Lyla Lindsey
Australia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, with nearly 90% of its population living in urban areas. The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025, with a median age of 30-39. The population has grown from an estimated 300,000 to 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788 to the current population of over 24 million. This growth is attributed to various waves of immigration, with almost half (48%) of Australians having at least one parent born overseas. While the country has historically had a predominantly European population, the demographic makeup is changing, with an increasing proportion of Asian Australians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025 |
| Global rank | 54th most populous country |
| Population density | 3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi) in 2022; 3.6/km2 in 2025; 4/km2 in 2024 |
| Median age | 38.3 years in 2025; 38.5 years in 2022 |
| Average annual growth rate | 1.4% in 2024; projected to decline to 0.2%-0.9% by 2071 |
| Fertility rate | 1.7 in 2021; 1.49 in 2023-24 |
| Birth rate | 12.2 births/1,000 population in 2024 |
| Death rate | 6.8 deaths/1,000 population in 2024 |
| Net migration rate | 5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population in 2024 |
| Ethnic groups | English (33%), Australian (29.9%), Irish (9.5%), Scottish (8.6%), Chinese (5.5%), Italian (4.4%), German (4%), Indian (3.1%), Australian Aboriginal (2.9%), Greek (1.7%), unspecified (4.7%) in 2021 |
| Ancestry | English (33%), Australian (29.9%), Irish (9.5%), Scottish (8.6%), Chinese (5.5%) in 2021 |
| Religious affiliations | No religion (38.9%), Catholic (20%), Anglican (9.8%), Islam (3.2%), Hinduism (2.7%), Buddhism (2.4%), Sikhism (0.8%), Judaism (0.4%) |
| Proportion born outside Australia | 31% in 2023; 31.5% in 2021 |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population | 984,000 (3.8%) in 2021; 2.9% in 2021; 3% in 2016 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Population by ancestry
Australia's population is diverse, with almost half (48%) of Australians having a parent born overseas. In 2023, 31% of people in Australia were born overseas, a proportion that has increased by 8% over the past 30 years. Australia's population has grown from an estimated 300,000 to 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788 to around 24 million people today. It is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country, with a population of 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025. It is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029.
The population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards. Australia's population density is low, with an average of 3.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The majority of Australians reside in the capital cities, with the next most populous region being Inner regional Australia, followed by Outer regional Australia, Remote and Very remote Australia. Net overseas migration has been the main driver of population growth, increasing from a net inflow of 47,000 people in 1993-94 to 435,000 people in 2023-24.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not collect data on race and ethnic background. However, various studies have estimated the European population at between 72% and 76% of the total population in 2021 and 2016, respectively. The non-European proportion was 21% and 23% in those years, while the Aboriginal Australian population was 3% in both.
The top five ancestries in Australia, according to the 2021 Census, are English (33%), Australian (29.9%), Irish (9.5%), Scottish (8.6%), and Chinese (5.5%). The predominance of the English language, the existence of a parliamentary system of government, constitutional monarchy, and Christianity as the dominant religion are all evidence of a significant Anglo-Celtic heritage. The largest statistical grouping of European Australians is Anglo-Celtic Australians, whose ancestors originate wholly or partially in the British Isles, including England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Since the postwar period, Australia has pursued an official policy of multiculturalism, and immigration policy now celebrates diversity and promotes residency status among people of varying ethnic backgrounds.
Why Don't We: Touring Australia?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$56.04 $58.99
Population by religion
Australia has no official religion, and its Constitution prohibits the Commonwealth government from establishing one. However, the various governments of Australia refer to the Christian God in their ceremonies, as do the various Australian Courts.
According to the 2021 Census, 38.9% of the population identified as having "no religion", up from 15.5% in 2001. The largest religious group is Christianity, with 43.9% of the population identifying as Christian. The largest Christian denominations are the Roman Catholic Church (20%) and the Anglican Church of Australia (9.8%). The high number of Catholics can be attributed to the large number of Irish immigrants in Australia, as most Irish people were Catholics, whereas most British people belonged to Protestant sects.
Multicultural immigration since the Second World War has led to the growth of non-Christian religions. The largest non-Christian religions are Islam (3.2%), Hinduism (2.7%), Buddhism (2.4%), Sikhism (0.8%), and Judaism (0.4%). In 2021, just under 8,000 people declared an affiliation with traditional Aboriginal religions.
It is important to note that the level of active participation in religious services is lower than the proportion of the population identifying with a religion. For example, weekly attendance at Christian church services is about 1.5 million, or about 7.5% of the population.
A Spicy Export Guide: India to Australia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Population growth
Australia's population has grown significantly since British colonisation in 1788, when it was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians. The population is now estimated to be around 27.2 million as of 2024, with projections that it will exceed 30 million by 2029. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including waves of immigration, increased life expectancy, and a post-World War II baby boom.
Immigration has played a significant role in Australia's population growth. Since colonisation, numerous waves of immigration have contributed to the country's demographic changes. Initially, the majority of immigrants were from the British Isles, with a significant number also coming from China and Germany during the 19th century. This led to a sharp rise in the European component of Australia's population. However, in recent years, Australia has experienced a more diverse range of immigration, with people arriving from various parts of the world, particularly Asia. This has resulted in the emergence of a "Eurasian society" within Australia's major urban hubs, blending European and Asian cultures within an Australian context.
The post-World War II period also witnessed a significant increase in population growth. The baby boom that occurred during this time, coupled with the immigration of many young people who started families in Australia, led to a rate plateau of over 13.0 persons per 1,000 population annually from 1946 to 1962. However, since 1962, there has been a decline in the natural increase rate due to falling fertility rates. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, continued low fertility, combined with an ageing population, is expected to result in a natural increase falling below zero by the mid-2030s.
In recent decades, net overseas migration has been the primary driver of population growth in Australia. The number of net migrants has increased from 47,000 people in 1993-94 to 435,000 people in 2023-24. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this trend, with border restrictions leading to a net outflow of migrants in 2020-21 for the first time since World War II.
While Australia's population continues to grow, it remains one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with an average population density of 3.6 persons per square kilometre. The population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly along the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards. Capital cities have been growing faster than regional areas due to the tendency of overseas migrants to settle in cities.
Hearing Aids for Australian Pensioners: What's Covered?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$41.19 $77.95
Population density
Australia's population density is low compared to other countries. With an average population density of 3.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area, it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. In June 2022, the population density was reported as 3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi), making Australia the third least densely populated country, after Namibia and Mongolia.
The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025. It is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous country in Oceania. Australia's population has grown from an estimated 300,000 to 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788, due to waves of immigration. The population is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029.
The population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards. Almost 90% of people live in urban areas, with most people living close to coastlines. The majority of Australians reside in the capital cities, with 68% living in the 8 capital cities in 2023-24. This is because overseas migrants tend to settle in cities, and the younger age structure of cities results in a greater natural increase. The largest age group in Australia is people aged 30-39.
The population density of Australia is expected to continue to increase, with net overseas migration being the main driver of population growth. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the first net outflow of migrants from Australia since World War II in 2020-21, with border restrictions and lockdowns also reversing the trend of capital cities growing faster than regional areas.
The population density of Australia is also impacted by the distribution of Indigenous Australians across the continent. Before British colonisation, over 500 distinct Indigenous groups controlled the area, each with their own language and culture. More than 400 distinct Australian Aboriginal peoples have been identified, and at the 2021 census, 3.2% of the Australian population identified as being Indigenous.
Australian Dollars: How Much Are They Worth in the US?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Population by language
Australia's population is diverse, with almost half (48%) of Australians having a parent born overseas. In 2023, 31% of people in Australia were born overseas, a proportion that has increased by 8% over the past 30 years.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not collect data on race and ethnic background. However, various studies have estimated the European population in Australia at 72-76% in recent years, with the non-European proportion at 21-23% and the Aboriginal Australian population at 3%.
The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025, making it the 54th most populous country in the world. It has grown from an estimated population of between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788. 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.
Australia's population is highly diverse, with over 200 languages spoken in the country. Census data is used to identify the language needs of local communities, particularly for library services. For example, in the City of Casey in Victoria, one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, the local library service has used census data to add books in Punjabi and Oromo to cater to the growing number of speakers of these languages in the community.
While English is the predominant language in Australia, reflecting its Anglo-Celtic heritage, the country has also been influenced by the languages and cultures of its Indigenous people, as well as by immigration from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. The immigration wave that began in the late 1800s brought thousands of immigrants from Europe, as well as China and India, and the current makeup of ethnic backgrounds in Australia reflects this diversity.
Shirt Sizes: Understanding Australia's Size 42
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025. It is the 54th most populous country in the world.
The racial makeup of Australia is diverse and includes individuals from various ethnic backgrounds. While the ABS does not collect data on race and ethnic background, studies have estimated the European population at 72-76% in recent years, with the non-European proportion at 21-23% and the Aboriginal Australian population at 3%. Other estimates suggest that British people make up 67.4% of the population, followed by other European ethnicities like the Irish (8.7%), Italians (3.8%), and Germans (3.7%).
Australia's population has grown significantly since British colonisation in 1788, when it was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians. The population growth can be attributed to numerous waves of immigration, with the European component rising sharply in the late 18th and 19th centuries. In recent years, Australia has experienced a net outflow of migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the population is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029.
Australia has a low population density, with an average of 3.4 to 3.6 persons per square kilometre. It is one of the most sparsely populated countries globally, ranking third after Namibia and Mongolia. The population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards. Most Australians live close to coastlines, with five cities, including their suburbs, having over one million residents each.
Australia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, with over 200 languages spoken. Almost half of Australians (48%) have a parent born overseas, and 31% of the population in 2023 were born outside of Australia. The top five ancestries in Australia are English (33%), Australian (29.9%), Irish (9.5%), Scottish (8.6%), and Chinese (5.5%). The country has a significant Anglo-Celtic heritage, and its culture has been strongly influenced by early European settlement, Aboriginal culture, and immigration from various parts of the world.
