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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, Greater Melbourne had similar proportion of female children (under 18) and a lower proportion of females aged 60 or older than Regional QLD.
The Age Structure of Greater Melbourne provides key insights into the level of demand for age based services and facilities such as child care. It is an indicator of Greater Melbourne'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 Greater Melbourne'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Melbourne - Total females (Enumerated) | 2021 | 1996 | Change | ||||
| Service age group (years) | Number | % | Regional QLD % | Number | % | Regional QLD % | 1996 to 2021 |
| Babies and pre-schoolers (0 to 4) | 141,159 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 106,316 | 6.6 | 7.1 | +34,843 |
| Primary schoolers (5 to 11) | 207,141 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 147,592 | 9.2 | 10.1 | +59,549 |
| Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) | 164,232 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 124,527 | 7.7 | 8.4 | +39,705 |
| Tertiary education and independence (18 to 24) | 213,237 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 173,952 | 10.8 | 9.4 | +39,285 |
| Young workforce (25 to 34) | 396,418 | 16.0 | 12.4 | 268,538 | 16.7 | 14.9 | +127,880 |
| Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) | 533,463 | 21.5 | 19.1 | 364,595 | 22.6 | 21.7 | +168,868 |
| Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) | 299,392 | 12.1 | 13.3 | 156,709 | 9.7 | 10.3 | +142,683 |
| Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) | 240,292 | 9.7 | 12.7 | 117,779 | 7.3 | 8.6 | +122,513 |
| Seniors (70 to 84) | 225,547 | 9.1 | 11.7 | 126,283 | 7.8 | 8.3 | +99,264 |
| Elderly aged (85 and over) | 61,346 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 24,179 | 1.5 | 1.2 | +37,167 |
| Total | 2,482,227 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,610,470 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +871,757 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the female service age groups of Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to Regional QLD shows that there was a similar proportion of females in the younger age groups (0 to 17 years) and a lower proportion of females in the older age groups (60+ years).
Overall, 20.6% of the female population was aged between 0 and 17, and 21.2% were aged 60 years and over, compared with 20.8% and 26.8% respectively for Regional QLD.
The major differences between the female age structure of Greater Melbourne and Regional QLD were:
- A larger percentage of 'Young workforce' (16.0% compared to 12.4%)
- A larger percentage of 'Parents and homebuilders' (21.5% compared to 19.1%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Empty nesters and retirees' (9.7% compared to 12.7%)
- A smaller percentage of 'Seniors' (9.1% compared to 11.7%)
Emerging groups
From 1996 to 2021, Greater Melbourne's female population increased by 871,757 people (54.1%). This represents an average annual population change of 1.75% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the female age structure in this area between 1996 and 2021 were in the age groups:
- Parents and homebuilders (35 to 49) (+168,868 females)
- Older workers and pre-retirees (50 to 59) (+142,683 females)
- Young workforce (25 to 34) (+127,880 females)
- Empty nesters and retirees (60 to 69) (+122,513 females)
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