Damon Mcknight
Australia has a diverse population of around 27 million people, with a highly urbanised population composition. The population is concentrated in major cities, particularly on the eastern, southeastern, and southern coasts, with Sydney and Melbourne each boasting over five million inhabitants. Australia has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world, with almost half of Australians having at least one parent born overseas. The median age is 38.3 years, and the life expectancy is among the highest in the world, at 83.2 years. The population is predominantly European, with Indigenous Australians, including Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, making up 3% of the population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025 |
| World ranking | 54th most populous country |
| Population density | 3.6 persons per square kilometre |
| Life expectancy | 83.2 years in 2015-2017 |
| Median age | 38.3 years in 2024 |
| Percentage of population aged 65 and over | 17% in 2024 |
| Urban population | 89% |
| Capital cities population | 68% in 2023-24 |
| Population born overseas | 31.5% |
| Indigenous population | 3.2% in 2021 |
| Fertility rate | 1.49 babies per woman in 2023-24 |
| Crude death rate | 6.4 deaths per 1,000 population in 2006 |
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What You'll Learn
Population growth
Australia's population has grown significantly since British colonisation in 1788, when the population was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians. This growth is largely due to the numerous waves of immigration that have occurred since colonisation, particularly from Europe. In 2020, 7.5% of births were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, up from 5.7% in 2010, and the fertility rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons has stayed above replacement levels even as the nation's has declined rapidly.
The population of Australia is currently estimated to be between 26 and 28 million people, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting 25,744,797 residents on 30 June 2021, and the United Nations estimating 26,974,026 people at mid-year 2025. The population is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million people by 2071, with the current ten-year average annual growth rate of 1.4% projected to decline to between 0.2% and 0.9%. The population growth rate in Australia has been falling since 1962 due to decreasing fertility rates. In 1971, the rate of natural increase was 12.7 per thousand population, and by 1996, it had fallen below seven for the first time.
Australia's population is highly urbanised, with 86.51% of the population living in urban areas as of 2025. The country contains five cities (including their suburbs) with populations of over one million people each, and most of the population lives close to coastlines, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards. The population density in Australia is low compared to other countries, with an average of 3.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area, or 3.4/km2 as of June 2022, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
Immigration has played a significant role in Australia's population growth, with 8.6 million people, or 31.5% of the population, born overseas as of June 2024. The countries of birth with the largest populations in Australia are England, India, China, and New Zealand, with the largest increase in recent years coming from India. The capitals experienced the most significant population growth between 2023 and 2024, with a net increase of 427,800 people, comprised of overseas migration, natural increase, and internal migration.
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Urbanisation
Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with 86.51% of its population living in urban areas. This equates to around 23,335,357 people in 2025. The population is concentrated mainly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern coastal seaboards, with 95% of people living within 100km of the coast.
The country's five largest cities (including their suburbs) have populations of over one million people. The capital cities, Sydney and Melbourne, are the most populous, both with over five million residents. The capitals have experienced rapid growth, with an increase of 427,800 people (2.4%) in 2023-24. This growth is driven by overseas migration, natural increase, and internal migration.
Australia has an average population density of 3.6 persons per square kilometre, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries globally. Its population has grown from an estimated 300,000 to 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788. Since then, numerous waves of immigration have contributed to the country's urbanisation. The European population rose sharply in the late 18th and 19th centuries due to immigration, but this percentage is now declining.
In recent years, net overseas migration has been the primary driver of Australia's population growth. The country has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations, with 8.6 million people born overseas as of June 2024. This number is expected to increase, with projections showing that the total population will exceed 30 million by 2029.
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Indigenous Australians
The 2021 Australian Census recorded 812,728 people who 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% as Torres Strait Islander, and 4.4% identified with both groups. The Indigenous population has a relatively young age structure, with larger proportions of people aged 29 and under compared to the non-Indigenous population. As of 30 June 2021, an estimated one-third (34%) of the Indigenous population was under 15 years old, compared to 17% of non-Indigenous people in the same age group.
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Foreign-born population
Australia has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world, both in total numbers and per capita. As of 30 June 2024, Australia's overseas-born population stood at 8.6 million, comprising 31.5% of the country's total population of 27.2 million. This percentage has increased from 30.7% in 2023 and 29.5% in 2022, with the overseas-born population growing for the third consecutive year. The proportion of Australia's population born outside the country has been on an upward trajectory since 2004, when it stood at 23.8%.
Historically, migrants from the United Kingdom have constituted Australia's primary immigrant group. In 2023, there were approximately 960,000 English-born people living in Australia. However, in recent years, there has been a shift in immigration patterns, with Asian countries, particularly India and China, becoming the second and third largest sources of foreign-born residents in Australia. In 2024, the top five countries of birth for those not born in Australia were England, India, China, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The largest increases in Australia's overseas-born population over the ten years leading up to 2024 were from India, China, the Philippines, and Nepal.
The high number of immigrants in Australia is due to several factors, including its history as an 'immigrant nation', its attractive immigration policies, and its strong economy. Australia's population has quadrupled since the end of World War I, largely due to immigration. The country has consistently experienced more people migrating to it than leaving, contributing to its population growth. Net overseas migration has been the primary driver of population growth in recent years, surpassing natural increase (births minus deaths) since 2005-06.
The foreign-born population is not evenly distributed across Australia, with certain cities and states attracting a larger share. As of the 2016 Census, Sydney had the highest overseas-born population, with 1,773,496 foreign-born individuals. Melbourne and Perth followed, with 1,520,253 and 702,545 foreign-born residents, respectively. Western Australia had the largest proportion of overseas-born individuals compared to other Australian states and territories.
The foreign-born population has influenced the diversity of Australia's population. Almost half of Australians (48%) had at least one parent born overseas, according to the 2021 Census. Additionally, the median age of Australia's overseas-born population is younger than that of the Australian-born population, with a median age of 43 years compared to 35 years for Australian-born residents in 2024.
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Population density
Australia has a low population density, with an average of 3.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area, according to a 2025 estimate. This makes it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Its total land area is 7,682,300 Km² (2,966,151 sq. miles), and its population was estimated to be 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025.
The population is concentrated in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern coastal seaboards. About 95% of the population lives within 100 km of the coast, which is much higher than the world average of 39%. Australia contains five cities (including their suburbs) with populations of over one million people. The most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, both with populations of more than five million. The capital cities have been growing faster than regional areas, with the share of the population living in the eight capital cities increasing by 3% over the past 30 years to 68% in 2023-24. This is due to overseas migrants settling in cities and the younger age structure of cities, resulting in a greater natural increase.
The population density of Australia is attributed to its semi-arid and desert geography, with much of the interior of the country being uninhabitable. The country is highly urbanised, with 89% of its population living in a handful of urban areas. The median age of the population is increasing, rising from 33.4 years in 1994 to 38.3 years in 2024. The percentage of the population aged 65 and over has increased from 12% to 17% over the same period.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 21 July 2025, Australia's population is estimated to be 27,940,400.
Australia has an average population density of 3.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Its population density is 3.5 or 4 inhabitants per square kilometre, depending on the source.
The median age of Australians was 38.3 years as of 30 June 2024.
The life expectancy of Australians in 2015-2017 was 83.2 years, one of the highest in the world.
At the 2021 census, 3.2% of the Australian population identified as being Indigenous. This is a combination of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.
