Compared to 2020 there were 55,742 fewer 18 to 30 year-olds living in NSW. This is unprecedented in recent history.
While NSW has long-term structural ageing, the change in median age had been slowing since the late 1990s. In the last 2 years, however, the rate of ageing has quickened, exacerbated by the decline in the number of young people.
| Years | Median age | Average yearly change in median age |
|---|---|---|
| Years1980's | Median age31.7 | Average yearly change in median age0.255 |
| Years1990's | Median age34.2 | Average yearly change in median age0.306 |
| Years2000's | Median age36.6 | Average yearly change in median age0.166 |
| Years2010-2019 | Median age37.6 | Average yearly change in median age0.039 |
| Years2020 | Median age37.8 | Average yearly change in median age0.308 |
| Years2021 | Median age38.3 | Average yearly change in median age0.451 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, National, State and Territory Populations – March Quarter 2021
Page last updated: 15/11/2022