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Australia is a large country with a population to match. As of 30 June 2024, Australia's population was 27.2 million people, a number that has grown by an average of 1.4% per year since 1994. The population is concentrated in major cities, with 73% of people living in urban areas. Australia has the eighth-largest immigrant population in the world, with 30% of its residents born overseas, and immigrants accounting for 70% of the country's overall population growth. The median age of Australians is 38.5 years, and the population is ageing, with the median age projected to increase to between 43.8 and 47.6 years.
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What You'll Learn
Population growth
Australia's population has grown from 3.8 million in 1901 to 25.7 million in 2021, with an estimated population of 27.2 million in June 2024. The population growth rate has averaged 1.4% per year from 30 June 1994 to 30 June 2024.
The population growth rate was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with international border restrictions causing population growth to fall to a historic low of 0.1% in 2020-21. However, following the easing of restrictions and the return of overseas migration, Australia's population grew by 2.5% in 2022-23 and 2.0% in 2023-24.
Net overseas migration has been the primary driver of population growth, increasing from a net inflow of 47,000 people in 1993-94 to 435,000 people in 2023-24. In 2023-24, net overseas migration was 340,800, while the annual natural increase was 105,200. The crude birth rate, or the total number of live births per 1,000 people in a year, has decreased over time, with the total fertility rate for all Australian women at 1.50 births per woman in 2023. The declining birth rate and ageing population are reflected in the increase in the number of deaths, which has grown faster than the number of births.
Australia has the world's eighth-largest immigrant population, with immigrants accounting for 30% of the population in 2019, or 7,529,570 people. The proportion of overseas-born residents was 31% in 2024, compared to 69% for Australian-born residents. In 2023, 31% of people in Australia were born overseas, an increase of 8% over the past 30 years. The majority of immigrants are skilled, but the immigration quota also includes categories for family members and refugees. Asia is the largest source of immigrants in the 21st century, with India recording the largest increase since 2014.
Australia's population is concentrated in major cities, with close to three-quarters (73%) of the total population residing in urban areas. The median age in Australia is 38.3-39 years, and it is projected to increase to between 43.8 and 47.6 years. The average age of the population in 2021 was 39 years, indicating a demographic shift towards an older population, with more retirees and fewer people of working age.
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Urbanisation
Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with 90% of its population living in just 0.22% of its land area. Urbanisation in Australia has been driven by high rates of immigration, with 30% of the population, or 7,529,570 people, born overseas as of 2019. The country's urban population has grown from 58% in 1911 to 86.62% in 2023, the highest rate in its history.
In 2021, Australia's population was 25.7 million, with 90% living in urban areas. This is a significant increase from the 3.8 million people living in the country in 1901. The country's population has quadrupled since the end of World War I, largely due to immigration. As of 2021, 8.6 million people in Australia, or 31.5% of the population, were born overseas. The largest sources of immigrants in the 21st century have been England, India, China, and New Zealand.
Australia's urban population is concentrated in coastal areas, with 87% of the population living within 50 kilometres of the coast. As of the 2016 Census, more than two-thirds of Australians lived in a capital city, with 40% of the population residing in the two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. The capitals grew by 427,800 people (2.4%) between 2023 and 2024, driven by overseas migration, natural increase, and internal migration. Melbourne experienced the largest increase in population, with 142,600 new residents, while Perth had the highest growth rate at 3.1%.
The median age in Australia is between 37 and 39 years, with a median weekly household income of $1,770 as of the 2021 Census. The median age in capital cities is 37 years, younger than the rest of the country. Darwin is the youngest capital at 34.6 years, while Adelaide is the oldest at 39.2 years. The median age across Australia is projected to increase to between 43.8 and 47.6 years in the future.
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Immigration
Australia is a popular choice for immigration, with its high quality of life, prosperous economy, and diverse population. Tens of thousands of expatriates from all over the world already call Australia home.
The Australian government offers various visa options for those seeking to immigrate, each with its own requirements and benefits. One common pathway to permanent residency in Australia is through employer sponsorship. To be eligible for an employer-sponsored visa, individuals must find an Australian-based employer to sponsor them. The employer must select a role from the defined list of skilled occupations, and the position must meet certain minimum criteria relating to salary and skill level. The nomination is then evaluated by immigration authorities, who determine whether it meets their criteria. A positive skills assessment is necessary to obtain this visa. This route is suitable for applicants who are currently in Australia on a medium-term stream TSS visa (or a 457 visa) and have worked for their employer for at least two years.
Another option for immigration to Australia is the Temporary Skilled Shortage (TSS) visa. This visa is available to overseas workers whose skills are in high demand in Australia. To obtain this visa, individuals must be sponsored by an Australian company, which must demonstrate that they are legally operating in the country and have processes in place to train local employees. The sponsoring company must also declare that they have been unable to find a suitable local worker to fill the role.
It is important to note that each visa application is thoroughly examined by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, so it is crucial for applicants to ensure their submissions are well-prepared and correctly completed. Additionally, depending on the type of visa, length of stay, and intended activities in Australia, individuals may be required to undergo a medical examination before their visa is issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
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Ageing population
Australia's population is ageing due to increasing life expectancy and declining fertility rates. The median age of the total population increased by 12 years during the 20th century, from 22.6 to 35.2 years in 2000. By 2020, the median age had increased to 38 years. This ageing of the population is also reflected in the changing shape of the "age-sex pyramid", which shows relatively fewer children and more elderly people than in 1911.
The representation of those aged 65 and over has increased from 4% in 1901 to 8.9% in 1976, reaching 12.3% in 2000 and 16% in 2020. By 2021, people aged 65 and over were projected to outnumber those under 15, and by 2051, nearly one-quarter of the population is expected to be 65 or older. The proportion of those aged 85 and over has also increased, rising from 0.5% in 1970 to 2.1% in 2020.
The ageing population is influenced by various factors, including the decline in fertility rates, with an increasing number of women choosing careers over starting a family. The significant improvement in life expectancy has also contributed to the ageing population, with mortality rates for both males and females decreasing by over 70% from 1907 to 2016. As a result of these factors, Australia's median age in 2015 was slightly lower than that of the United States and the United Kingdom, but higher than some other developed countries.
The ageing population has implications for the economy, as the working population begins to decrease from the age of 55 in Australia. Increasing the paid employment rate of Australians over 55 by 5% could add $48 billion to the national economy annually. The ageing population also impacts healthcare, with an expected increase in chronic diseases such as dementia, arthritis, and cancer, which already affect 49% of the elderly population. Additionally, over one-quarter of older Australians live in poverty, and those aged 65 and over make up 7% of the homeless population.
The Indigenous Australian population is notably younger than the total population, with a median age of 20.2 years. The older Indigenous population is defined as those aged 50 and over, reflecting the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
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Language
Australia's population was estimated to be 26,974,026 people in mid-2025, with approximately 8.6 million people born overseas. The population density is 4 per square kilometre, with most people living close to coastlines. Australia's median age is 38.3 years, and the population is predominantly urban, with 73% of people living in major cities.
Australia has no official language, but English has always been considered the de facto national language. Australian English has developed as a distinctive variety of the language. However, the country also recognises its rich history of Indigenous languages. At the time of European contact, it is thought that there were over 250 Indigenous Australian languages, each spoken by the many distinct groups of Indigenous Australians. Today, fewer than 20 of these languages are still in daily use by all age groups, with around 110 others spoken exclusively by older people. In the 2006 census, 52,000 Indigenous Australians reported speaking an Indigenous language at home, representing 12% of the Indigenous population.
The Indigenous population of Australia has a long and diverse history, with human migration to the continent estimated to have begun at least 65,000 years ago. At the time of European colonisation, the Indigenous population was estimated to be between 315,000 and 750,000 people, divided into as many as 500 tribes, each with its own language and culture. Today, the Indigenous population of Australia is estimated to be around 984,000 people, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population. Most of Australia's Indigenous population lives on the east coast, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland, where they make up around 2-5% of the state populations.
In addition to English, Australia also recognises Auslan, the country's sign language, which is used by approximately 16,000 deaf people as their main language. The recognition of Auslan as an official language in the 2021 census was a significant step forward for the deaf community in Australia.
While English is the predominant language in Australia, the country's diverse population also speaks a variety of other languages at home. The next most common languages include Mandarin Chinese (2.7%), Arabic (1.4%), Vietnamese (1.3%), and Cantonese (1.2%). These languages reflect the significant proportion of first- and second-generation immigrants in Australia, with many bilingual individuals contributing to the country's cultural and linguistic diversity.
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Frequently asked questions
The population of Australia as of 31 December 2024 was 27.4 million people.
Three-quarters (73%) of Australians live in major cities, with the remaining quarter (25%) living in inner or outer regional Australia, and 1.9% in remote areas.
The median age in Australia is 38.3 years. The median age in capital cities is 37 years, with Darwin having the lowest median age of 34.6 years.
As of 30 June 2024, 8.6 million people living in Australia were born overseas, which is 31% of the population.
