Lyla Lindsey
Australia has a national capital, Canberra, and state capital cities. The state capitals are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth or Perth-Freemantle, and Darwin. The capital city with the largest population is Sydney, with around 4.9 million people, followed by Melbourne, with 4.5 million.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Capital City with the Largest Population | Sydney |
| Population | 4,627,345 or 4.9 million |
| Population Growth in 2023-24 | 107,500 |
| Population Density | High and Very High (194 km²) |
| Second Largest Capital City | Melbourne |
| Population of Melbourne | 4.5 million |
| Population Growth of Melbourne in 2023-24 | 142,600 |
| Third Largest Capital City | Brisbane |
| Population of Brisbane | 2.3 million |
| Population Growth of Brisbane in 2023-24 | 72,900 |
| Capital City with the Highest Growth Rate | Perth |
| Population Growth Rate of Perth | 3.1% |
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What You'll Learn
Sydney: largest population of Australian capital cities
Australia is divided into six states: New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. Each state has a capital city, and Sydney is the largest of these capital cities by population. Sydney is located in New South Wales and is followed by Melbourne in terms of population size.
Sydney has a population of approximately 4.6 million people, with some sources placing the figure at 4.9 million. It is expected to be the first Australian city to reach 5 million people. Sydney's population is around 400,000 larger than Melbourne's, but Melbourne is experiencing faster growth, with 10,000 more people per year than Sydney. By 2053, it is projected that Melbourne will surpass Sydney in population, with both cities reaching 8 million residents by 2055.
Sydney's population growth is driven by various factors, including net overseas migration gains. In the 2023-24 financial year, Sydney's population increased by 107,500 people, with the outer north-west areas of the city experiencing the most significant growth. The city also witnessed a net internal migration loss, indicating that more people moved out of Sydney to other parts of Australia than moved in.
Sydney's high population is not just a matter of numbers but also of density. It has the largest combined area in the high and very high-density classes, with 194 square kilometres, more than double that of Melbourne, which has 69 square kilometres. This indicates that not only does Sydney have a large population, but that population is concentrated in a relatively small space, contributing to an urban feel and potentially presenting unique challenges in terms of infrastructure and city planning.
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Melbourne: fastest-growing capital city
Melbourne is Australia's fastest-growing capital city. Between 2023 and 2024, Melbourne's population increased by 142,600 people, more than any other Australian city. This growth was driven by net internal migration gains, with Rockbank-Mount Cottrell in Melbourne's west alone growing by 4,300 people. Melbourne's population growth has been consistently outpacing that of Sydney, with 10,000 more people per year.
In 2022, Melbourne was estimated to have a population of around 4.5 million, making it the second-largest Australian city after Sydney, which had a population of approximately 4.9 million. However, at that time, Melbourne was already growing at a faster rate than Sydney, with a growth rate of 1.95% per year compared to Sydney's 1.5%. If these trends continue, it is projected that Melbourne will overtake Sydney as Australia's largest city by 2053, with both cities reaching a population of 8 million by 2055.
Melbourne's growth is not limited to its central areas but extends to its outer suburbs as well. The city's population density is the second-highest in Australia, with 69 km² in the high and very high-density classes, only surpassed by Sydney's 194 km². Melbourne's growth is also reflected in the surrounding state of Victoria, which has the fastest growth rate of any Australian state or territory, at 1.75%.
Melbourne's rapid growth has been driven by a combination of factors, including natural increase, internal migration, and overseas migration. The city's attractiveness as a destination for immigrants and its ability to provide job opportunities and a favourable climate have all contributed to its population expansion. Melbourne's western suburbs, in particular, have experienced significant growth, with areas like Rockbank-Mount Cottrell seeing substantial increases in residents.
As Melbourne continues to expand and develop, it will be interesting to observe how the city manages the challenges and opportunities that come with its rapid growth. The city's future planning and infrastructure development will play a crucial role in accommodating this expansion and ensuring a high quality of life for its residents.
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Perth: highest growth rate
Australia has eight capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Canberra, and Hobart. While Sydney is the largest capital city by population, with around 4.9 million people calling it home, Perth has the highest growth rate.
Perth's population grew by 72,700 people in the 2023-24 financial year, increasing by 3.1%. This is impressive compared to the growth rates of Melbourne and Brisbane, which both achieved 2.7%. In fact, Perth has held the title of the fastest-growing city, recording 3.05% per year for the past five years. This growth rate is expected to see Perth overtake Brisbane in population size by 2029, when both cities will have just over three million residents.
Perth's growth is driven by net internal migration gains, with people moving to the city from other parts of Australia. This is a trend seen across the country, with outer-suburban areas of capital cities experiencing the largest population increases. For example, in the same period, Rockbank-Mount Cottrell in Melbourne's west grew by 4,300 people, and Marsden Park-Shanes Park in Blacktown grew by 3,900.
Perth's high growth rate is also influenced by net overseas migration gains, with the city attracting new residents from other countries. However, natural increase, which is the difference between births and deaths, plays a smaller role in Perth's growth compared to other capitals like Melbourne and Sydney.
The Western Australian capital city of Perth is located by the coast, which has historically provided access for trade and travel, offered a milder climate, and had sufficient water sources to support a large population. These factors, along with its high growth rate, make Perth an attractive destination for those seeking new opportunities and an excellent quality of life.
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Brisbane: third-largest capital city
Brisbane is the third-largest capital city in Australia, with a population of 2.3 million as of 2022. It is one of the eight capital cities in Australia, six of which have populations of over a million people. Sydney is the largest capital city in Australia, with a population of approximately 4.9 million people, followed by Melbourne, with 4.5 million.
Brisbane's population grew by 72,900 people in the 2023-24 financial year, the third-highest growth rate of the capital cities, after Melbourne and Sydney. The growth was driven by net internal migration gains, with areas in the outer suburbs of Brisbane, such as Boronia Heights-Park Ridge in Logan, experiencing the most significant population increases.
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, one of the six states of Australia. Queensland's growth rate has declined in recent years, from 2.0% to 1.37%. However, Brisbane continues to be an attractive destination for those moving from other parts of the country, contributing to its steady population growth.
With its growing population, Brisbane is an important urban centre in Australia, offering a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas. It is known for its coastal location, providing easy access for trade and travel, a favourable climate, and abundant leisure activities. Brisbane's continued population growth highlights its appeal as a desirable place to live and work in Australia.
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Canberra: eighth-largest capital city
Australia is divided into six states: New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. Each state has its own capital city, and these cities are not necessarily the largest in terms of population.
The state capital cities of Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth-Fremantle. Additionally, Canberra is the nation's capital, and Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory.
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, with around 4.9 million residents. It is followed by Melbourne, which has approximately 4.5 million people. Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are the next most populous cities, respectively.
Canberra, the nation's capital, is the eighth-largest capital city in Australia. It has a population of about 394,000 people, which is larger than the populations of Darwin and Hobart combined. Canberra has experienced population growth, with net overseas migration and natural increase being positive contributors. The Belconnen town centre in Canberra's northwest, for example, saw the greatest net overseas migration gain in the city.
In contrast to Canberra's growth, net internal migration within the city was negative. This pattern of population growth driven by net internal migration gains is observed in other capital cities as well, particularly in outer suburban areas. Melbourne, for instance, had the largest growth in population size, increasing by 142,600 people. This was followed by Sydney, which grew by 107,500 people, and Brisbane, which increased by 72,900 people.
While Canberra is currently the eighth-largest capital city in Australia, population trends suggest that the rankings may change over time. Based on current growth rates, it is projected that Melbourne will surpass Sydney as the largest city by 2053. Similarly, Perth's growth rate will likely lead it to overtake Brisbane by 2029.
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Frequently asked questions
Sydney is the capital city in Australia with the largest population, with around 4.9 million people.
Melbourne is the second most populated capital city in Australia, with around 4.5 million people.
Perth is the fastest-growing capital city in Australia, with a growth rate of 3.05% per year over the past 5 years.
Darwin is the least populated capital city in Australia, with around 144,000 people.
