Census reveals what Australia looks like

There are just as many Millennials as there are Boomers in Australia, after the country’s population grew by two million people over the last five years.

The 2021 Census has revealed that, within a very small margin, the number of “Millennials” – 25 to 39-year-olds – have caught up with “Baby Boomers” – 55 to 74-year-olds – as the largest generational groups in Australia.

There are around 5.4 million people within each age group, with only 5662 more Boomers than Millennials.

The number of Millennials have increased from 20.4 per cent of the population in 2011 to 21.5 per cent in 2021, while at the same time the number of Baby Boomers have decreased from 25.4 per cent to 21.5 per cent.

Statistician Dr David Gruen said it was important that every Australian was represented in the Census data.

“Every stat tells a story, and today we are sharing a glimpse into the stories of almost 25.5 million Australians,” Dr Gruen said.

“This accurate and valuable data reveals who we are as a nation and how we have changed.”

The census data revealed around one in eight Baby Boomers reported caring for other people’s children, particularly grandchildren, and are the generation most likely to volunteer.

Millennials on the other hand represent 40 per cent of the total number of Australians attending vocational education, and 48 per cent of the serving Australian Defence Force.

Australia has become a less religious country over the last ten years – with over 40 per cent identifying as Christian, down from 60 per cent in 2011.

Millennials and Baby Boomers reported very different religious affiliations – nearly 60 per cent (56.8 per cent) of Baby Boomers are Christian, compared to 30 per cent of Millennials.

More than 46 per cent of Millennials reported having no religion, compared to 30 per cent of Baby Boomers.

Dr Gruen said while the religion question was voluntary, 93 per cent of people answered the question.

“The religion question holds a special place in the Census – it is one of the few topics that has been in every one of Australia’s 18 Censuses and is the only question that is voluntary,” he said.

Elsewhere, the Census data found almost half of Australians have a parent born overseas, and more than 25 per cent of the population were born in another country themselves.

More than one million people have moved to Australia since 2017, with nearly a quarter of those from India.

Language wise, more than 5.5 million people speak a language other than English at home, with Mandarin still the most common tongue.