Population
Need for assistance
About this topic
Need for assistance measures people who report needing help with self-care, body movement, or communication because of a disability, a long-term health condition, or older age. It is a high-needs indicator rather than a general measure of disability.
This topic is useful for planning accessible facilities, care services, respite, and support for carers. The measure is based on self-report in the Census, so it should be interpreted with care and read alongside unpaid care and other disability-related indicators.
Interpretation notes
- The measure is self-reported and records need for help with core activities, so it is not a complete measure of disability prevalence.
- It applies to all persons and is strongest as an indicator of higher support need when read with unpaid care and ageing data.
Key insight
In 2021, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Darwin (C), accounting for 23.3% (571 people). This share was higher than Greater Darwin (22.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 130 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Darwin (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Darwin (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Darwin (C), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
42
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
42
0.8%
-0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
339
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
339
3.4%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
114
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
114
2.8%
+0.6pp
20-24
2021 count
95
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
95
1.9%
+0.9pp
25-34
2021 count
151
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
151
0.9%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
176
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
176
1.4%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
265
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
265
2.6%
+0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
359
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
359
4.2%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
515
2021 rate
8.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
515
8.8%
+0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
571
2021 rate
23.3%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
571
23.3%
-2.5pp
85+
2021 count
303
2021 rate
52.4%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
303
52.4%
-2.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-16
-0.3pp
5-14
+130
+1.1pp
15-19
+22
+0.6pp
20-24
+44
+0.9pp
25-34
+8
0.0pp
35-44
+28
+0.2pp
45-54
+38
+0.5pp
55-64
+22
+0.2pp
65-74
+98
+0.2pp
75-84
+122
-2.5pp
85+
+43
-2.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Darwin (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 42 | 0.8% | 1.3% | 58 | 1.1% | 1.0% | -16 | -0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 339 | 3.4% | 4.0% | 209 | 2.3% | 2.6% | +130 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 114 | 2.8% | 3.0% | 92 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +22 | +0.6pp |
| 20-24 | 95 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 51 | 1.0% | 1.1% | +44 | +0.9pp |
| 25-34 | 151 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 143 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 176 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 148 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +28 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 265 | 2.6% | 2.5% | 227 | 2.1% | 2.1% | +38 | +0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 359 | 4.2% | 4.5% | 337 | 4.0% | 4.1% | +22 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 515 | 8.8% | 9.3% | 417 | 8.6% | 8.9% | +98 | +0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 571 | 23.3% | 22.9% | 449 | 25.8% | 24.9% | +122 | -2.5pp |
| 85+ | 303 | 52.4% | 55.1% | 260 | 55.3% | 55.3% | +43 | -2.9pp |
| Total | 2,933 | 3.6% | 3.7% | 2,386 | 3.0% | 2.9% | +547 | +0.6pp |