Lexi Webster
Australia is a popular destination for people looking to migrate, offering world-class healthcare, high-quality education, better career prospects, political stability, and an enviable lifestyle. The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census results show that the country's population was 23.4 million, with almost 80% living in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory. Most Australians live in capital cities, with Sydney and Melbourne being the largest. When it comes to housing, separate houses are still the most common, but there has been a growing trend towards semi-detached, row housing, and apartments. Australians are known for their casual and informal culture, where everyone is treated equally, and they value punctuality. Socially, it is customary to thank service staff and to bring a gift when invited to someone's home for dinner. While swearing is common in everyday conversation, certain topics like sex, religion, politics, or race are generally avoided when meeting someone new.
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What You'll Learn
Population and demographics
Australia's population has grown from 3.8 million in 1901 to around 25.7 million in 2021, with an estimated population of 27.2 million in June 2024. The country's population is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. The population growth rate has averaged 1.4% per year over the past three decades, with an annual growth rate of 1.7% between 2023 and 2024. The population density is 3.4/km2, making Australia the third least densely populated country globally. The country's population density is 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometre, one of the lowest in the world. About 95% of the population lives within 100 km of the coast, compared to a 39% world average.
Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with 89% of its population living in a handful of urban areas. The majority of Australians reside in major cities, with the next most populous regions being inner regional Australia, followed by outer regional Australia, and then remote and very remote Australia. The capitals grew by 427,800 people (2.4%) between 2023 and 2024, with Melbourne experiencing the largest increase (142,600) and Perth having the highest growth rate (3.1%). The median age in capital cities is 37 years, lower than the rest of the country at 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.
Australia's population comprises 49.3% males and 50.7% females, with median ages of 37 and 39 years, respectively. The median age of the total population is projected to increase from 38.5 years to between 43.8 and 47.6 years. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, also known as First Nations people, was 984,000 in 2021, representing 3.8% of the total population. The total fertility rate for all Australian women is 1.50 births per woman, while Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women have a higher rate of 2.17 births per woman. Life expectancy at birth in Australia has increased by 26 years since the early 1900s, with an average life expectancy of 83.2 years between 2015 and 2017, one of the highest globally.
Historically, Australia experienced waves of immigration from the British Isles, China, and Germany before Federation in 1901. Following Federation, the White Australia policy restricted migration from these areas. However, this policy was relaxed after World War II, leading to increased immigration from across Europe. Today, 31% of Australia's population is born overseas, with England, India, China, and New Zealand being the top countries of birth. Additionally, almost half of Australians (48%) have at least one parent born outside of Australia.
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Immigration and ancestry
The immigration history of Australia began with the initial human migration to the continent around 80,000 years ago when the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians arrived via the islands of Maritime Southeast Asia and New Guinea. Archaeological evidence indicates human habitation at the upper Swan River in Western Australia around 40,000 years ago, and in Tasmania at least 30,000 years ago. The Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years.
From the early 17th century onwards, the continent experienced the first coastal landings and exploration by European explorers. Permanent European settlement began in 1788 with the establishment of a British penal colony in New South Wales. During this time, most early settlers were convicts, transported for petty crimes and assigned as labourers or servants to "free settlers" (willing immigrants). The British government paid for the passage of these convicts, as well as paupers, military personnel, and civil servants.
Following Federation in 1901, Australia maintained the White Australia Policy, which restricted immigration from non-European countries. This policy was abolished after World War II, and in the decades that followed, Australia experienced a large wave of immigration from across Europe, particularly Southern and Eastern Europe. During this period, Australia also became a signatory to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and recognised the right of asylum.
In recent times, there has been a significant increase in immigration from Asian and other non-European countries. Australia's population continues to grow and diversify, with the most recent census in 2021 counting 25,422,778 people in the country (excluding overseas visitors). The proportion of Australia's population born outside the country was 31.5% as of 30 June 2024, with England, India, China, and New Zealand being the countries with the largest populations of overseas-born residents.
For those interested in researching their Australian ancestry, there are numerous resources available. The National Archives of Australia holds passenger lists for individuals who travelled from the UK and Ireland to Australia and New Zealand from 1890 to 1960. Ancestry.co.uk, Findmypast.co.uk, and Familysearch.org also provide access to birth, marriage, and death records, as well as census records and other immigration information.
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Indigenous Australians
Before European contact, the indigenous people of Australia led nomadic lives, moving between areas as food sources were depleted. They had little need for permanent housing and slept outside near fires or in natural shelters. They kept Australia's wild dogs, or dingoes, as spiritual and physical guardians. This hunter-gatherer lifestyle required only four to five hours of work per day.
European contact brought this lifestyle to an abrupt halt. Waves of disease like smallpox destroyed whole communities, and in some areas, Aboriginal people were exterminated. Indigenous Australians faced forced removal from their lands, and their children were sent to special schools away from their families, where they learned little of their own culture. As adults, they faced racial discrimination and lacked the ancient skills needed to survive off the land. Despite this, Aboriginal culture is not stagnant or outdated, and many communities now work to preserve their skills and knowledge through community-based education.
Today, Aboriginal Australians lead diverse lifestyles in both rural and urban areas, and the degree to which a person follows older customs depends on personal preference. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprised 3.8% of Australia's population in 2021, and most speak English and live in cities. They continue to pass down traditional cultural beliefs through dancing, stories, songlines, and art, collectively known as the Dreaming.
While Aboriginal Australians have made strides in preserving their culture, they still face challenges. They experience racist attitudes and periodic incidents of violence, particularly in police custody. They also face generally poor living conditions, resulting in a higher infant mortality rate, lower life expectancy, and a higher suicide rate than the rest of the population. However, there have been positive developments, such as a landmark High Court judgment in 1992 that threw out the racist 'terra nullius' principle and recognized Aboriginal 'native title' over large parts of rural Australia.
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Religion and spirituality
Australia is a culturally and linguistically diverse country with no official religion. In the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified with Christianity, a decrease from 52.1% in 2016. The second-largest classification was the 38.9% who identified as having "no religion", an increase from 30.1% in 2016. The percentage of Australians reporting no religious affiliation continues to grow, with a rising trend in Australia of an affinity for no religion. While one in five Australians (22%) considered themselves non-religious in 2011, this number rose to three in ten (30%) in 2016.
Despite the move away from traditional forms of religion, Australians are still holding strong to the core beliefs. More than one in two (58%) believe in a higher power or God, 60% believe in miracles, and 59% believe in life after death. A quarter (27%) claim to have had a mystical or supernatural experience.
The Aboriginal peoples of Australia traditionally followed a set of beliefs known as The Dreaming, which is a collection of stories of an ancient view of creation and present-day spirituality. It shaped and continues to shape Aboriginal law and customs, and Aboriginal art, stories, and dances continue to draw on these spiritual traditions. The Dreaming emphasizes a deep connection to the land and the events of the Dreamtime, with families and clans inheriting totems (a kind of spiritual emblem) that define their roles and relationships with each other and the land.
The religious landscape of Australia has been shaped by waves of migration. In the 1800s and early 1900s, British and Irish free settlers brought Christianity to the country. Later, in the 1940s and 1950s, post-World War II migrants from Europe arrived, followed by humanitarian entrants from Africa and the Middle East in the 2000s, and skilled migrants from North-east and Southern Asia. This has contributed to the growth of other religions in the country, with the number of people practising religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism increasing.
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Lifestyle and culture
Australia's lifestyle and culture are heavily influenced by its history and the diversity of its people. The country's first and oldest stories belong to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are the Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and its islands, including Tasmania. Aboriginal Australians began arriving from Southeast Asia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, and at the time of first European contact, they spoke around 250 distinct languages. Today, Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.
Australia has a rich multicultural identity, influenced by its history of immigration. Between 1788 and World War II, the majority of settlers and immigrants came from the British Isles (England, Ireland, and Scotland), although there was also significant immigration from China and Germany during the 19th century. Following World War II, Australia experienced a large wave of immigration from across Europe, particularly Southern and Eastern Europe. Since the end of the White Australia policy in 1973, the country has continued to receive immigrants from all over the world, with Asia now being the largest source of immigrants. As a result of this diverse immigration history, Australia's population is diverse, with people of various ancestries, cultures, and religions coexisting.
The Australian lifestyle is heavily influenced by a love of nature and the outdoors. With its stunning natural landscapes, vast coastline, and diverse climates, Australians enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, kayaking, and picnicking. The country's beach culture has permeated various aspects of Australian life, including music and television. The Australian Outback, with its diverse landscapes and natural wonders, also holds deep connections to Aboriginal culture.
Sport is an integral part of Australian culture, with a long history of participation and enthusiasm for cricket, rugby, Australian Rules Football, soccer, and tennis, among others. Australians often gather in pubs to watch rugby games and spend days outdoors at cricket matches or playing casual games on the beach. The country hosts world-renowned sporting events such as the Australian Open tennis tournament and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Food also plays a significant role in Australian culture, with the country's culinary scene influenced by its diverse immigration history. Sharing meals with loved ones around a table is considered essential to Australian culture, and the country is known for its fresh produce and wine. Australia's calendar of events and festivals celebrates food, along with sport, art, and culture, reflecting the country's diverse and vibrant cultural identity.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 31 December 2024, Australia's population was 27,400,013 people. This includes 8.6 million people born overseas.
Australians of European descent are the majority in Australia, with 57.2% of the population identifying as European in the 2021 census. The largest group within this category are Anglo-Celtic Australians, with other groups including Southern and Eastern Europeans. Chinese Australians are the single largest non-Anglo-Celtic ancestry group, making up 5.5% of the population. Indigenous Australians make up a smaller proportion of the population, with Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders comprising this group.
Australia has a population density of 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometre, one of the lowest in the world. The majority of the population lives near coastlines, with about 95% living within 100 km of the coast.
Australia is a secular country, with 38.9% of the population identifying as having "no religion" in the 2021 census. The largest religion is Christianity, with 43.9% of the population. The largest Christian denominations are the Roman Catholic Church (20%) and the Anglican Church of Australia (9.8%).
Australia has a rich multicultural identity, with a diverse range of cultures, religions, and languages. Mateship is an important aspect of Australian culture, with a focus on friendliness and community. Australians also have a strong connection to nature and the outdoors, with a passion for sports and outdoor activities such as surfing, fishing, kayaking, and picnicking.
