Population aged between 5 and 18

IBISWorld forecasts the population aged between five and 18 to increase by 0.5% during 2025-26, to reach 4,668,019 people. The rate of growth in this age group is affected by the number of births five years prior, the number of people turning 19 and net migration of people in this age group. Net migration is expected to be strong, with the number of people aged 6-18 increasing over 50,000 compared to the number of 5 to 17 year olds in 2024-25, driving up the segment's population. However, the number of people aged 19 in 2025-26 is forecasted to be over 45,000 people larger than the number of people turning 5, limiting growth in the population segment's size.

Over the past five years, the population aged between five and 18 has grown steadily. Population growth rates in this age group have been much higher over this period compared to the growth rates in the 2000s, due to strong birth rates throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s. Since the pandemic impacted year of 2020-21, net migration has remained above 200,000 persons per year, further contributing to expansions in the population of adolescents in Australia.

The size of this age group is typically boosted by foreign primary and secondary school students that study in Australia. Foreign students are typically attracted to Australia because of its advanced education system and the possibility of becoming a permanent resident after they complete their studies. The Australian Government's border restrictions limited the number of foreign students and net migration over the two years through 2021-22, impacting the segment's growth. However, as borders reopened growth in this segment shot up again over the two years through 2023-24. While international student numbers reached a record level in 2024-25, growth rates have slowed across 2024-25 and 2025-26, due to concerns about potential reforms to Australia's international student policies. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts the population aged between five and 18 to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.1% over the five years through 2025-26.