Leslie Massey
Australia's population has grown from 3.8 million in 1901 to 25.7 million in 2021. As of June 2024, the median age in Australia is 38.3 years, with 50.7% of the population being female with a median age of 39 years. The median age varies across cities, with Darwin having the youngest median age of 34.6 years and Adelaide being the oldest at 39.2 years. Australia's population growth averaged 1.4% per year from 30 June 1994 to 30 June 2024, with the current ten-year average annual growth rate projected to decline.
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What You'll Learn
The median age in Australia is 38.3 years
Australia's population has grown from 3.8 million in 1901 to 25.7 million in 2021, with a projection of between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. The median age in Australia is 38.3 years. This median age is indicative of a population with a relatively even spread across different age groups.
The population growth rate has averaged 1.4% per year since 1994, with natural increase and overseas migration as key contributors. However, the rate of natural increase has been declining since 1962 due to falling fertility rates. The total fertility rate has dropped below the replacement level since the 1970s, and in 2023-24, it stood at 1.49 babies per woman. Despite the rebound in births in 2021, fertility rates have significantly declined since the pandemic.
The ageing population in Australia is evident, with the largest age group being those between 30 and 39 years old, making up 7.5% of the population. As of June 2022, about 55% of Australians were aged 35 or older, and the country's life expectancy is among the highest in the world. In 2021-2023, life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females, although these figures represent a slight decrease from the previous year.
Capital cities have experienced faster growth than regional areas, attracting overseas migrants and contributing to population increases. As of 2023-24, 68% of Australians lived in the eight capital cities. Darwin, the youngest capital, had a median age of 34.6 years, while Adelaide, the oldest, had a median age of 39.2 years.
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31% of Australians were born overseas
Australia's population has grown from 3.8 million in 1901 to around 27.2 million in 2024. The population growth rate has averaged 1.4% per year since 1994, with the urban population increasing from 58% in 1911 to 90% in 2021. This growth is attributed to both natural increase and net overseas migration, with the latter contributing more between 2005-06 and 2020-21. As of 2023, 31% of Australians were born overseas, up from just under 29% in 2016. This proportion has increased by 8% over the past 30 years.
Western Australia has the highest proportion of overseas-born residents at 35%, while Perth, its capital, has the highest proportion among Australian capital cities at 35%. In 2016, the largest group of overseas-born residents in Australia were from England, with just over 1 million people, followed by New Zealand (568,000) and China (558,000). The median age of the overseas-born population in Australia was 44 years in 2018, while the Australian-born population had a median age of 34 years. The younger median age of the overseas-born population has helped slow the ageing of the total population.
The high proportion of overseas-born residents in Australia contributes to its multicultural character. However, there are concerns about the inclusion and representation of these diverse communities in decision-making processes. While the country celebrates its multiculturalism, there is a need for systemic change to ensure that migrants, refugees, and other diverse Australians are not just statistics in a census but have a real say in society.
In summary, Australia's population growth has been influenced by both natural increase and net overseas migration, resulting in a diverse nation with a significant proportion of overseas-born residents. The median age of this cohort is lower than that of the Australian-born population, positively impacting the country's age structure.
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Life expectancy is 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females
Life expectancy in Australia is currently 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females. This is a slight decrease from the previous year, when life expectancy was 81.2 years for males and 85.3 years for females. Despite this recent decrease, life expectancy in Australia has increased over time and is among the highest in the world. For example, in the early 1900s, life expectancy was around 26 years lower than it is today. By 2015-2017, the life expectancy in Australia had reached 83.2 years.
The increase in life expectancy over time can be attributed to various factors, including advancements in medicine and improvements in living standards. Additionally, Australia's low population density may also be a contributing factor. As one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with an average of 3.6 persons per square kilometre, Australia offers its residents access to ample resources and space, which can positively impact health and longevity.
While the overall life expectancy in Australia is high, there are slight variations depending on the region. For example, in 2021-2023, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest life expectancy for males (81.7 years), while the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia were tied for the highest life expectancy for females (85.7 years). These differences may be influenced by various factors, such as access to healthcare, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors unique to each region.
It is worth noting that, despite the high life expectancy, Australia's population growth has slowed in recent years. While the population grew by an average of 1.4% annually from 1994 to 2024, this growth has become increasingly dependent on net overseas migration. In recent years, there has been a net outflow of migrants, and the total fertility rate has declined, falling below the replacement level. As a result, the Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts that the population growth rate will continue to decrease and may even turn negative in the mid-2030s.
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The population growth rate is 1.4% per year
Australia's population growth rate is a key indicator of the country's demographic trends and has significant implications for various aspects of society, the economy, and the environment. With a population growth rate of 1.4% per year, Australia has experienced steady expansion over the past three decades, starting from 30 June 1994 to the most recent measurement on 30 June 2024. This growth rate translates to an increase from 17.8 million people in 1994 to approximately 27.2 million people in 2024.
Several factors contribute to Australia's population growth rate. One significant factor is net overseas migration, which has been the primary driver of population growth in recent years. Between 2005–06 and 2020–21, net overseas migration had a more substantial impact on population growth than natural increase. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this trend, causing a net outflow of migrants in 2020–21 and a historical low population growth rate of 0.1%. As international border restrictions eased, overseas migration and population growth recovered, with Australia's population growing by 2.5% in 2022–23 and 2.0% in 2023–24.
While net overseas migration has been a critical factor, natural increase, or the excess of births over deaths, has also played a role in population growth. In recent years, natural increase has contributed steadily to population growth, adding around 150,000 people annually to Australia's population. However, the total fertility rate has been declining, falling from 1.85 babies per woman in 1993–94 to 1.49 in 2023–24, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. This decline in fertility rates reflects an ageing population, as the number of deaths has grown faster than births in recent years.
The population growth rate has significant implications for Australia's future. Projections based on the current growth rate estimate that Australia's population will reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million people by 2071. Additionally, the median age, currently at 38.3 years, is expected to increase to between 43.8 and 47.6 years during this period. These projections highlight the potential challenges and opportunities associated with an ageing population, including the need to adapt social and healthcare services to meet the changing needs of a maturing demographic.
In summary, Australia's population growth rate of 1.4% per year has resulted in a substantial increase in the country's population over the past three decades. While net overseas migration and natural increase have both contributed to this growth, their relative impacts have varied over time, influenced by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and changing fertility rates. Looking ahead, Australia's population is projected to continue growing, albeit at a potentially slower rate, presenting both opportunities and considerations for the country's development.
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55% of Australians are aged 35 or older
As of June 2022, around 55% of Australians were aged 35 or older. This statistic reflects the country's ageing population, which is due to a combination of factors, including declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy.
Australia's fertility rate has been on a downward trajectory since the 1970s, dropping below the replacement level of 2.1 in the mid-1970s and falling further to 1.49 babies per woman in 2023-24. This decrease in fertility is attributed to various factors, such as societal changes, delayed childbearing, and increased access to contraception and family planning.
In contrast, life expectancy in Australia has been on the rise. As of 2021-2023, life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females, although these figures represent a slight decrease from the previous year. Nonetheless, Australia's life expectancy is among the highest in the world, contributing to the ageing population trend.
The median age in Australia as of 2022 is 38.3 years, with the capital cities exhibiting varying median ages, ranging from 34.6 years in Darwin to 39.2 years in Adelaide. Additionally, the largest age group in Australia as of 2024 is individuals aged between 30 and 34 years, comprising 7.5% of the population, closely followed by those aged 25 to 29, who make up 7.3% of the population.
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Frequently asked questions
The median age of the Australian population is 38.3 years.
The median age of the male population is 36.9 years, while the female population has a median age of 39 years.
The median age varies across Australian cities. For instance, Darwin has a median age of 34.6 years, while Adelaide's is 39.2 years.
The life expectancy in Australia in 2021-2023 was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females. In 2015-2017, the life expectancy was 83.2 years.
The median age of the Australian population has likely increased over time due to increased life expectancy and decreased fertility rates. In 2023, the largest age group in Australia was people aged 30-39.
