Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 5—Population 189
Age and sex composition
The population of 1901 was not only less than
one-fifth the size at present, but it was
substantially younger and males outnumbered
females, whereas the opposite is now the case.
The age structure of the population is of
major significance in determining the
demand for goods and services. The evolving
shape of Australia’s age-sex pyramid depicted
in graph C4.27 testifies to these shifts.
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
C4.27 AUSTRALIA, Age and Sex Structure of the Population—1901 to 1999
1901
Males
Females
Number of Persons (,000) Number of Persons (,000) Number of Persons (,000)
1933 1947 1954
1961
Males
Females
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
1911 1921
Males Females 75+
Males Females
800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800
75+
Males Females Males Females 75+
Males Females
70 - 74
70 - 74
65 - 69
65 - 69
60 - 64
60 - 64
55 - 59
55 - 59
50 - 54
50 - 54
45 - 49
45 - 49
40 - 44
40 - 44
35 - 39
35 - 39
30 - 34
30 - 34
25 - 29
25 - 29
20 - 24
20 - 24
15 - 19
15 - 19
10 - 14
10 - 14
5 - 9
5 - 9
0 - 4
0 - 4
800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800
Number of Persons (,000) Number of Persons (,000) Number of Persons (,000)
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
1966
Males
Females
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
1971
Males
Females
600 400 200 0 200 400 600
800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600
800 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600
800 800
Number of Persons (,000)
Number of Persons (,000)
Number of Persons (,000)
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
1976 1981 1986
75+
Males Females Males Females 75+ Males Females
70 - 74
70 - 74
65 - 69
65 - 69
60 - 64
60 - 64
55 - 59
55 - 59
50 - 54
50 - 54
45 - 49
45 - 49
40 - 44
40 - 44
35 - 39
35 - 39
30 - 34
30 - 34
25 - 29
25 - 29
20 - 24
20 - 24
15 - 19
15 - 19
10 - 14
10 - 14
5 - 9
5 - 9
0 - 4
0 - 4
800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800
Number of Persons (,000) Number of Persons (,000) Number of Persons (,000)
1991 1996
1999
75+
70 - 74
Males Females 65 - 69 Males Females
75+
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
60 - 64
55 - 59
55 - 59
50 - 54
50 - 54
45 - 49
45 - 49
40 - 44
40 - 44
35 - 39
35 - 39
30 - 34
30 - 34
25 - 29
25 - 29
20 - 24
20 - 24
15 - 19
15 - 19
10 - 14
10 - 14
5 - 9
5 - 9
0 - 4
0 - 4
Males
Females
800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800 800 600 400 200 0 200 400 600 800
Number of Persons (,000)
Note: Shaded areas represent the baby boom
Number of Persons (,000)
Number of Persons (,000)
Source: Australian Censuses 1901–96; ABS 2000a.