Australian Defence Force service

According to the 2021 Census:

• There were 581,100 people who had ever served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), 2.8% of the Australian population aged 15 years and over.
• Townsville, QLD had a higher number of current service (5,500 people) and previous service (8,700 people) members than any other region (at the SA3 level).
• One in twenty (5.3%) Australian households (dwellings) had at least one person who had served in the ADF (that is, at least one person who was either currently serving or had previously served in the ADF).
• 13% of previous service members needed assistance with the core activities of self-care, mobility or communication.
• Three in five (60%) previous service members had a long-term health condition.
• People who had served in the ADF were more likely to have volunteered in the previous 12 months (21%) than those who had never served in the ADF (15%).

Serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) provides a unique variety of opportunities and experiences (1) and can have a significant impact on a person’s life, both during their service period and beyond. It may affect where they live, their connection with family and other social networks, as well as their health and wellbeing.

Returning to civilian life following ADF service can present challenges, and previous service members may have distinct characteristics and health needs (physical and psychological) that require special consideration due to their military training, service and deployments.

The 2021 Census included a new question about service in the ADF. While records exist for current ADF service, limited records exist for previous service personnel.

The following article analyses the characteristics of both currently serving members of the ADF and those who previously served, aged 15 years and over, based on 2021 Census data. The data provides information to enable better delivery of services and support for veterans, to geographic areas where it is most needed.

Currently serving includes those who, at the time of the 2021 Census, were aged 15-64 years and were part of the:

• Australian Army (including NORFORCE (North-West Mobile Force))
• Royal Australian Navy
• Royal Australian Air Force.

A current ADF service member may be engaged in:

• Regular service - considered a person’s main ongoing job, with most roles full-time in nature. They may have also engaged in Reserves service previously.
• Reserves service - normally part-time in nature and can include up to 200 days of service per year, depending on the role. They may also have also engaged in Regular services previously.

Previous service includes former ADF members aged 15 years and over who served in Regular or Reserve services (including the National Service and the Second Australian Imperial Force) who are not currently serving in the ADF.

Total ever served includes those currently serving and those with previous service in the ADF.

Never served includes all people aged 15 years and over with no current or previous service in the ADF.

Note this analysis does not capture people who have served in non-Australian defence forces and excludes overseas visitors.

Detailed information on ADF service data variables is found in the 2021 Census dictionary.

• Australian Defence Force service, detailed (ADCP)
• Australian Defence Force service (ADFP)

According to the 2021 Census, there was a total of 581,100 people who had ever served in the ADF, 2.8% of the Australian population aged 15 years and over. Of those who had ever served in the ADF:

• 10.4% (60,300 people) were currently serving in Regular service
• 4.2% (24,600 people) were currently serving in the Reserves service
• 85.4% (496,300 people) had previously served in either the Reserve or Regular service and were not currently serving.

Among those who were currently serving:

• 79.4% were male (67,400 people)
• 20.6% were female (17,500 people)
• The average age of those in the Regular service was 34 years
• The average age of those in the Reserves service was 41 years.

Among those who had previously served in the ADF:

• 86.6% were male (429,600 people)
• 13.4% were female (66,700 people)
• The average age was 64 years.

The age profile of ADF service members varies considerably by whether they were current or previous service members. Currently serving ADF members have a much younger age profile, with over half (53%) aged under 35 years.

Those who previously served in the ADF were more likely to be older, with over half (53%) aged 65 years or more.

Among previous service members, the most common 5-year age group was 70-74 years (16% or 81,800 people). In 1964, selective conscription was introduced in Australia, which meant that 20-year-old men were chosen, through a ballot system, to serve in the Australian Army. The scheme ran from 1964 to 1972, increasing the size of the army by 40,000 people (2). Individuals conscripted through this process would be between 69 and 76 years old today, attributing to the high count in that age group.

According to the 2021 Census, over half of current service members (56% or 47,700 people) and previous service members (54% or 267,600 people) were living in either New South Wales or Queensland, in part reflecting the larger populations within these states.

There were some notable differences in the proportion of ADF members in other states and territories, reflecting the location of bases where current service members are located.

Around two-thirds (67%) of current service members lived in a greater capital city (Greater Capital City Statistical Area), similar to those who had never served in the ADF (68%). Just over half (55%) of previous service members lived in a greater capital city, with 45% living in a regional area, reflecting the older age profile of this group, many of whom may no longer be working (3).

Certain regional areas at the Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3) had high numbers of current and previous ADF service members, reflecting the location of bases in those regions.

Townsville, QLD is the site of Australia’s largest Army base, Lavarack Barracks, and according to the 2021 Census, had more currently serving ADF members than any other regional area:

• 4,960 people from Townsville were in the Regular service, accounting for 8.2% of all current Regular service members, higher than any other regional area
• 565 people from Townsville were in the Reserve service, accounting for 2.3% of all Reservists, higher than any other regional area
• 3.5% of the usual resident population (aged 15 years and over) in Townsville were currently serving in the ADF. In contrast, ADF current service members accounted for less than 1% (0.4%) of the total Australian population.

In addition, Townsville had more previous service members (8,660 people) than any other regional area (SA3 level), accounting for 5.6% of Townsville’s usual resident population (aged 15 years and over).

Following Townsville, the areas with the highest numbers of currently serving ADF members were:

• North Canberra, ACT (2,610 people, accounting for 3.1% of North Canberra’s population) which includes the Royal Military College (Duntroon) and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)
• Rockingham, WA (2,240 people, accounting for 2.6% of Rockingham), which includes the HMAS Stirling Naval base
• Gungahlin, ACT (2,050 people, accounting for 2.4% of Gungahlin’s population), likely due to its proximity to Duntroon and ADFA.

Following Townsville, the areas with the highest numbers of previous service members were:

• Toowoomba, QLD (5,060 people)
• Rockingham, WA (4,720 people)
• Onkaparinga, SA (4,700 people)

Current Regular service members were most likely to have changed usual address in the past five years. Approximately four in five (78.7%) current Regular service members had a usual address that was elsewhere in Australia five years ago, compared to: 

• 53.8% of current Reserve service members  
• 42.4% of previous service members
• 41.1% of people who had never served.

Ages 65 years and over

The proportion of people who had a usual address elsewhere in Australia five years ago was similar for previous service members (19.7%) and those who had never served (18.9%) in the ADF.

The 2021 Census asked how many hours people had worked in the past week. Of those who were employed, both current serving and previous service members reported working longer hours per week compared to people who had never served.

Among employed people aged 15-64, a higher proportion of current service and previous service members worked more than 50 hours in the week prior to Census Night, compared to people who had never served. Almost one in four (22.6%) current Regular service members worked 50 or more hours per week, compared to:

• 18.3% of current Reserves service members
• 20.3% of previous service members
• 12.1% of people who have never served.

Of the current serving Regular service members, 87.2% worked full-time hours (35 hours or more in the past week), 6.4% worked part-time hours (34 hours or less in the past week) and 4.7% worked 0 hours.

According to the 2021 Census, current Reserves service members (89.1%) and previous service members (74.8%) aged 15-64, were more likely to be employed than those who had never served in the ADF (73.7%).

The flexibility and part-time nature of working in the Reserves services enables members to work in full-time employment outside of the ADF. Compared to those who had never served, current Reserves service members aged 15-64 were more likely to be in full-time employment than those who had never served (64.8% compared to 43.9% respectively). Current Reserves service members were also less likely than those who had never served to be in part-time employment (19.0% compared to 23.9%) or to be unemployed and looking for work (2.0% compared to 4.1%).

Similarly, previous service members were also more likely to be employed full-time compared to those who had never served (56.0% compared to 43.9%). They were also less likely than those who had never served to be employed part-time (13.7% compared to 23.9%) or to be unemployed and looking for work (3.2% compared to 4.1%).

Of the 581,100 people who had ever served in the ADF:

• 94% (547,900 people) were at home (at their usual residence) on Census Night
• 5.7% (33,200 people) were elsewhere in Australia on Census Night.

Almost one in ten (10%) current service members were away from home on Census Night, twice that of previous service members (5%), reflecting the mobile nature of a current service role.

Of those who had never served in the ADF (aged 15 years and over) just 3.6% were away from home on Census Night.

Service with the ADF can affect where a person lives. While Reservists may live at any location across Australia, those in the Regular service generally reside on or near an ADF base in a private dwelling such as their own home or an ADF Service Residence (4), or in a non-private dwelling such as a barracks.

Of the 547,900 people who had ever served in the ADF and were at home (at their usual residence) on Census Night, most (97% or 529,300 people) lived in a private household (dwelling). For more information, see Dwelling type (DWTD).

Among current service members who lived in a private household, over half (53%) were renting. This reflects in part their younger age profile, as well as the mobility of their role, particularly those in the Regular service. In contrast, previous service members were more likely to live in their own home, either owned outright (48%) or with a mortgage (30%). For more information, see Tenure type (TEND).

Among current service members living in private households who were renting, the most common Landlord type (LLDD) was a real estate agent (50%) followed by a government employer (including Defence Housing Australia) (38%). Landlord type varied by type of service:

• 44% of those in the Regular service were renting from a government employer (including Defence Housing Australia), compared with 5.8% of those in the Reserves service.

Non-private dwellings provide communal or transitory accommodation. For current ADF service members this is more likely to include defence establishments like barracks, while for non-service members this can include hotels, hospitals and aged care facilities. According to the 2021 Census, of the 547,900 people who had ever served in the ADF and were at home (at their usual residence) on Census Night 18,600 people lived in a non-private dwelling.

Current service members were more likely to live in a non-private dwelling (11% or 8,570 people) than previous service members (2.1%) or those who had never served in the ADF (1.4%). Most (97%) of the current service members living in non-private dwellings were engaged in the Regular service.

Among the 8,570 current service members living in non-private dwellings:

• Most (83%) were living in staff quarters
• 13% were living in a residential college (hall of residence).

In contrast and reflecting their older age profile, among the 10,000 previous service members living in non-private dwellings:

• over half (56%) were living in a nursing home
• almost one-quarter (23%) were living in accommodation for the retired or aged (not self-contained).

According to the 2021 Census, there were 9.8 million households (occupied private dwellings) in Australia on Census Night. Of these, one in twenty (5.3% or 521,600 households) had at least one person who had served in the ADF (that is, at least one person who was either currently serving or had previously served in the ADF). This proportion was greater in regions with higher numbers of service people. In Townsville, QLD, one in six (16%) households had at least one person who had served in the ADF, followed by:

• Gungahlin, ACT (12%)
• Rockingham, WA (11%)
• North Canberra, ACT (10%).

Of the 529,300 people who had ever served who live in private dwellings who were at home on Census Night, those currently serving were most likely to be living in a couple family with children (43%) (including children under 15 years and dependent students). This was followed by couple family with no children (26%), reflecting the younger age profile of this group. For more information, see Family composition (FMCF).

In contrast, of those who had previously served, 45% were in a couple family with no dependent children, reflecting the older age profile of this population.

According to the 2021 Census, there were 3,160 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (INGP) who were currently serving in the ADF, approximately 3.7% of all currently serving ADF members. In comparison, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples made up 2.7% of those aged 15 years and over who had never served in the ADF.

Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples currently serving in the ADF:

• 76% were male, similar to the overall population of currently serving ADF members (79.4%)
• 24% were female
• 75% were in the Regular service
• 25% were in the Reserves service

In 2021, there were 11,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who had previously served in the ADF, approximately 2.3% of all previous ADF members. Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who previously served in the ADF:

• 82% were male
• 18% were female
• 57% were in the Regular service
• 33% were in the Reserves service
• 10% served in both Regular and Reserves service.

According to the 2021 Census, current Regular and Reserve service members were more likely to have completed year 12 (HSCP) (81% and 79%, respectively) than those who had previously served (45%) or never served (60%) in the ADF. This in part reflects the younger age profile of those currently serving and the entry requirements for some positions in the ADF.

According to the 2021 Census, females were more likely than males to obtain a bachelor degree or higher. Around half of current Reserves service females aged 15 years and over (49.1%) reported obtaining a bachelor degree or higher, compared to:

• 30.8% of current Regular service females  
• 27.4% of previous service females
• 30.5% of females who have never served.  

Current Reserves service members were more likely to obtain a bachelor degree or higher (42.3%) than current Regular service members (25.3%), those who had previously served (20.2%) and those who never served (28.1%).

Current Reserves service members were also most likely to obtain postgraduate degree level qualifications (15.4%), compared to current Regular service members (8.8%), those who had previously served (5.6%) and never served (7.0%).

The highest proportion of current Regular service members who obtained a bachelor degree or higher were aged 25-34 years (35.8%). This proportion decreased as age increased:

• 29.3% aged 35-44
• 20.3% aged 45-54
• 6.3% aged 55-64.

This trend is consistent with what is seen in the general population who have never served in the ADF, with a higher proportion of young people obtaining a bachelor degree or higher. It is also consistent with the age profile of each cohort. 

Equivalised total household income (weekly) (HIED) is an indicator of the income resources available to a household and does not take into account the assets that might be held by members of a household (such as the family home).

Household income levels were generally higher among current service members than those who had never served. According to the 2021 Census, of those aged 15-64 years living in private households:

• Current Regular service members had a median household income of $1,699 per week
• Current Reserves service members had a median household income of $1,718 per week

In contrast, those who had never served (aged 15-64 years living in private households) had a median household income of $1,261 per week.

Among people aged 65 years and over (living in private households), the median household income was higher for those who had served in the ADF ($730 per week) than those who had never served ($660 per week).

The 2021 Census measured the number of people who needed assistance with the core activities of self-care, mobility or communication in their day to day lives because of disability, long-term health conditions or old age. For more information, see Core activity need for assistance (ASSNP).

The likelihood of having a need for assistance increases with age (see the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, 2018). Given the younger age profile of current service members, and the fitness and aptitude requirements to enter a role (5), among the 84,900 people currently serving just 1.2% needed assistance, with those aged 45-64 years more likely to need assistance (2.2%) than those aged 15-44 years (<1%).

Among the 496,300 people who had previously served in the ADF aged 15 years and over, 13% needed assistance. Whether a person needed assistance varied according to whether previous service members served in the Regular or Reserve service, and by age. According to the 2021 Census:

• 4.7% of people aged 15-44 years who had previously served in the Regular service needed assistance, compared with 1.5% of those who had served in the Reserves service only and 2.4% of those who had never served
• 8.1% of people aged 45-64 years who had previously served in the Regular service needed assistance, almost twice the rate of those who had previously served in the Reserves service only (4.8%) and those who had never served (4.6%)
• 22.1% of people aged 65 years and over who had previously served in the Regular service needed assistance, higher than those who had served in the Reserves service only (16.9%) and those who had never served in the ADF (19%).

The 2021 Census measured the number of people who reported that they had at least one selected long-term health condition (LTHP), including arthritis, asthma and mental health conditions.

It is important to note that the short question used to collect this information provides useful information about the prevalence of long-term health conditions among small population groups or for smaller geographic regions, however for national and state prevalence estimates of long-term health conditions, see the ABS National Health Survey. For national and state prevalence estimates of mental disorders, see the ABS National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

According to the 2021 Census, current service members were less likely to report a long-term health condition than those with previous service and those who had never served, reflecting the general physical and mental fitness, and younger age profile of this population. Of the 84,900 people who were currently serving in the ADF (aged 15-64 years):

• around one in five (22%) reported they had one or more long-term health conditions, with rates similar between males and females (21% and 23% respectively)
• younger current service members (15-44 years) were less likely to report a long-term health condition (16%) than those aged 45-64 years (38%).

The most common long-term health conditions reported by current service members were:

• mental health conditions (including depression and anxiety) (7% of all currently serving members)
• arthritis (6%)
• asthma (5%).

It is likely that the short question used in the Census to collect long-term health condition information underestimates the number and proportion of people with mental health conditions. For more information, see Comparing ABS long-term health conditions data sources.

Service in the ADF can increase a person’s exposure to stressful and sometimes dangerous situations, which can increase the likelihood of developing a range of physical and mental health conditions, which may not emerge until after the completion of service (6). This, together with the older age profile of previous service members, is a likely contributor to the higher incidence of long-term health conditions among those who had previously served in the ADF compared with the population who had never served.

Of the 496,300 people aged 15 years and over who had previously served in the ADF:

• three in five (60%) had a long-term health condition
• those who had previously served in the Regular service were more likely to report a long-term health condition than those whose previous service was in the Reserves only, regardless of age.

The two most common long-term health conditions reported by previous service members were:

• arthritis (23%)
• heart disease (16%).

The incidence of selected long-term health conditions varied somewhat between those who served in the Regular and Reserve service, particularly for mental health conditions. Among those who had previously served in the ADF, those who had served in the Regular service were more likely to report a mental health condition (18%) than those who had served in the Reserves service only (10%).

Reflecting their older age profile, previous service members were more likely to report each of the selected long-term health conditions than those who had never served, with the exception of asthma. This reflects in part the change in eligibility criteria for the ADF, which prior to 2007 prevented anyone with a history of asthma (within the previous five years) from entering the ADF (7).

People who had served in the ADF were more likely to have volunteered (VOLWP) in the previous 12 months than those who had never served in the ADF. According to the 2021 Census, of the 581,100 people who had ever served in the ADF, around one in five (21%) had volunteered in the past year, compared with 15% of those who had never served.

Females were more likely to have volunteered in the previous 12 months regardless of their type of service. Among those who had ever served, females who had previously served in the Reserves service only were most likely to report that they had volunteered in the previous 12 months (27%).

More data related to this article can be found in the data downloads on the Service with the Australian Defence Force: Census topic page. 

1. Defence Jobs Australia, ‘Lifestyle & Benefits’, www.defencejobs.gov.au/lifestyle-and-benefits, last viewed 26 May 2022
2. National Archives of Australia – the conscription lottery, www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/war/vietnam-war/national-service-ballot-balls-conscription-lottery, last viewed 19 may 2022
3. ABS, Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia – Stories from the Census, 2016: Ageing Population, www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Ageing%20Population~14, last viewed 26 May 2022
4. Defence Housing Australia, ‘Housing’, https://www.dha.gov.au/housing, last viewed 26 May 2022
5. Defence Jobs Australia, ‘Health & Fitness’, https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/joining/can-i-join/health-and-fitness, last viewed 26 May 2022
6. Lawrence-Wood E, McFarlane A, Lawrence A, Sadler N, Hodson S, Benassi H et al. 2019. Impact of combat report. Canberra: Department of Defence; DVA, www.dva.gov.au/documents-and-publications/impact-combat-report, last viewed 12 May 2022
7. Bailey, J. and Williams, F., Asthma and eligibility for the Australian Defence Force, www.racgp.org.au/afp/2009/november/asthma-and-the-adf, last viewed 26 May 2022