Ruqayyah Snyder
Baby Boomers are one of the largest population groups in Australia, with the generation considered to cover those born from 1946 to 1964, or between 1946 and 1961 according to Bernard Salt. In 2021, Baby Boomers made up 21.5% of the Australian population, a decrease from 25.4% in 2011. In 2029, the first of the Baby Boomers will reach their statistical age of death, and all Baby Boomers will be eligible for retirement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of the Australian population as of 2021 | 21.5% |
| Date range | 1946 to 1961 or 1964 |
| First to reach their statistical age of death | 2029 |
| Statistical age of death (Men) | 81 |
| Statistical age of age of death (Women) | 85 |
| Year all baby boomers will be eligible for retirement | 2029 |
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What You'll Learn
Baby Boomers made up 21.5% of the Australian population in 2021
The term "baby boomers" refers to those born during the post-World War II population boom, generally considered to be between 1946 and 1964. However, Bernard Salt places the Australian baby boom between 1946 and 1961. Baby Boomers are one of the largest population groups in Australia due to sub-replacement fertility. They are also known for their high levels of homeownership and wealth accumulation.
In contrast to Millennials, Baby Boomers in Australia reported quite different religious affiliations, with nearly 60% (56.8%) affiliating with Christianity, compared to 30% of Millennials. Additionally, 30% of Baby Boomers reported having no religion, while this figure was significantly higher at 46.5% for Millennials.
As of 2021, Baby Boomers in Australia are increasingly needing assistance with core activities, with 7.4% reporting this need, compared to only 2.8% across younger generations. They also play an important role in caring for grandchildren and other people's children.
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Millennials overtook Boomers in 2021
Baby Boomers are considered to be those born between 1946 and 1964. In Australia, they are one of the largest population groups due to sub-replacement fertility.
In 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that Baby Boomers and Millennials each had over 5.4 million people, with only 5,662 more Baby Boomers than Millennials counted on 10 August 2021. Over the previous decade, the percentage of the population that were Millennials had increased from 20.4% in 2011 to 21.5% in 2021, while the percentage of Baby Boomers had decreased from 25.4% in 2011 to 21.5% in 2021. This meant that in 2021, Millennials and Baby Boomers made up an equal share of the Australian population at around 21.5% each, making them the largest generational groups at the time.
Millennials are of working age and are upskilling, representing 40% of people attending vocational education, including TAFE, and 48% of people currently serving in the regular service of the Australian Defence Force. Millennials and Baby Boomers have quite different religious affiliations, with nearly 60% (56.8%) of Baby Boomers reporting a Christian religious affiliation compared to 30% of Millennials (30.6%). More than 45% (46.5%) of Millennials reported that they had no religion compared to 30% of Baby Boomers (30.7%).
In 2029, the first of the Baby Boomers will reach their statistical age of death and all Baby Boomers will be eligible for retirement.
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Australia's Baby Boom lasted from 1946 to 1961
Australia's Baby Boom, which lasted from 1946 to 1961, refers to the post-World War II population increase. The term "baby boomer" was first recorded in a 1963 newspaper article, which described a surge in college enrolments as the oldest boomers came of age. The generation is considered to cover those born between 1946 and 1964 by organisations like the Australian Bureau of Statistics. However, Bernard Salt places the Australian baby boom between 1946 and 1961.
In Australia, Baby Boomers are one of the largest population groups, with over 5.4 million people as of 2021. They represented 21.5% of the population in that year, but this has decreased from 25.4% in 2011. In 2029, the first of the Baby Boomers will reach their statistical age of death, with all Boomers becoming eligible for retirement.
Baby Boomers in Australia are more likely to be religious, with 56.8% reporting a Christian affiliation compared to 30% of Millennials. Additionally, 30.7% of Baby Boomers reported having no religion, while this figure is much higher for Millennials at 46.5%.
The children of Baby Boomers are often referred to as Generation X, who are now at a stage where they have more property wealth than the Boomers. Millennials, the generation after Generation X, are the largest population group in Australia but represent a smaller share of the total population compared to Baby Boomers at their peak.
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Baby Boomers are one of the largest population groups in Australia
The large number of Baby Boomers in Australia can be attributed to the post-World War II population increase, often referred to as a "boom". This surge in population led to a significant increase in college enrollments as this generation came of age, with many prestigious institutions becoming highly selective in their admissions processes.
Over time, the proportion of Baby Boomers in the Australian population has decreased. As of 2021, Millennials have become the largest population group, with an equal share to Baby Boomers at 21.5% each. However, when adjusted for population growth, Millennials represent a smaller share of the total population compared to Baby Boomers at their peak.
In 2029, the first of the Baby Boomers in Australia will reach their statistical life expectancy of 81 for men and 85 for women, and all Baby Boomers will be eligible for retirement. This will have significant implications for the country's economy and social welfare programs.
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In 2029, the first Baby Boomers will reach their statistical age of death
In 2021, Baby Boomers made up 21.5% of the Australian population, with over 5.4 million people. This generation is considered to cover those born from 1946 to 1964, with some sources citing the end year as 1961. In 2029, the first Baby Boomers will reach 65 years old, the traditional retirement age.
The aging of the baby boomer generation will have a significant impact on various aspects of Australian society. One notable consequence is the expected increase in dental shortages as a large number of baby boomers retire. The dental workforce is already ageing, and it is projected that about half of the current dentists will retire by 2026. Similarly, the ageing of the baby boomer generation will impact the medical workforce, with potential shortages of general practitioners, specialists, and nurses. In 2001, the baby boomer generation made up more than half of the medical workforce, and many continued to work beyond the traditional retirement age of 65.
The Australian government has been encouraging baby boomers to save more and work longer to help finance a comfortable standard of living in retirement. Population ageing is expected to have significant consequences for the government due to increased costs associated with healthcare, aged care, and pensions, as well as slower economic growth.
As the baby boomer generation ages, there will also be a shift in religious affiliations within Australia. Compared to Millennials, Baby Boomers report higher rates of Christian affiliation (56.8%) and lower rates of having no religious affiliation (30.7%).
The year 2029 will mark a significant milestone for the baby boomer generation in Australia, as they reach the traditional retirement age and their statistical age of death, which will have far-reaching implications for the country's social, economic, and demographic landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Baby boomers make up 21.5% of the Australian population as of 2021.
The baby boomer generation includes those born between 1946 and 1964, though some sources place the end date at 1961.
The post-World War II population increase was described as a "boom" due to an increase of 2,357,000 in the US population from 1940 to 1950.
As of 2021, millennials make up 21.5% of the Australian population, matching the percentage of baby boomers.
