Leslie Massey
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It has a population of around 27.4 million people as of 31 December 2024, with the majority of its residents living in urban areas close to coastlines. The country's population density is 3.5 to 4 inhabitants per square kilometre, one of the lowest in the world. Australia's two most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with over five million people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 27,400,013 (31 December 2024) |
| Population rank | 55 |
| Population density | 4 per Km² (9 people per sq. mile) |
| Total land area | 7,688,287 Km² (2,968,464 sq. miles) |
| Urban population | 86.51% (23,335,357 people in 2025) |
| Median age | 38.3 years |
| Life expectancy | 83.2 years (2015-2017) |
| Indigenous population | 495,757 (2011 census) |
| Fertility rate | 2.17 births per woman (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women) |
| Total number of families | 7.2 million (projected to increase to 9.5-9.7 million) |
| Percentage of female population | 50.7% |
| Median age of female population | 39 years |
| Most populous cities | Sydney and Melbourne (over 5 million each) |
| Capital | Canberra |
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What You'll Learn
Population density
Australia's population density is low compared to other countries. The population density of Australia was 3.4 people per square kilometre in June 2022, and 3.5 people per square kilometre in June 2024. Another source gives the figure of 4 people per square kilometre. This makes Australia one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. For context, the global average for population density is 57 people per square kilometre.
The land area of Australia is 7,682,300 square kilometres. The population of Australia is around 26 million people. 86.51% of the population is urban, and 89% of the population lives in a handful of urban areas. The five cities with the largest populations are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Sydney had the largest combined area in the high and very high-density classes (194 square kilometres), followed by Melbourne (69 square kilometres) and Brisbane (24 square kilometres). Perth, Canberra (both 3 square kilometres) and Adelaide (1 square kilometre) were the other capital cities to have areas in the high or very high-density classes.
The population density of Australia is influenced by several factors. One factor is the semi-arid and desert geography of much of the interior of the country. Most of Australia's population lives close to coastlines. Another factor is urbanisation, with the majority of the population living in a small number of urban areas.
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Indigenous population
Australia's Indigenous population is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The population of Indigenous Australians is estimated to be between 745,000 and 984,000, representing between 3.3% and 3.8% of the total Australian population. The Indigenous population of Australia has been increasing over time, with the proportion of First Nations people rising from 2.4% in 2001 to 3.8% in the 2021 Census. This increase is attributed to factors such as changing identification in the Census, greater participation, and a higher response rate to the question on Indigenous status.
Geographically, the Indigenous population is dispersed throughout Australia, with 60% living on the east coast of Australia, particularly in New South Wales (208,476) and Queensland (188,954). The Northern Territory has a significant Indigenous population of 61,115, representing 26.3% of the territory's total population. Additionally, 62% of Indigenous Australians live outside major cities, with 12% residing in areas classified as very remote.
The Indigenous population of Australia has a younger age structure compared to the non-Indigenous population, with a median age of 24 years. One-third (33.1%) of Indigenous Australians are under 15 years old, and those aged 65 and over comprise 5.4% of their population. The sex ratio among Indigenous Australians is slightly skewed, with 101 males to every 100 females.
Indigenous Australians have a higher birth rate than the non-Indigenous population, with a total fertility rate of 2.17 births per woman. In 2023, 24,737 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander births were registered, an increase from the previous year. However, only 23% of these births had both parents identified as Indigenous on the birth certificate.
The health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians are important areas of focus. While cultural factors such as community connection, language, and spirituality play a vital role in their wellbeing, there are concerning health disparities. The mortality rate for Indigenous Australians is 1.7 times higher than for non-Indigenous people, and the death rate from diabetes is alarmingly 12 times higher. Suicide has also become a significant cause of premature mortality within the Indigenous population.
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Life expectancy
Australia's population is ...
In Australia, the life expectancy at birth in 2021-2023 was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females, a slight decrease from the previous year. This decrease is partly attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with almost half of the deaths in 2022 being due to COVID-19. However, the number of COVID-19-related deaths decreased to 5,001 in 2023.
Over the past decade, life expectancy in Australia has generally increased, with a gain of 1.0 year for males and 0.8 years for females. However, countries like Japan, Switzerland, and Korea have higher life expectancies than Australia.
The concept of life expectancy is closely related to death rates and population health. High life expectancy is often associated with low infant and child mortality rates, an ageing population, and access to high-quality healthcare. Additionally, understanding the causes of death and disease patterns is crucial for improving health services and reducing preventable deaths.
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Fertility rate
Australia's population was 25.4 million in 2021, excluding overseas visitors. By 2022, the population had grown to 26 million.
In 2023, the fertility rate for all women in Australia was 1.5 births per woman, the lowest ever recorded. This represents a significant decline from the previous year's rate of 1.63 in 2022 and continues a downward trend over the last decade. The fertility rate for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women was higher at 2.17 births per woman in 2023, compared to 1.50 for all women. This rate has remained stable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, who tend to have children at a younger age than the general population of women in Australia.
Since 1976, Australia's total fertility rate has been below the replacement level, resulting in an ageing population. In 1996, the rate of natural increase fell below seven for the first time, and it has continued to decline. Population projections indicate that low fertility rates, combined with an increase in deaths from an ageing population, will lead to a further decline in the overall population growth rate.
Access to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has helped many Australians overcome infertility and other barriers to having children. However, the trend towards women giving birth later in life has contributed to the decline in fertility rates. The delay in childbearing can increase the risk of fertility issues, impacting families' ability to achieve their desired family size.
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Population growth
Australia's population growth has been steady over the years, with a current population of approximately 26 million people in 2022. The population is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. The ten-year average annual growth rate is 1.4%, but this is expected to decrease to between 0.2% and 0.9%. The population growth rate in 2024 was 1.7%, with a quarterly growth of 0.3%. This growth is influenced by various factors, including fertility rates, life expectancy, migration, and urbanisation.
Australia has one of the highest foreign-born populations globally, with 8.6 million people born overseas as of June 2024, comprising 31.5% of the total population. The most common countries of birth for this group are England, India, China, and New Zealand. The country's total fertility rate is 1.74 births per woman, which is below the replacement rate of 2.1. This contributes to an ageing population, with a median age of 38.3 to 39 years.
The population is concentrated in urban areas, with 86.51% of people living in urban centres and 95% residing within 100 km of the coast. Australia's five largest cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, each have a population of over one million. The country's urban population is expected to continue growing, with capitals experiencing a 2.4% growth rate in 2023-24.
Indigenous Australians make up a small but significant part of the population. Before European settlement, the Indigenous population was estimated to be between 300,000 and one million. Today, most Indigenous Australians live on the east coast, with significant populations in New South Wales and Queensland. The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of Indigenous people, representing 26.3% of its population.
Overall, Australia's population growth is expected to continue, albeit at a slower rate, with the country attracting immigrants from around the world and experiencing steady urbanisation.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia's population was 27,400,013 people at the end of 2024.
Australia's population density is 4 people per square kilometre (9 people per square mile). It 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.
