Lyla Lindsey
Australia is an island continent surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans, as well as the Coral and Timor Seas. It has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders, ranging from small rocks that remain uncovered at high tide to islands larger than 1,000 square kilometres. The population of Australia as of 19 June 2025 is estimated to be 27,885,100, with an average population density of 3.6 persons per square kilometre. The state of Tasmania, which is Australia's largest island, has a population of approximately 533,308 people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of islands within maritime borders | 8,222 |
| Total area of Australia | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) |
| Population of Australia | 27,885,100 |
| Population of Tasmania | 533,308 |
| Population of Melville Island | 999 (Milikapiti: 559; Pirlangimpi: 440) |
| Population of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders | 3.2% (2021 census) |
| Indigenous population in the Northern Territory | 61,115 (26.3% of the territory's population) |
| Indigenous population in New South Wales | 208,476 (2-5% of the state's population) |
| Indigenous population in Queensland | 188,954 (2-5% of the state's population) |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% (3.2 million) |
| Children under 15 living in poverty | 774,000 (17.7%) |
| Population density | 3.6 persons per square kilometre |
Explore related products
$80.43 $109.95
$69.99
What You'll Learn
Tasmania, population 533,308
Tasmania is an island state of Australia, located about 150 miles (240 kilometres) south of the Australian mainland, separated by the Bass Strait. It is the 26th largest island in the world and the biggest island in Australia, with a population of approximately 533,308 people. Tasmania is Australia's smallest and least populous state, with the lowest proportion of its residents living within its capital city.
Tasmania has a very homogeneous population compared to most of Australia, with very little immigration. The population primarily consists of descendants of founding families who arrived in the mid-19th century, with around 65% of Tasmanians tracing their ancestry to these families. The island was first inhabited by Aboriginal peoples, who generally identify as Palawa or Pakana today. At the time of European contact in 1803, the Aboriginal population is estimated to have been between 3,000 and 10,000, organised into nine major nations or ethnic groups.
The capital and largest city of Tasmania is Hobart, with a population of around 226,653 people as of the 2021 census. Hobart is part of the Greater Hobart area, which includes the City of Glenorchy and the City of Clarence, along with the satellite town of Kingston. The Greater Hobart area is home to nearly 50% of Tasmania's population, with around 40% of the state's population residing in this region.
Tasmania has a total area of 64,519 square kilometres (24,911 square miles) and is surrounded by 334 islands. It is the only Australian state that is not part of the mainland, and its main island was separated from the continent by rising sea levels around 10,000-11,700 years ago. The state of Tasmania encompasses the main island of Tasmania, along with the surrounding 1,000 islands.
Who Owns Kleenex? Exploring Australian Ownership
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$41.79 $54.99
Melville Island, population 999
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders. These islands vary in size, with some being small rocks that are not covered by water at high tide, and others, like Tasmania, being more than 40,000 square kilometres.
One of these islands is Melville Island, also known as Yermalner or Yermainer, located in the Timor Sea off the coast of the Northern Territory. It is the second-largest Australian island, covering an area of 5,786 square kilometres (or 2,234 square miles). The island is home to extensive eucalyptus forests, mangrove swamps, and savanna woodlands, and its tropical climate has given rise to distinct ecosystems.
Melville Island, with a population of 999, is inhabited by the Tiwi people, an Aboriginal Australian group, who have lived there for thousands of years. The Tiwi people are culturally and linguistically distinct from those of Arnhem Land on the mainland. The island is divided into two main settlements: Milikapiti, home to over 559 people, and Pirlangimpi, with a population of 440. The total population across the Tiwi Islands, which include Melville Island, Bathurst Island, and nine smaller uninhabited islands, was 2,348 in 2021, with 87% identifying as Aboriginal people.
Melville Island has a rich history, with Indigenous people occupying the area for at least 40,000 years before European settlement. The first European to sight the island was Abel Tasman in 1644, and it was later named by Explorer Phillip Parker King after Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville. In 1824, Captain Gordon Bremer established the first European settlement on the island, Fort Dundas, which was short-lived due to the hostility of the Indigenous population. Today, the Tiwi Land Council holds statutory authority over the Tiwi Islands under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
Native Australian Frogs: Their Unique Diet Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kangaroo Island
The island was originally occupied by Aboriginal Australians, known as the Kartan people, who disappeared from the archaeological record around 10,000 years ago after rising sea levels associated with the Last Glacial Period turned it into an island. The island was sparsely inhabited until the mid-19th century, when it was settled by Australians from the mainland.
The population of Kangaroo Island was recorded as 4,894 in the 2021 Australian Census, with a population density of 1.07 residents per square kilometre. The island's largest settlement is Kingscote, which is also the seat of the local government. Kingscote had a population of 1,917 residents in 2021. Other towns on the island include Penneshaw, with a population of around 300, and Parndana, with about 150 residents. The population growth rate on Kangaroo Island has slowed in recent years, with many young residents moving to the mainland, particularly Adelaide, for better job opportunities.
The island's economy is mostly agricultural, with grapes, honey, wool, meat, and grain as its primary products. Sheep grazing has traditionally been the key element of agriculture on the island, but in recent times, more diverse crops, such as potatoes and canola, have been introduced. Cattle farming has also grown, with good-quality beef cattle being raised in the higher rainfall areas.
Tourism and fishing also play significant roles in the island's economy. Kangaroo Island is one of South Australia's most popular tourist attractions, with over 140,000 visitors each year, including international visitors, primarily from Europe, accounting for more than 25% of these visits. Popular tourist spots include Seal Bay Conservation Park, Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks, Admiral's Arch, lighthouses at Cape Borda and Cape du Couedic, Kelly Hill Caves, Little Sahara, and Mount Thisby (Prospect Hill).
The island is also known for its honey and its Ligurian honey bees, with the world's only pure-bred and disease-free population of this bee type. The exporting of pure-bred queen bees is a notable industry for Kangaroo Island, and significant quarantine restrictions are in place to protect this industry.
Kambrook: Australian-Owned and Operated?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Groote Eylandt, population 49
Groote Eylandt is an island off the northeast coast of Northern Territory, Australia. It is the fourth-largest island in Australia and the largest in the Carpentaria Gulf, occupying an area of about 882 square miles. Groote Eylandt is 390 miles from Darwin and 31 miles from the Northern Territory. The island is 37 miles long (south to north) and 31 miles (west to east).
The traditional owners of Groote Eylandt are the Anindilyakwa people, an Aboriginal Australian people who speak the Anindilyakwa language. They consist of 14 clan groups which make up the two moieties on the island. The clans maintain their traditions and have strong ties with the people in the community of Numbulwar and on Bickerton Island. The island's population was 2,811 in the 2016 census. There are four communities on Groote Eylandt. The mining company GEMCO established the township of Alyangula for its workers. The three main Aboriginal communities are Angurugu, Umbakumba, and Milyakburra on Bickerton Island.
On Census Night in 2001, the most common responses for languages other than English spoken at home were Anindilyakwa (49%), Kriol (0.9%), Nunggubuyu (0.6%), Tagalog (Filipino) (0.5%), and Tongan (0.5%). English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 41.1% of people counted. The most common occupations were labourers and related workers (9.3%), professionals (7.6%), and intermediate production and transport workers (7.4%).
Direct PR in Australia: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$30.75 $32.99
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Adventure Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rRihqWqgL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Scenic Drives Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/814R4OsGtCL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
K'gari, population unknown
The population of K'gari remains unrecorded, but we can look at the population of Australia's islands for context. Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders, with Tasmania being the largest. Tasmania has a population of approximately 533,308 people, but it is unique as the only Australian state that is not part of the mainland. Islands connected to the mainland by bridges, such as Bribie Island near Brisbane, tend to have larger populations.
The indigenous population of Australia at the time of British colonisation in 1788 was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000. This population belonged to numerous tribes, speaking many different languages. Today, the Indigenous population of Australia, including both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, is estimated to be around 3.2% of the total population, with a notable concentration on the east coast. In the 2021 census, 3.2% of the population, or 785,363 people, identified as Indigenous Australians.
While the population of K'gari is not specifically mentioned, the island is a significant part of Australia's diverse geography and cultural heritage. The lack of population data for K'gari may be due to various factors, such as its remoteness or its status as a protected natural area.
Lebanese Cucumbers: A Guide to Growing in Australia
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders.
The population of the islands near Australia varies. Tasmania, the largest Australian island, has a population of approximately 533,308 people. The largest settlement on the second-biggest island, Melville Island, is Milikapiti, which is inhabited by over 559 people.
As of 19 June 2025, the population of Australia is estimated to be 27,885,100.
