Damon Mcknight
Australia's population is estimated to be 27,980,100 as of 13 August 2025, with projections of exceeding 30 million by 2029. The population has been increasing since British colonisation in 1788, with immigration playing a significant role. Australia has the eighth-largest immigrant population globally, with immigrants making up 30% of its population. The country's population density is low, with an average of 3.6 people per square kilometre. The majority of Australians live in urban areas, particularly along the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern coastlines. The median age in Australia is 38.3 years, with an ageing population trend due to low fertility rates.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's population in 2025 is estimated to be 27,980,100
In recent years, Australia has experienced a demographic shift towards an older population, with an increasing number of retirees and a decrease in the number of people of working age. The median age of the Australian population is 38.3 years, and the median age in capital cities is 37 years. Australia's fertility rate has been declining, with the total fertility rate for all Australian women at 1.5 births per woman, below the replacement rate of 2.1. This has contributed to an aging population.
Despite the aging population, Australia's population is projected to continue growing. The current population of 27.98 million is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029 and reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. This growth will be driven by immigration, as Australia has the eighth-largest immigrant population in the world, with immigrants accounting for 30% of the population.
Australia's population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, with 86.51% of the population living in urban regions. The majority of the population lives near coastlines, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards. Tasmania, which borders Queensland and South Australia, is the most populous region in Australia, with a population of 7 million people.
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30% of the population (7.5 million) were born overseas
Australia's population has grown significantly since British colonisation in 1788, when it was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians. As of 2025, the population is estimated to be around 27,980,100, with projections reaching between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. In 2024, the population was approximately 27.4 million, with 8.6 million people born overseas, constituting 31.5% of the population.
The proportion of the population born outside Australia has increased over time, rising to 31.5% by June 2024, up from 30.7% in 2023 and 29.5% in 2022. This percentage exceeded 30% for the first time since 1893. The COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2021 caused a decline in the proportion of people born overseas, but when these restrictions were lifted in 2022, there was a subsequent increase in overseas migration into Australia.
In 2020, 29.1% of the population, or 7.5 million people, were born overseas. This figure increased to 30% in 2024, or 7.52 million people. Australia has one of the highest proportions of foreign-born residents in the world, both in total numbers and per capita. Immigrants account for 30% of the population, the highest proportion among major Western nations.
The countries of birth with the largest populations in Australia as of 2024 are England (964,000), India (916,000), China (700,000), and New Zealand (618,000). Western Australia has the highest proportion of people born overseas at 34.1%, while Tasmania has the lowest at 16.3%.
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8.6 million people were born in a different country
Australia's population in 2022 was 26 million, with projections of reaching between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. As of 30 June 2024, Australia's population included 8.6 million people born in a different country, accounting for 31.5% of its population. This proportion of overseas-born residents has been increasing since 2004, when it was 23.8%. The latest figures show that almost every country in the world is represented in the birthplaces of Australia's population.
Australia has one of the highest numbers of foreign-born residents in the world, both in total numbers and per capita, with one of the highest immigration rates globally. Immigrants account for 30% of the population, the highest proportion among major Western nations. In 2020, this figure was 29.1%, or 7,502,000 people. Australia's population has quadrupled since the end of World War I, largely due to immigration. The country has the world's eighth-largest immigrant population, with over 8.6 million immigrants constituting 3.1% of all immigrants worldwide.
The diversity of Australia's overseas-born population has increased since 1901. In that year, four of the top five countries of birth were in Europe, and one was in Asia. By 2021, the makeup had shifted, with one European country and three Asian countries in the top five. The countries in the top five in 2021 were India, China, England, and New Zealand. Notably, China's proportion declined after the end of the Gold Rush and the enactment of the White Australia Policy. Since 2001, India and China have been the main sources of overseas-born population growth in Australia.
Among Australia's capital cities, Sydney had the highest overseas-born population as of the 2016 Census, with 1,773,496 individuals. Melbourne followed closely with 1,520,253, and Perth was third with 702,545. Western Australia had the largest population of overseas-born individuals among the states and territories.
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49.3% of the population are male
Australia's population is estimated to be 27,980,100 as of 13 August 2025, with 49.3% of the population being male. This equates to just over 13.78 million males in the country. This number is an increase from the 2021 Census, which counted 25,422,788 people in Australia (excluding overseas visitors), of which 49.3% were male. The median age of males in Australia is 37 years old, compared to 39 years old for females.
The population of Australia has been steadily increasing over time, with the country's population growing from 3.8 million in 1901 to 25.7 million in 2021. The population is projected to continue growing, with estimates placing the population between 34.3 and 45.9 million people by 2071. This increase in population is due in part to immigration, with Australia having the world's eighth-largest immigrant population. Approximately 30% of the population, or 7,529,570 people, were born overseas as of 2019.
The majority of Australia's population is urban, with 86.51% of the population, or 23,335,357 people, living in urban areas as of 2025. The country's population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards. The median age of the overall population is 38.3 years, with the average age being 39 years as of 2021.
The population of Australia is also aging, with a demographic shift towards an older population and fewer people of working age. The fertility rate has decreased from 3.1 births per woman in 1921 to 1.7 in 2021, and it is projected that the median age will increase to between 43.8 and 47.6 years by 2071. Despite the aging population, Australia's population remains predominantly young, with half of the population being younger than the median age.
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The median age is 38.3 years
The median age of Australia's population is 38.3 years, according to a 2025 estimate. This means that half of the population is older than 38.3 years, and the other half is younger. The median age is a key indicator of the age distribution within a population.
The median age of 38.3 years reflects the demographic shift towards an older population in Australia. This shift is influenced by various factors, including declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy. Australia's total fertility rate has decreased over time, falling below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman. In 2021, the total fertility rate for all Australian women was 1.7 births per woman, and it further decreased to 1.5 births per woman in 2023. This trend contributes to an aging population, as there are fewer births relative to the number of older individuals.
Additionally, life expectancy in Australia has been increasing, resulting in a growing proportion of older adults. The combination of declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy has led to a higher median age. This trend is not unique to Australia, as many other developed countries are also experiencing similar demographic shifts towards an older population.
The median age varies across different regions of Australia. For example, the median age in capital cities is 37.0 years, while the rest of Australia has a median age of 41.9 years. Darwin is the youngest capital city with a median age of 34.6 years, while Adelaide is the oldest at 39.2 years. These variations in median age can be attributed to various factors, including urban-rural differences, migration patterns, and regional demographics.
The median age of 38.3 years in Australia has implications for various aspects of society. It suggests that a significant portion of the population is of working age, contributing to the country's economic productivity. However, as the median age increases and the population ages, there may be a shift towards a relatively larger proportion of retirees and a smaller proportion of individuals of working age. This can have implications for the workforce, social security systems, healthcare services, and the overall demographic landscape of the country.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 13 August 2025, Australia's population is estimated to be 27,980,100.
The population of Australia in 2021 was 25.7 million.
The population of Australia in 2071 is projected to be between 34.3 and 45.9 million.
