Australia: age distribution 1960-2021

Since 1960, age distribution across Australia's population has observed a fairly significant change. The share of the population below 14 years has dropped from over 30 percent to less than 20 percent; while the share aged over 65 has almost doubled. However, Australia's under-14 population is still larger than its over-65 population. The bulk of the population is aged between 15 and 64 years, and this group had its largest share of the population in 2009 when it made up over two-thirds of the entire population. This gradual change has come as a result of decreasing fertility and higher life expectancy, causing the average age of the population to rise.

Australia: Age distribution from 1960 to 2021

Characteristic	0-14 years	15-64 years	65 and above
2021	18.37%	65.33%	16.57%
2020	18.54%	65.47%	16.23%
2019	18.68%	65.61%	15.93%
2018	18.78%	65.76%	15.67%
2017	18.85%	65.94%	15.42%
2016	18.89%	66.17%	15.18%
2015	18.9%	66.45%	14.92%
2014	18.91%	66.74%	14.66%
2013	18.93%	67.05%	14.4%
2012	18.94%	67.36%	14.13%
2011	18.97%	67.66%	13.84%
2010	19.06%	67.88%	13.57%
2009	19.17%	68.02%	13.35%
2008	19.3%	68.05%	13.21%
2007	19.43%	68.03%	13.11%
2006	19.58%	67.99%	13.01%
2005	19.76%	67.94%	12.9%
2004	19.95%	67.88%	12.79%
2003	20.15%	67.82%	12.68%
2002	20.35%	67.73%	12.57%
2001	20.56%	67.66%	12.47%
2000	20.74%	67.61%	12.37%
1999	20.9%	67.57%	12.29%
1998	21.06%	67.52%	12.21%
1997	21.22%	67.49%	12.11%
1996	21.38%	67.47%	12.01%
1995	21.52%	67.47%	11.89%
1994	21.63%	67.5%	11.76%
1993	21.73%	67.56%	11.61%
1992	21.82%	67.66%	11.44%
1991	21.91%	67.76%	11.26%
1990	22.02%	67.85%	11.08%
1989	22.18%	67.87%	10.94%
1988	22.4%	67.8%	10.8%
1987	22.71%	67.66%	10.64%
1986	23.12%	67.45%	10.45%
1985	23.57%	67.19%	10.26%
1984	23.97%	66.93%	10.1%
1983	24.34%	66.67%	9.97%
1982	24.65%	66.44%	9.87%
1981	24.94%	66.23%	9.76%
1980	25.25%	66.05%	9.62%
1979	25.62%	65.85%	9.45%
1978	26.04%	65.59%	9.26%
1977	26.5%	65.29%	9.09%
1976	26.97%	64.95%	8.93%
1975	27.43%	64.64%	8.77%
1974	27.84%	64.36%	8.65%
1973	28.18%	64.12%	8.55%
1972	28.6%	62.96%	8.44%
1971	28.88%	62.78%	8.35%
1970	29.16%	62.6%	8.24%
1969	29.29%	62.41%	8.3%
1968	29.35%	62.27%	8.38%
1967	29.42%	62.12%	8.46%
1966	29.51%	61.95%	8.54%
1965	29.62%	61.76%	8.62%
1964	29.78%	61.59%	8.64%
1963	29.98%	61.38%	8.64%
1962	30.17%	61.19%	8.64%
1961	30.25%	61.12%	8.63%
1960	30.18%	61.21%	8.61%