Results of the latest national census have revealed we’re a fast-changing nation with Australians getting older – with one in six Australians now aged over 65.
As the baby boomers’ percentage of the population grows, the profile of a typical Australian will continue to age. Currently the median age is 38, up from 23 in 1911, 28 in 1966 and 37 in 2011.
Due to improvements in diets, medical technology and public health, Australians are continuing to live longer than past generations, with 84,000 more people aged over 85 years since the 2011 Census.
A growing concern for future governments is the declining rate of home ownership with just 31 per cent of Australians owning a home compared to 41.1 per cent in 1991. The number of Australians moving into retirement without owning a home, combined with increasing divorce/separation rates, will only continue to put further pressure on the Age Pension system, at least until Superannuation accounts mature enough to reverse this trend.
Holding much of the country’s wealth, older Australians are becoming more powerful than ever before and politicians will increasingly to take note of their voting power. We can only hope that this power leads to further life-long improvements for older people.
What do you think? Is Australia’s ageing population a good thing? With the Australian population growing by 1037 extra Aussies every day since the 2011 Census, are you concerned about the changing landscape of our country?
Read more at theguardian.com
Read more at theaustralian.com.au
Related articles:
Faith in spotlight in 2016 Census
Census farce no laughing matter
Retirement Affordability Index March 2017
