Leslie Massey
Australia is a highly urbanised country with a population of around 27 million people as of 2024. It is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous in Oceania. Australia's population is concentrated on the coastal fringes, with around 95% of people living within 100 km of the coast. The population density is low compared to other countries, with an average of 3.5-4 people per square kilometre. The country has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world, with almost half of Australians having a parent born overseas. The population is expected to increase to between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 27,836,700 as of 22 May 2025 |
| World ranking | 54th most populous country |
| Population density | 3.6 persons per square kilometre |
| Total land area | 7,682,300 Km² |
| Population in major cities | 73% |
| Population in inner and outer regional areas | 25% |
| Population in remote and very remote areas | 1.9% |
| Population living within 100 km of the coast | 95% |
| Urban population | 86.51% (23,335,357 people in 2025) |
| Population growth rate | 1.4% |
| Net overseas migration | 379,800 |
| Annual growth | 484,000 people (1.8%) |
| Annual natural increase | 104,200 |
| Median age | 38.3 years |
| Percentage of population aged 65 and above | 17% |
| Percentage of population born outside Australia | 31.5% |
| Life expectancy | 83.2 years (2015-2017) |
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What You'll Learn
Population density
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world by area, and the largest in Oceania, with a total area of 7,688,287 sq km (2,968,464 sq mi). However, it has a relatively small population of around 27 million people as of 2024, and a low population density.
The population density of Australia is given as 3.4/km2 or 3.5/km2 in some sources, while others give a figure of 3.6/km2 or 4/km2. This makes Australia one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with only 3.5 people per square kilometre on average. For comparison, the world average for people living within 100 km of the coast is 39%. In Australia, 95% of the population lives within this distance from the coast.
The population is concentrated in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards. The major cities of Sydney and Melbourne both have populations of over 5 million. Australia's population is expected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071, with the country's population density likely to increase as a result.
Australia's low population density is due in part to its geography and climate. The country is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent, with large areas of desert in the interior and a slow-moving river system. This makes certain areas less habitable, and therefore less densely populated.
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Population growth
Australia's population has grown significantly since British colonisation in 1788, when the Indigenous population was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000. By June 2024, Australia's population was estimated to be 27.2 million, with the most recent estimate in May 2025 placing it at 27,836,700. The population is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071.
The main driver of population growth has been net overseas migration, which increased from 47,000 people in 1993-94 to 435,000 in 2023-24. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a reversal of this trend in 2020-21, with border restrictions leading to a net outflow of migrants for the first time since World War II. Despite this, the annual growth rate in September 2024 was 1.8%, with a quarterly growth of 0.4%.
Australia's population is highly urbanised, with 86.51% living in urban areas and 68% in the eight capital cities. The population is concentrated on the coastal fringes, with 95% living within 100 km of the coast. The country has a low population density of 3.5-4 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
The median age in Australia is increasing, rising from 33.4 years in 1994 to 38.3 years in 2024. The percentage of the population aged 65 and over has increased from 12% to 17% during the same period. The total fertility rate has declined from 1.85 babies per woman in 1993-94 to 1.49 in 2023-24, falling below the replacement level of 2.1. This, along with increasing life expectancy, has resulted in an ageing population.
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Population distribution
Australia's population is concentrated on its coastal fringes, with about 95% of the population living within 100 km of the coast. The world average for this is 39%. Australia's population density is 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometre, which is one of the lowest in the world. The country's population is expected to grow from 25 million in 2016 to close to 36 million by 2050, and to around 50 million by 2075. This increase will largely be the result of net overseas migration.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a population drop in most capital cities, while larger regional cities close to a major capital city and coastal towns have grown. The Australian government expects net overseas migration to recover to normal patterns by 2024/25, albeit with a slower growth rate than previously assumed.
The population distribution in Australia has been a topic of intense political and public debate, with discussions focusing on the housing, infrastructure, and economic development needs resulting from a growing population. The then-Coalition federal government, under Prime Minister Morrison (2018-2022), proposed introducing visa conditions that would require a percentage of international migrants to live in "regional Australia" for several years upon arrival. This prompted widespread concern about the potential impact on smaller towns.
The analytical focus of urban and regional planning in Australia is on states like South Australia (SA) and Victoria, which experience significantly different population trends despite being neighbouring states.
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Urbanisation
Australia's population in 2022 was 26 million, with a projection of reaching between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. The population density is 3.5 to 4 inhabitants per square kilometre, one of the lowest in the world. This is due to the country's vast size, as it is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania, covering 7,688,287 square kilometres.
Despite its low population density, Australia is one of the most urbanised countries globally, with a high degree of urbanisation since the 1960s. In 2023, the urbanisation rate reached 86.62%, the highest ever recorded. This rate has been consistently above 80% since the 1960s. Approximately 90% of the population lives on just 0.22% of Australia's land, with 87% residing within 50 kilometres of the coast. The population is heavily concentrated in coastal areas, with about 95% living within 100 kilometres of the coast, compared to a 39% world average.
The capital cities of Sydney and Melbourne are the most populous, each with over five million residents. In 2016, more than two-thirds of Australians lived in a capital city, with 40% of the population in Sydney and Melbourne. The high urbanisation rate is partly due to high immigration rates since the 20th century, with immigrants often settling in coastal urban areas.
The urbanisation in Australia has resulted in a significant proportion of the population living in densely populated areas, while the vast majority of the country remains sparsely populated. This has created a unique demographic distribution, with a high concentration of people in specific regions, particularly along the coastlines.
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Life expectancy
Australia has a population of around 26 million people in 2022, with projections of this figure rising to between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. The population density is 3.5 people per square kilometre, one of the lowest in the world. The population is concentrated on the coastal fringes, with 95% of people living within 100 km of the coast. The median age is 38.5 years, with a slightly higher median age for females (39) than males (37).
Australia has led the English-speaking world in life expectancy for the last three decades. Researchers have attributed this to several factors, including gun law reforms, lower levels of drug and alcohol use, and better management of chronic diseases. Australia's policies and initiatives have been suggested as a model for improving life expectancy in other countries, particularly the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2025, Australia's population is estimated to be 27.8 million.
Australia is the 54th or 55th most populous country in the world, with 0.33% of the total world population. It is the most populous country in Oceania.
Australia's population density is 3.5-4 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
About 95% of Australia's population lives within 100 km of the coast, and 86.51%-89% of the population lives in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards.
