agegroup

An age group, or age group category, is a range of ages used to classify individuals for statistical analysis. Age groups provide a convenient way to summarize characteristics that tend to change as people grow older, such as fertility, education, employment, health outcomes, and consumption patterns. They are not biological categories but policy and research constructs defined for data collection and reporting. In data systems, 'agegroup' may be used as a field name or label for a defined age-range category.

Common definitions vary by context. In population statistics, the United Nations and national agencies often use 5-year bands (0-4, 5-9, 10-14, ..., 85+). Broader classifications include child (0-14 or 0-18), youth (typically 15-24), working-age (often 15-64 or 18-64), and older or elderly (65+). In marketing, widely used bands include 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65+.

Applications: age groups are used in demographic projections, labor and education planning, health services, pension systems, and market research. They support comparisons over time and between populations, and help tailor policies and products to life-stage needs.

Methods and considerations: age is usually recorded as of a reference date; comparisons require consistent grouping. The size and composition of age groups influence results; smaller bands provide more detail but require larger samples. Age groups can mask heterogeneity within groups and interact with sex, ethnicity, or geography.

Limitations: changing definitions, cross-national comparability, and the use of age groups rather than continuous age can obscure trends. Nevertheless, age-group analysis remains a core tool in demography and related fields.