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Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 270 ethnic groups. The country's unique history has shaped the diversity of its people, cultures, and lifestyles. Australia's population of about 25.4 million includes a diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, a legacy of British colonialism, and extensive immigration from various countries and cultures. The country's cultural groups are reflected in its art, literature, sports, language, and other aspects of daily life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 25.4 million |
| Population density | 3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi) in June 2022; 3.6/km2 in 2025 |
| Number of ethnic groups | 270+ |
| Number of Indigenous languages | 110+ |
| Percentage of population with ancestry other than Australian | 75%+ |
| Percentage of Indigenous population | 2% (2021 Census); 3.2% (2021 Census); 144,000 (2016); 741,000 (2021) |
| Percentage of population born overseas | 27.6% (2021); 51.5% (first or second generation, 2021) |
| Top ancestries | English, Australian, Chinese, Italian |
| Major religions | Christianity (43.9%), Islam (3.5%), Hinduism (2.9%), Buddhism (2.6%), Judaism (1%) |
| Percentage of population with no religion | 38.9% (2021 Census); 39% |
| Political parties | Australian Labor Party, Liberal Party of Australia |
| Games | Cricket, rugby, Australian Rules Football |
| Cultural traits | Mateship, egalitarianism, tall poppy syndrome |
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What You'll Learn
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
Australia's Indigenous peoples are two distinct cultural groups: the Aboriginal Australians of the mainland and many islands, including Tasmania, and the Torres Strait Islanders of the seas between Queensland and Papua New Guinea, located in Melanesia. Many people prefer to be called Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, rather than the generic term Indigenous Australian.
The term Aboriginal has been in the English language since at least the 16th century, meaning "first or earliest known, indigenous". It comes from the Latin "ab" (from) and "origo" (origin, beginning). The term was used in Australia as early as 1789 to describe its Aboriginal peoples. Today, the latter peoples (Torres Strait Islanders) are not included in this term. The word "Indigenous" has grown in popularity since the 1980s, but many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples dislike it as they feel it is too generic and removes their distinct clan and people identity.
In 2021, 2% of Australians were Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or both. In the 2021 Australian Census, 812,728 people self-identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin, representing 3.2% of the total population of Australia. Of these Indigenous Australians, 91.4% identified as Aboriginal, 4.2% identified as Torres Strait Islander, and 4.4% identified with both groups.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own laws and customs to determine the membership of their groups. Aboriginal people have referred to themselves as Koori, Murri or Nunga, relevant to the greater region they are connected to. Torres Strait Islander people prefer to use the name of their home Island to identify themselves to outsiders, for example, a Saibai man or woman is from Saibai, or a Meriam person is from Mer. Many Torres Strait Islanders born and raised in mainland Australia still identify according to their Island homes.
Art is important both culturally and economically to Indigenous society. Central Australian Indigenous communities have the highest per capita concentrations of artists anywhere in the world. Leading critic Robert Hughes saw contemporary Indigenous art as "the last great art movement of the 20th century". Key exponents such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Rover Thomas, and the Papunya Tula group use acrylic paints on canvas to depict dreamings set in a symbolic topography. Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri's Warlugulong (1977) typifies this style, popularly known as "dot painting".
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British colonial influence
Australia's cultural diversity is the result of its unique history, which includes a diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, a British colonial past, and extensive immigration from various countries and cultures. From 1788 until 1901, Australia was a collection of British colonies, with the first colonies established as places for criminals to live and work, also known as convict settlements or penal colonies. Later, colonies were established by free settlers, who were often seafaring men that received free land, farming tools, and convict labour from the British government.
During the colonial period, British troops were involved in suppressing rebellions and uprisings, such as the Castle Hill convict rebellion in 1804 and the "Ribbon Gang" outbreak in 1829. The British colonial government also played a role in crushing native independence in New Zealand during the New Zealand Wars, dispatching troops and engaging in battles that resulted in the confiscation of Maori land.
The British colonial influence in Australia extended beyond military and political control. Games like cricket and rugby were introduced from Britain and, along with Australian Rules Football, became treasured cultural traditions. Additionally, the Australian Constitution, established in 1901, enshrined human rights and economic rights, including the right to vote, the right to trial by jury, and freedom of religion.
The impact of British colonisation on Indigenous Australians was significant. Aboriginal land was taken over by British colonists under the premise of 'terra nullius', which assumed that the land belonged to no one. This belief was based on the observations of Captain Cook and Joseph Banks, who incorrectly assumed that there were few 'natives' along the coast and even fewer inland. As a result of colonisation, there was a drastic decline in the Aboriginal population due to introduced diseases and frontier conflicts.
Today, the influence of British colonisation continues to be recognised and addressed. For example, in 2023, the Reserve Bank announced that the design of the $5 note would be updated to honour the culture and history of the First Australians, replacing the previous imagery of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Immigration from other countries
Australia's population of about 25.4 million people is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse in the world. The country has a unique history that has shaped the diversity of its people, their cultures, and lifestyles today.
Australia's cultural diversity has been influenced by extensive immigration from many different countries and cultures. In 2021, just over 7 million people in Australia were born overseas, representing 27.6% of the population. This was an increase from 6.1 million, or 26.3%, in 2016. The proportion of overseas-born and second-generation migrants in Australia has been steadily increasing since the end of World War II.
The top five ancestries in Australia in 2021 largely reflected earlier waves of British and European migration. The most common ancestry was English, followed by Australian, with other common ancestries including New Zealander, Chinese, and Italian. About half of those born overseas were born in Europe, with the largest proportion coming from the United Kingdom.
Italian migrants have had a long and rich history of settlement in Australia since the 1850s. During the gold rush, many Italians migrated to Victoria and, later, to agricultural communities in other parts of the country. After World War II, Australian migration schemes in the 1950s and 1960s brought large numbers of Italian migrants, who established family businesses and worked in various industries.
Chinese migration to Australia also has a long history, dating back to the early 19th century. Tens of thousands of Chinese people arrived in the 1850s to work in the goldfields, and many stayed to establish businesses or work in agriculture. Chinese communities contributed significantly to the development of Australian agriculture and set up market gardens.
Other notable non-European groups in Australia include those with ancestries from New Zealand, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. The growth in Asian immigration and the subsequent flow of refugees from the Balkans have contributed to the country's growing cultural diversity and cosmopolitanism.
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Religious diversity
Australia is a highly multicultural nation, with almost one-fifth of its population born overseas. The country's cultural diversity is reflected in its religious diversity, with many different faiths and denominations represented.
The major religion in Australia is Christianity, with 43.9% of the population identifying as Christian. This group comprises 19 different Christian denominations, with the major denominations being Catholic, Anglican, Christian, Uniting Church, Eastern Orthodox, and Presbyterian and Reformed. The proportion of Christians in Australia has been steadily decreasing, while the percentage of non-religious individuals has been increasing. In the 2021 census, 38.9% of the population identified as having "no religion", up from 15.5% in 2001.
Other major religions in Australia include Islam (3.5% of the population), Hinduism (2.9%), Buddhism (2.6%), and Judaism (less than 1%). Almost 8,000 Australians practise Aboriginal traditional religions, and the number of people who indicated that they had Australian Aboriginal ancestry increased from 144,000 in 2016 to 741,000 in 2021.
Australia has a long-standing Anglo-Celtic heritage, and its historical ties to Britain and Ireland have had a significant influence on its culture and demographics. However, the country has become increasingly diverse due to immigration from various countries and cultures. The growth in immigration, particularly Asian immigration, and the subsequent flow of refugees from regions like the Balkans, have contributed to the religious diversity in Australia.
In conclusion, Australia's religious diversity is a reflection of its multicultural nature, with a variety of faiths and denominations co-existing within the country. The increasing proportion of individuals identifying as non-religious also adds to the religious landscape of Australia, shaping its cultural diversity.
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Australian rules football
Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world. Its population of about 25.4 million includes a diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, a British colonial past, and extensive immigration from many different countries and cultures. In 2021, over 75% of Australians identified with an ancestry other than Australian, and 2% were Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or both. Almost half of Australians were born overseas or have a parent who was. The most common ancestries in 2021 were English, reflecting the long history of English-born migration to Australia, followed by Australian, and then Aboriginal Australian. Other common ancestries include Irish, Scottish, Italian, German, and Chinese.
The sport is rich in tradition and Australian cultural references, especially surrounding the rituals of game day for players, officials, and supporters. For important matches, a "Welcome to Country" has become an important part of the pre-match ceremony. Australian football supporters, or "barrackers", are generally more solitary than supporters of other sports, and crowd violence is rare. The sport is also unique in that, since its early days, half of all spectators have been female.
Australian football has also been influenced by other sports and overseas traditions, particularly from the US. For example, in 1979, the Carlton Football Club started a trend of scantily-clad cheerleaders, the "Carlton Blue Birds", which was seen as flashy and inappropriate by fans.
Indigenous Australians are well-represented in professional Australian football. While only 2.4% of the population is of indigenous origin, 10% of Australian football players identify as such.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world. The population of about 25.4 million consists of more than 270 ethnic groups. The major cultural groups include those with British, European, and Chinese ancestry.
Australia has no official religion, but the major religion is Christianity, with 43.9% of the population identifying as Christian. This group comprises 19 different denominations, with the major ones being Catholic, Anglican, Christian, Uniting Church, Eastern Orthodox, and Presbyterian and Reformed. About 39% of Australians reported having no religion.
The Indigenous population of Australia consists of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. About 2% of Australians belong to these groups, and in 2021, Australian Aboriginal was in the top five most common ancestries for third-plus generation Australians.
Australia is the third least densely populated country in the world, with an average population density of 3.4 to 3.6 persons per square kilometre.
Australia has a unique history that has shaped its diverse demographic makeup. Three major contributors to its population are a diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, a British colonial past, and extensive immigration from many different countries and cultures. After World War II, the Australian migration schemes of the 1950s and 1960s brought large numbers of Italian migrants to the country. The growth in immigration, particularly Asian immigration, beginning in the last decades of the 20th century, combined with a flow of refugees from the Balkans, significantly altered the cultural landscape of Australia.
