How your city shows your age in Australia

Key points:

• Residents of Adelaide and Hobart are older on average compared to residents of other capital cities in Australia, as per recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Older Australians may be drawn to certain areas or capital cities that are quieter and have plenty of nature reserves and markets
• Health experts have raised concerns about aged care access for older Australians who live in rural and remote areas

The average age of Adelaide and Hobart residents is approximately 39 years, higher than other Australian capitals, indicating that cities with greener spaces and quieter living may attract older Australians. 

This average age is calculated by ‘the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.’

Older Australians may enjoy spending their retirement in Adelaide as it is much smaller than other capital cities such as Melbourne or Sydney, meaning that it is quicker to get to the heart of the city. 

However, Adelaide residents can enjoy being close to the city and having quick access to beaches and the Adelaide Hills, where there are plenty of wineries to enjoy a lazy Sunday. 

Similar to Adelaide, Hobart boasts an inviting location for older Australians with an abundance of natural areas and gardens and many weekly markets, enabling residents to immerse themselves in local culture and buy fresh food.

Additionally, Hobart includes the Positive Ageing Commitment strategy to ensure that older people are valued, included in the community and celebrated. 

Forty-six percent of South Australian and Tasmanian residents over the age of 45 years are retired, compared to just 22 percent of peers of the same age residing in the Northern Territory, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

Not only does this highlight South Australia and Tasmania as desirable places to retire, but it also suggests that people in Darwin may not be living there to retire.

On average, the age of residents in capital cities is 37 years, whereas Darwin has been identified as the youngest Australian capital city, with an average age of approximately 34 years for residents.

Fewer older Australians may choose to live in Darwin as two-thirds of people who move to and from Darwin are ‘motivated by work reasons,’ with 42 percent of new arrivals expecting to leave within five years, according to a recent report from the Northern Territory Government.

Experiencing high temperatures in Darwin may also be a deterrent for older Australians because on average, 319 days of the year sit at or exceed 31 degrees Celcius.  

Sweltering Cities Executive Director Emma Bacon previously highlighted concerns for older Australians in hot weather, especially people who are not in regular contact with others.

“Heatwaves aren’t just a day at the beach, they can be seriously dangerous. It’s important that we check in on people who might be at risk. Isolation can be deadly for older people, people who live in hot homes, people with disabilities and chronic illnesses and others,” she said.

However, some regional areas such as Tea Gardens Hawks Nest on the New South Wales coast have an average resident age of approximately 66 years, making this the oldest average-aged population in Australia.

Approximately 34 percent of older Australians live in rural or remote areas, according to recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Older Australians may move to rural or remote areas for many reasons. In one study, researchers determined that ‘rural communities [can] offer social support with many older people being part of integrated social networks. Older people with no health problems are well supported in these communities.’

Older Australians in rural and remote areas of Australia may enjoy the serenity of a quieter town but some experts are concerned about issues of older Australians finding it more difficult to access quality aged care. 

In major cities, 17 percent of older Australians accessed residential care, compared with less than seven percent in remote areas, as per information available from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2020.

In another study undertaken by researchers in a rural South Australian community, the older Australian participants responded that they had insufficient access to services for ‘chronic disease management, specialist care, psychological distress, and [that they had] the need for formal care services.’

In this same study, the barriers for accessing this care included ‘workforce shortages, a lack of continuity of care, self-transportation, and long waiting times for appointments.’

Read more about how the Australian Government aims to improve aged care access in rural areas in this article: Thousands of doctors arriving in Australia could improve healthcare access for rural older Aussies.

However, the average age of Australians is set to increase as the population continues to age and fertility rates continue to drop, leading to an ageing Australian population. 

The average age of Australians across the country was approximately 39 years in 2023, and is projected to reach an average of 42 years by 2048, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

While this change may seem small, it means that life expectancy increases but fewer younger people will be able to provide care for the growing population. 

For more information about what life could look like for you in Australia’s capital cities, visit this guide: Best Australian cities for retirement.

What city do you think is the best for living as an older Australian?

Let the team at Talking Aged Care know on social media. 

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