Leslie Massey
Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second most populated state in Australia, with a population of over 7 million people. The majority of the population is concentrated in the area surrounding Port Phillip Bay, particularly within the metropolitan area of Greater Melbourne, Victoria's state capital and largest city. In this paragraph, we will explore the population of Victoria, its cultural diversity, and the factors contributing to its growth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population estimate as of June 30, 2024 | 6,978,719 |
| Population growth since the previous year | 2.38% |
| Population density | 30.6 per km2 |
| Population rank in Australia | 2nd |
| Population density rank in Australia | 2nd |
| Percentage of Victoria's population living in Melbourne | 70-75% |
| Percentage of Victoria's population living in Greater Melbourne | 75% |
| Percentage of Melbourne inhabitants who are immigrants | 35.1% |
| Median weekly income for individuals in 2021 | $803 |
| Median weekly income for families in 2021 | $2,136 |
| Average number of people per household in 2021 | 2.5 |
| Percentage of households that were family households in 2021 | 70.1% |
| Percentage of people with no religious affiliation in 2021 | 39.3% |
| Number of seats in the Australian House of Representatives | 38 |
| Number of seats in the Australian Senate | 12 |
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What You'll Learn
Population growth and demographics
Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state in Australia after Tasmania, with a land area of 227,444 square kilometres (87,817 sq mi). Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia, with an estimated population of over 7 million people. It is also the most densely populated state, with 30.6 people per square kilometre. Victoria's population has been growing rapidly, with a 2.38% increase between 2023 and 2024. The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts that Victoria's population will reach 7.2 million by 2050.
The majority of Victoria's population is concentrated in the central-south area surrounding Port Phillip Bay, particularly within the metropolitan area of Greater Melbourne, the state's capital and largest city. Melbourne is also Australia's second-largest city, with an estimated population of 4.17 million, accounting for 75% of Victoria's population. Other major cities in Victoria include Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo. The state's population is diverse, with 35.1% of inhabitants being immigrants, and the most common countries of birth among those born outside Australia being England, India, China, New Zealand, and Italy.
In terms of demographics, Victoria has a diverse religious landscape. While the largest religious affiliation is Catholic, comprising nearly 27% of the population, there is also a significant proportion of people with no religious affiliation, at 24%. Other religious groups include Anglican, Uniting Church, and Eastern Orthodox. The state also has a significant Indigenous population, with numerous Aboriginal groups such as the Boonwurrung, the Bratauolung, and the Wurundjeri, among others. However, it is estimated that only around 1% of the population is Aboriginal.
Household sizes in Victoria have been decreasing over time, with the average number of people per household dropping from 3.3 in 1971 to 2.5 in 2021. The median weekly income for individuals in Victoria was $803 in 2021, an increase from $644 in 2016. The majority of people in Victoria live in separate houses, with 73.4% in 2021, compared to 12.1% living in flats or apartments. The percentage of homeowners in Victoria has also been increasing, with 68.3% of households being homeowners in 2021, up from 67.6% in 2016.
Victoria has a varied climate ranging from semi-arid temperate with hot summers in the northwest to temperate and cool along the coast. The Great Dividing Range, the state's main land feature, produces a cooler, mountain climate in the centre. The coastal plain south of the Great Dividing Range has Victoria's mildest climate, benefiting from the influence of the Southern Ocean.
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Population density and distribution
Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second most populated state in Australia, with a population of over 7 million people. Victoria has the highest population density in any state in Australia, with 30.6 people per square kilometre or 64 per square mile. This is in contrast to the population density of Australia as a whole, which is 4 per square kilometre. Victoria's population density is 23.54 people per kilometre, ranking it as the second most populated state in Australia after Australian Capital Territory.
The majority of Victoria's population is concentrated in the central-south area surrounding Port Phillip Bay, particularly within the metropolitan area of Greater Melbourne, the state's capital and largest city. Melbourne is the second-largest city in Australia and is home to around 70% of Victoria's population, with an estimated population of 4.17 million to 6.8 million people. Melbourne also leads Australia's population growth, adding more than 77,000 people between 2011 and 2012 alone. The state is also home to four of Australia's 20 largest cities: Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Melbourne. Geelong is the second-largest city in Victoria, located 47 miles southwest of Melbourne, with an estimated population of 145,000. Ballarat is the third most populous urban area in the state, located 65 miles west-northwest of Melbourne, with a population of 87,000. Bendigo is located close to the centre of the state, 93 miles northwest of Melbourne, with a population of 84,000, making it the fourth most populous city in Victoria.
Victoria's population has grown rapidly in recent years, increasing by more than 100,000 in a single year for the first time since 2009. The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts that Victoria's population will continue to grow and could reach 7.2 million by 2050. This growth is attributed to high levels of international and interstate migration, with Melbourne in particular attracting many new residents. The state's population growth has resulted in a diverse cultural landscape, with more than 20% of Victorians and almost 30% of Melburnians speaking a language other than English at home.
Victoria's population is also ageing, with the median age climbing from 35 to 37 between 2001 and 2011. By 2021, it is estimated that 25% of Victoria's population will be over 60 years old. Despite the ageing population, Victoria remains a dynamic and diverse state, with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant urban landscape.
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Cultural diversity and religion
Victoria, Australia, is a state in the country's southeast. It is the second-smallest state, with a land area of 227,444 square kilometres, and the second-most-populated, with a population of over 7 million people as of June 2024. Victoria's capital, Melbourne, contains about 70% of the state's population and is also Australia's second-largest city. The state is also home to Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, three of Australia's 20 largest cities.
Victoria is one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world and is among the fastest-growing and most diverse states in Australia. Victoria's population comes from more than 300 ancestries, speaks more than 290 languages and dialects, and follows over 140 different faiths. In 2021, 30% of Victoria's population were born overseas, and over 49% were either born abroad or had a parent born overseas. The state is also home to numerous Aboriginal groups, including the Boonwurrung, the Bratauolung, the Djadjawurrung, the Gunai, the Gunditjmara, the Taungurung, the Wathaurong, the Wurundjeri, and the Yorta Yorta.
The Victorian gold rush in the 1850s and 1860s significantly increased the state's population and wealth. The gold rush also brought in workers from China and the Pacific Islands, as well as specialised workers from British India, including Muslim "Afghan Cameleers". Buddhism began to grow in Australia during this time, and it is now one of the fastest-growing religions in the country, along with Sikhism and Jainism.
In 2021, 54% of Victoria's population followed a religion, compared to 53.8% for Australia. The largest single religion in Victoria was Western (Roman) Catholic, with 20.3% of the population. A larger percentage of Victorians nominated Greek Orthodox compared to the rest of Australia (2.6% vs. 1.5%), and a smaller percentage nominated Anglican (6.5% vs. 9.8%). Overall, Victoria's religious statistics reflect its cultural diversity, with a wide range of faiths and beliefs represented in the state.
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Household composition and income
Victoria, Australia, has a population of over 7 million people, making it the second-most-populated state in the country after New South Wales. The state is highly urbanised, with about 70% of its population living in the capital city of Melbourne and its surrounding areas. Melbourne is also Australia's second-largest city. Other significant urban centres in Victoria include Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo.
In terms of income, the median weekly income for individuals in Victoria was $803 in 2021, an increase from $644 in 2016. For families, the median weekly income was $2,136 in 2021, up from $1,715 in 2016. Notably, 22.6% of Victorian households earned an income of $3,000 or more per week in 2021, placing them in the high-income category. Conversely, 21.0% of households were considered low-income, earning less than $800 per week.
Homeownership rates in Victoria have been steadily increasing. In 2021, 68.3% of households were homeowners, either owning their homes outright (32.2%) or with a mortgage (36.1%). This represents a slight increase from 67.6% of homeowners in 2016. The majority of Victorians live in separate houses, with 73.4% residing in this type of dwelling, while 12.1% live in flats or apartments.
The religious composition of Victoria is diverse. In 2021, Christianity was the largest religious group, with 43.6% of the population affiliating with this faith. However, a significant proportion, 39.3%, reported having no religious affiliation. Additionally, 13.1% of the population practised a non-Christian religion, with Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism being the most common.
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Historical context and migration
Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state in the country, with a land area of 227,444 square kilometres. It is the second-most-populated state, with a population of over 7 million as of 2024. Victoria is the most densely populated state in Australia, with 30.6 people per square kilometre.
The state's capital, Melbourne, contains about 70% of Victoria's population. Melbourne is also Australia's second-largest city and was named the world's most liveable city from 2011 to 2017. The city's culture and lifestyle have been promoted internationally, leading to an average year-on-year growth of 10% in international visitors over five years up to 2017. The population of Victoria is culturally diverse, with 35.1% of inhabitants being immigrants. The state is also home to numerous Aboriginal groups, including the Boonwurrung, the Bratauolung, the Djadjawurrung, the Gunai, the Gunditjmara, the Taungurung, the Wathaurong, the Wurundjeri, and the Yorta Yorta.
The Victorian gold rush in the 1850s and 1860s significantly increased the population and wealth of the state. By the time of Australian Federation in 1901, Melbourne had become the largest city in Australasia. Victoria has continued to grow strongly through the 20th and 21st centuries due to high levels of international and interstate migration. In 2021, 13.1% of people in Victoria were affiliated with a non-Christian religion, with Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism being the most common. The percentage of people with no religious affiliation has also been increasing over the years, reaching 39.3% in 2021.
In terms of demographics, the average number of people per household in Victoria decreased from 3.3 in 1971 to 2.5 in 2021. The majority of people in Victoria live in separate houses, with an increase from 73.2% in 2016 to 73.4% in 2021. The proportion of homeowners in the state has also slightly increased, with 68.3% of households being homeowners in 2021.
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Frequently asked questions
The population of Victoria, Australia, is estimated to be between 5.71 million and 7 million people, making it the second most populous state in the country.
Melbourne is the largest city in Victoria and the second-largest city in Australia, with an estimated population of 4.17 million, accounting for 70%-75% of Victoria's population.
Victoria's population is growing rapidly. In 2011, the population grew by more than 100,000 in a year for the first time since 2009, with net overseas migration playing a significant role. The Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts that Victoria's population will reach 7.2 million by 2050.
Victoria is the most densely populated state in Australia, with a population density of 25 people per square kilometre or 64 per square mile, which also ranks second in the country.
