | +203,418 | 2001 |
| 5 to 9 | 1,586,139 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 1,308,865 | 6.6 | 6.9 | +277,274 | 2002 |
| 10 to 14 | 1,588,059 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 1,367,942 | 6.9 | 7.2 | +220,117 | 2003 |
| 15 to 19 | 1,457,803 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 1,356,907 | 6.8 | 6.9 | +100,896 | 2004 |
| 20 to 24 | 1,579,546 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 1,347,373 | 6.8 | 6.9 | +232,173 | 2005 |
| 25 to 29 | 1,771,677 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 1,276,926 | 6.4 | 6.4 | +494,751 | 2006 |
| 30 to 34 | 1,853,085 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 1,399,465 | 7.0 | 7.0 | +453,620 | 2007 |
| 35 to 39 | 1,838,819 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 1,466,180 | 7.4 | 7.4 | +372,639 | 2008 |
| 40 to 44 | 1,648,843 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 1,471,658 | 7.4 | 7.4 | +177,185 | 2009 |
| 45 to 49 | 1,635,952 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 1,446,727 | 7.3 | 7.2 | +189,225 | 2010 |
| 50 to 54 | 1,610,939 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 1,315,791 | 6.6 | 6.6 | +295,148 | 2011 |
| 55 to 59 | 1,541,915 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 1,234,599 | 6.2 | 6.3 | +307,316 | 2012 |
| 60 to 64 | 1,468,103 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 958,079 | 4.8 | 4.9 | +510,024 | 2013 |
| 65 to 69 | 1,298,463 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 757,386 | 3.8 | 3.7 | +541,077 | 2014 |
| 70 to 74 | 1,160,775 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 616,057 | 3.1 | 2.9 | +544,718 | 2015 |
| 75 to 79 | 821,915 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 543,607 | 2.7 | 2.5 | +278,308 | 2016 |
| 80 to 84 | 554,599 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 404,479 | 2.0 | 1.8 | +150,120 | 2017 |
| 85 and over | 542,340 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 322,847 | 1.6 | 1.5 | +219,493 | 2018 |
| Total population | 25,422,789 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 19,855,287 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +5,567,502 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2006 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Usual residence data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
Analysis of the five year age groups of Australia in 2021 compared to Queensland shows that there was a similar proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) as well as a similar proportion of people in the older age groups (65+).
Overall, 18.2% of the population was aged between 0 and 15, and 17.2% were aged 65 years and over, compared with 18.7% and 17.0% respectively for Queensland.
There were no major differences between Australia and Queensland in 2021.
Emerging groups
From 2006 to 2021, Australia's population increased by 5,567,502 people (28.0%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.66% per year over the period.
The largest changes in age structure in this area between 2006 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- 70 to 74 (+544,718 persons)
- 65 to 69 (+541,077 persons)
- 60 to 64 (+510,024 persons)
- 25 to 29 (+494,751 persons)