Lexi Webster
Australia is an urbanised nation, with 84% of its population living in the top 50 cities. The most populous city in Australia is a contested title, with Melbourne and Sydney vying for the top spot. Melbourne's population was recorded at 4,875,400 in the 2021 census, while Sydney's was 5,259,800. However, due to a boundary change that included the regional area of Melton, Melbourne's population increased, overtaking Sydney as the most populous city in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most populated city | Melbourne |
| Population of Melbourne | 4,875,400 (as of the 2021 census) |
| Population of Sydney | 5,259,800 (as of the latest census) |
| Population of the top 50 cities in Australia | 22,830,210 |
| Percentage of the total population of Australia living in the top 50 cities | 84% |
| Percentage of the population living in the top 2 cities | 38% |
| Percentage of the population living in the top 5 cities | 62% |
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What You'll Learn
Melbourne: Australia's most populous city
Melbourne is Australia's most populous city, with a population of approximately 4,875,400 as of the country's most recent census in 2021. This figure represents a growth in Melbourne's population, which has been outpacing that of Sydney, the previous holder of the title, for much of the last decade. International and internal migration patterns have favoured Melbourne, contributing to its population increase. The city's appeal to international migrants and Australians living in other states has played a significant role in its population growth.
Melbourne's rise to the top spot as Australia's most populous city is also attributed to a boundary change by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The ABS updated the boundary used to calculate Melbourne's population, incorporating the formerly regional area of Melton on the city's north-west fringe. This change added to Melbourne's population count, pushing it ahead of Sydney.
While Melbourne holds the title based on the "significant urban area" measure, the "Greater Sydney" and "Greater Melbourne" classifications still place Sydney ahead in population. This is due to the boundary of Greater Sydney encompassing the central coast region of New South Wales, which includes many commuters to Sydney. However, demographers predict that Greater Melbourne will overtake Greater Sydney by 2031 or 2032, reinforcing Melbourne's position as the country's most populous city.
Melbourne's population growth reflects the high levels of urbanisation in Australia, where 84% of the total population resides in the top 50 cities. With a concentration of people in metropolitan areas, Melbourne epitomises the urban character of the nation, attracting residents from both within and outside Australia to become the country's most populous city.
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Sydney: previously the most populous city
Australia is an urbanised nation, with 84% of its population living in the country's top 50 cities. Sydney had been Australia's most populous city for over a century until Melbourne overtook it in 2021. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Melbourne's population was 4,875,400, while Sydney's was 18,700 fewer.
Sydney had overtaken Melbourne as Australia's most populous city in 1905, and it held that title for more than a century. Demographers point out that the counting measure used to determine Melbourne as the most populous city doesn't paint a full picture of population trends in Australia. The other main population classifications used, Greater Sydney and Greater Melbourne, still have Sydney at 5,259,800, ahead of Melbourne at 4,976,200. This is because the boundary of Greater Sydney takes in the sprawling central coast region of the state of New South Wales, where many residents commute to Sydney each day.
Melbourne's growth had been outpacing Sydney's for much of the last decade, partly due to international and internal migration patterns that favoured the southern city. Melbourne's leap to the top spot was sudden. Initial census results had Sydney ahead, but the ABS updated a boundary it used to calculate Melbourne's population, and the city expanded to take in a formerly regional patch – Melton – on its north-west fringe.
Greater Melbourne has long been predicted to overtake Greater Sydney and is estimated to become Australia's most populous city by 2031-32. Liz Allen, a demographer at the Australian National University, stated that Melbourne's population had been growing faster than Sydney's in recent decades due to its appeal to international migrants and Australians living in other states.
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Urban centres: 84% of Australians live in the top 50 cities
Australia is an urbanised nation, with 84% of its population living in the top 50 cities. The population of Australia is around 26.1 million people, with Melbourne and Sydney vying for the title of the country's most populous city.
Melbourne's population was recorded at 4,875,400 in the 2021 census, while Sydney's was 5,259,800. However, Melbourne's growth has been outpacing Sydney's, and in 2023, Melbourne was declared the most populous city, after the ABS updated the boundary used to calculate its population. This boundary change included the previously separate Melton in Melbourne's population.
Sydney had been the most populous city since 1905, when it overtook Melbourne. The boundary of Greater Sydney includes the central coast region of New South Wales, where many residents commute to Sydney each day, which boosts its population.
The eight Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs) are the most-often quoted figures for the population of capital cities. These areas correspond broadly to the international concept of metropolitan areas. Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) are defined as areas with a population of at least 10,000 people.
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Significant Urban Areas: Melbourne's population growth
Australia's most populated area is a contentious topic, with Melbourne and Sydney vying for the top spot. Melbourne's population growth has been significant, and as of the 2021 census, it stood at 4,875,400, surpassing Sydney by 18,700. This growth has been attributed to international and internal migration patterns favouring the southern city.
Melbourne's appeal to international migrants and its draw for Australians from other states have contributed to its expansion. The city's boundaries have also expanded, incorporating formerly regional areas like Melton, located on its north-western fringe. This boundary change, used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to calculate population, contributed to Melbourne's sudden leap in population figures.
The ABS defines “significant urban areas" as contiguous urban populations above 10,000, and this measure helped Melbourne overtake Sydney in 2018, according to demographers. However, the broader Greater Sydney and Greater Melbourne classifications still place Sydney ahead, with its boundaries including the central coast region of New South Wales, where many residents commute to Sydney daily.
Despite Sydney's current lead, the gap has been narrowing. Projections estimate that by 2031-32, Greater Melbourne will surpass Greater Sydney in population, becoming Australia's most populous city.
Melbourne's suburbs have been experiencing varying growth rates, with areas like Casey, 40km from the city, known for its high growth rate and diverse population. Melton, 35km from Melbourne, is also growing rapidly, with a 6.4% growth rate, attracting residents and investors with its strategic development plans, lifestyle offerings, and improved transport links.
The population growth in Melbourne and its suburbs is part of a broader trend in Australian cities, with Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth also densifying rapidly relative to pre-pandemic times.
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Local government areas: Melbourne's LGA covers a large portion of its urban area
Melbourne is currently the most populous city in Australia, with a population of 4,875,400 as of the country's most recent census in 2021. This data, provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), includes the suburb of Melton, which was added to Melbourne's Local Government Area (LGA) in 2022.
Local government areas are the main units of local government in Australia. They may be called cities, councils, regions, shires, or towns, and they all function similarly. LGAs cover approximately 90% of the country. In the case of Melbourne, its LGA covers a large portion of its urban area. This is in contrast to most other Australian capital cities, where the central LGA covers a much smaller proportion of the total urban area.
The inclusion of Melton in Melbourne's LGA is due to the "significant urban area" measure used by the ABS to tally populations. This measure defines a city's boundary by contiguous urban population above 10,000. As a result, Melbourne's population count suddenly increased, overtaking Sydney's by 18,700 people.
The classification of Greater Sydney and Greater Melbourne, which includes the sprawling central coast region of New South Wales, still places Sydney ahead of Melbourne in terms of population. However, demographers predict that Greater Melbourne will surpass Greater Sydney by 2031-32. This is due to Melbourne's faster population growth in recent decades, attributed to its appeal to international migrants and Australians from other states.
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Frequently asked questions
Melbourne is the most populated city in Australia, with a population of 4,875,400 as of the country's most recent census in 2021.
Previously, Sydney was the most populated area in Australia. However, Melbourne's population has been growing faster in recent decades due to its appeal to international migrants and Australians from other states.
84% of Australia's population lives in the top 50 cities, with 38% in the top 2 and 62% in the top 5. Victor Harbour-Goolwa is projected to become the second-largest urban centre in South Australia in the coming years.
