Lexi Webster
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. Australia's population is equivalent to 0.33% of the total world population, with a population density of 4 people per square kilometre. The country's population was 27,400,013 people at the end of 2024, with the current population projected to be around 26 million. Australia's most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, both with a population of more than five million.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 27,400,013 people as of 31 December 2024 |
| Population growth | 91,133 people (0.3%) quarterly; 445,900 people (1.7%) annually |
| Annual natural increase | 105,200 |
| Net overseas migration | 340,800 |
| Indigenous population | 495,757 (2011 census); 24,737 births in 2023 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.17 births per woman for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women |
| Population density | 3.5-4 people per Km² (9 people per sq. mi) |
| Total land area | 7,682,300 Km² (2,966,151 sq. miles) or 7,688,287 Km² (2,968,464 sq. miles) |
| Urban population | 86.51% (23,335,357 people in 2025) |
| Median age | 38.3-39 years |
| Life expectancy | 83.2 years (2015-2017) |
| Global rank by population | 55 |
| World population share | 0.33% |
| Number of families | 7.2 million (projected to increase to 9.5-9.7 million) |
| Most populous cities | Sydney and Melbourne (over 5 million each) |
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What You'll Learn
Population density
Australia's population density is low compared to other countries. As of June 2022, the population density was reported as 3.4/km² (8.8/sq mi). This makes Australia the third least densely populated country in the world, after Namibia and Mongolia. The population density is even lower according to other sources, with some reporting 3.3/km² or 3/km². The large landmass of Australia, coupled with the fact that most of the country's interior is desert, means that the population is spread out. This results in a low population density, with most people living along the coast in cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
The low population density has implications for urban sustainability and the environment. As the population increases, more dwellings are needed, which can lead to the loss of green spaces. However, some cities in Australia, like Brisbane, have proposed amendments to require apartment buildings to include a certain amount of green space. Additionally, higher population density can lead to more job opportunities in concentrated areas.
When considering moving to a new area, understanding population density can be helpful. Some people prefer the hustle and bustle of a densely populated city, while others may seek out more wide-open spaces. Population density can also impact the quality of life and the sense of community in an area.
Compared to other countries, Australia's population density is significantly lower. For example, the United Kingdom has a population density of 248 persons/km², while the highly urbanised West London has around 20,000 people/km². Dhaka in Bangladesh, a country with a high population, has a density of 45,000 people/km².
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Urban population
Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with 86.51% of its population living in urban areas as of 2025. This equates to around 23 million people, a number that has risen steadily over the years, with 22.5 million urban residents in 2022 and 22.1 million in 2021. The country's urban population is concentrated in a handful of cities, with five cities, including their suburbs, boasting over a million inhabitants each.
The urban population of Australia is largely found in cities near the coastlines. The capitals, in particular, have experienced notable growth, with an increase of 427,800 people (2.4%) in 2023-24. This growth is attributed to overseas migration (373,000), natural increase (89,500), and internal migration (-34,600).
The median age of Australia's urban population is around 38-39 years, with a life expectancy of 83.2 years, one of the highest globally. The population is also predominantly female, with women making up 50.7% of the urban population.
The urbanisation of Australia is influenced by various factors, including the semi-arid and desert geography of its interior regions. The country's total fertility rate, or the number of children born per woman, is also a factor that influences urban population distribution.
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Indigenous population
Australia's Indigenous population is made up of Aboriginal Australians and the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands. Aboriginal Australians are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, who are collectively referred to as "Australasians". There is evidence that Aboriginal Australians may carry ancestry from an earlier human diaspora that originated 75,000 to 62,000 years ago. This earlier group has been estimated to have possibly contributed around 2% of the ancestry of modern Aboriginal Australians.
The Rasmussen study found evidence that Aboriginal peoples carry some genes associated with the Denisovans, a species of human related to but distinct from Neanderthals. The study suggests that there is an increase in allele sharing between the Denisovan and Aboriginal Australian genomes, compared to other Eurasian or African genomes. This confirms Aboriginal Australians as one of the oldest living populations in the world.
In the 2021 census, people who self-identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin totalled 812,728 out of a total of 25,422,788 Australians, equating to 3.2% of Australia's population. This number increased by 163,557 people, or 25.2%, since the previous census in 2016. The median age of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population was 24 years, with one-third (33.1%) under 15 years of age. This is in comparison to 17.9% of non-Indigenous people in the same age group. The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people relative to total population size (30.8%).
Most Aboriginal people speak English, with Aboriginal phrases and words being added to create Australian Aboriginal English. Some Aboriginal people, especially those living in remote areas, are multilingual. Many of the original 250-400 Aboriginal languages are endangered or extinct, although some efforts are being made at language revival. As of 2016, only 13 traditional Indigenous languages were being acquired by children, and about another 100 were spoken by older generations. In 2021, 76,978 Indigenous people reported speaking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language, up from 63,754 in 2016.
Colonisation has negatively impacted many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with racism being a fundamental cause of disadvantage and ill health among Indigenous peoples worldwide. The Australian Constitution was drafted when Australia was considered a land that belonged to no one before European settlement, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were considered a "dying race" not worthy of citizenship or humanity. They were excluded from discussions about the creation of a new nation situated on their ancestral lands and waters, and to this day, they are not mentioned in the Constitution.
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Population growth
Australia's population growth has been steady over the years, with a current population of about 26 million people in 2022. The population is projected to increase to between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. This growth is attributed to a combination of factors, including fertility rates, life expectancy, and migration.
Fertility rates play a significant role in population growth. In 2024, Australia's total fertility rate was 2.17 births per woman for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, which is considered a stable population rate. The crude birth rate, which is the total number of live births per 1,000 people in a year, has fluctuated over time. At the time of Australian Federation in 1901, the rate of natural increase was 14.9 persons per 1,000 population.
Life expectancy in Australia is among the highest in the world. Between 2015 and 2017, the life expectancy of Australians was 83.2 years. This high life expectancy contributes to population growth by increasing the overall number of people over time.
Migration is another significant factor in Australia's population growth. The country has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world, with 8.6 million people, or 31.5% of the population, born overseas as of June 2024. The most common countries of birth for overseas-born residents are England, India, China, and New Zealand. Additionally, Australia's Indigenous population, which primarily resides on the east coast, contributes to internal migration patterns.
The population density in Australia is low compared to other countries, with 4 people per square kilometre (9 people per square mile). The majority of Australians live in urban areas, with 86.51% of the population residing in cities. The most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with over five million people.
Australia's population growth has implications for various aspects of society, including the economy, infrastructure, and the environment. With a projected increase in population, Australia will need to address the challenges and opportunities that arise from a larger population.
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Population distribution
Australia's population distribution is heavily skewed towards urban areas, with 86.51% of the population living in cities, making it one of the most urbanised countries in the world. The population is concentrated in a handful of urban centres, with five cities, including their suburbs, having over a million residents each. The majority of Australians live close to coastlines, and the country's total land area is 7,682,300 km² (2,966,151 sq. miles).
The population density in Australia is low compared to other countries, at 4 people per square kilometre (9 people per square mile) as of 2025. This makes Australia the third least densely populated country globally, after Namibia and Mongolia. The median age of the Australian population is around 38-39 years, with a life expectancy of 83.2 years in 2015-2017, which is among the highest in the world.
In terms of gender distribution, Australia's population is slightly skewed towards females, with 50.7% of the population being female as of 2022. The country's total fertility rate has been declining, falling below the replacement rate of 2.1, which has contributed to an ageing population. The crude birth rate has decreased over time, while the crude death rate has also fallen significantly since 1901, improving life expectancy.
Australia's Indigenous population, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, makes up a small proportion of the total population. Most Indigenous Australians live on the east coast, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland, with smaller populations in other states. The Indigenous population has a higher fertility rate than the general population, with a rate of 2.17 births per woman for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Australia also has a significant proportion of overseas-born residents, with 31.5% of the population born outside the country as of June 2024. The main countries of birth for this group are England, India, China, and New Zealand, with people born in India showing the largest increase since 2014.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 31 December 2024, Australia's population was 27,400,013.
Australia's population density is 4 people per square kilometre (9 people per square mile). This is one of the lowest in the world.
The median age in Australia is 38.3 years.
86.51% of the population of Australia is urban.
Estimates of the Indigenous population before British settlement range from 300,000 to 1,000,000. In the 2011 census, 495,757 respondents declared they were Aboriginal, 31,407 declared they were Torres Strait Islanders, and 21,206 declared they were both.
