Leslie Massey
Australia's population has been growing steadily over the years, with the country recording 25.7 million residents as of 2021. As of 31 December 2024, Australia's population was 27.4 million, with a population density of 3.5 people per square kilometre. The population is projected to increase by 429,093 people by 2026, with net overseas migration being the primary driver of this growth. The COVID-19 pandemic and border restrictions temporarily impacted population growth, but the easing of restrictions and the return of overseas migration have seen a rebound. The median age in Australia is 38.5 years, with a life expectancy of 81.8 years, and the total fertility rate is 1.50 births per woman. The population is diverse, with 31% of residents born overseas and almost half having a parent born outside of Australia.
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What You'll Learn
Population growth rate
Australia's population growth rate has been affected by various factors, including birth rates, mortality rates, life expectancy, and migration. Over the past three decades, Australia's population growth rate has averaged 1.4% per year, with the country's population increasing from 17.8 million in 1994 to 27.2 million in 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of international border restrictions in 2020 impacted population growth, causing it to fall to a historic low of 0.1% in 2020-2021. However, the easing of restrictions and the return of overseas migration in late 2021 led to a rebound in population growth, with a rate of 2.5% in 2022-2023 and 2.0% in 2023-2024.
The birth rate in Australia has generally been volatile, with periods of both growth and decline. However, over the past three decades, the birth rate has shown an upward trend, contributing to population growth. In 2023, there were 286,998 registered births, a decrease of 4.6% from 2022. The total fertility rate for all Australian women was 1.50 births per woman, while for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, it was 2.17 births per woman.
Mortality rates, particularly among individuals under 17 years of age, have also impacted population growth. In 2023, there were 183,131 registered deaths, a decrease from the previous year. The standardized death rate decreased to 5.1 deaths per person, and infant deaths decreased by 47 to 911.
Life expectancy in Australia has been steadily improving, which has supported population growth. The total life expectancy for both sexes at birth is 81.8 years, with 79.4 years for males and 84.2 years for females. This is above the global average life expectancy of 71 years.
Migration has been a significant factor in Australia's population growth rate. In 2024, the country's population included 8.6 million people born overseas, representing 31% of the total population. Net overseas migration was 340,800, and the capitals grew by 427,800 people, with Melbourne experiencing the largest increase of 142,600 residents. The easing of COVID-19 border restrictions in 2022 contributed to the rebound in migration levels, supporting population growth.
In summary, Australia's population growth rate has been influenced by various factors, including birth rates, mortality rates, life expectancy, and migration. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary decline in population growth, the subsequent easing of restrictions and increase in migration have led to a rebound in population growth rates in recent years.
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Population density
Australia's population density is low compared to other countries. As of June 2022, the population density was 3.4/km² (8.8/sq mi). This makes Australia the third least densely populated country in the world, after Namibia and Mongolia.
The country has a population of around 27 million, with projections placing the number at between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. Despite its large land mass, the majority of Australia's population is concentrated in a handful of urban areas, with 89% of its population living in urban centres. This makes Australia one of the most urbanised countries in the world. The country's population is also largely coastal, with most people living close to coastlines.
The population density is also influenced by the fact that much of the interior of the country is semi-arid or desert. As a result, 97% of the population lives on just 3% of the country's land. This is reflected in the distribution of the population across the states and territories, with the Northern Territory recording the highest net undercount of residents in the 2016 Census, while the Australian Capital Territory recorded a net overcount.
The population is also diverse, with nearly every country in the world represented in the birthplaces of Australia's population. As of June 2024, 31.5% of the population was born overseas, with the top four countries of birth being England, India, China, and New Zealand. The proportion of the population born overseas has been increasing, with the percentage exceeding 30% for the first time since 1893 in 2023.
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Age demographics
Australia's population has grown from 3.8 million in 1901 to 25.7 million in 2021, with an estimated population of 27.2 million as of 30 June 2024. The population is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. The median age in Australia is 38.3 years, with a median age of 37 years for males and 39 years for females.
The population of people aged 18 and older in Australia is expected to increase by 2.2% during 2023-24, reaching 21,357,108 people. This growth is driven by migration, as border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic had previously constrained immigration. The birth rate has also contributed to growth in this demographic, with a downward trend in fertility rates over the past few years.
The population of people aged 25 to 34 was the least likely to have lived at the same address five years ago, with a high mobility rate of 72.4%. People in their 20s have declined as a share of the population living alone, while those aged 60 and above have become more common. The oldest age group, those over 80, has increased its share of the living alone population faster than its growth in the overall population.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, also known as First Nations people, represented 3.8% of the total Australian population as of 30 June 2021. Additionally, almost half of Australians (48%) have at least one parent born overseas, and 31% of the population in 2023 were born outside of Australia. Capital cities have been growing faster than regional areas, attracting overseas migrants and exhibiting a younger age structure.
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Overseas-born residents
Australia's population has grown older, with the median age increasing from 33.4 years in 1994 to 38.3 years in 2024. The percentage of the population aged 65 and over has increased from 12% to 17% over the same period. The population of Australia was approximately 27.2 million as of June 30, 2024, and the population is projected to increase by 429,093 people by 2026.
The percentage of overseas-born residents in Australia was 31% in 2023, compared to 69% of Australian-born residents. This has increased by 8 percentage points over the past 30 years. As of June 30, 2024, Australia's population included 8.6 million people who were born overseas, accounting for 31.5% of the total population. The countries of birth with the largest populations in Australia are England, India, China, and New Zealand. Those born in India have recorded the largest increase since 2014.
The capital cities have been growing faster than regional areas, with the share of Australia's population living in the eight capital cities increasing to 68% in 2023-24. This is because overseas migrants tend to settle in cities, and the younger age structure of cities results in greater natural population increase. Net overseas migration was the main driver of Australia's population growth in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic. The introduction of international border restrictions in 2020 lowered net overseas migration to -85,000 people in 2020-21, the first recorded net outflow since World War II. However, the removal of border restrictions in 2022 has seen migration levels rebound, supporting growth in the population.
People living alone now account for a quarter of all Australian households. The highest rates of lone living are among those born in Western and North-Western Europe, Southern and Eastern Europe, and the United Kingdom. This reflects patterns in these countries of origin, where the rates of living alone are relatively high.
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Life expectancy
Compared to other countries, Japan, Switzerland, and Korea have higher life expectancies than Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia's population was 27.2 million as of June 30, 2024, and 27.4 million as of December 31, 2024.
73% of Australians live in major cities, 25% live in inner or outer regional areas, and 1.9% live in remote or very remote areas.
The median age in Australia is 38.3 years as of June 30, 2024, and projected to increase to between 43.8 and 47.6 years.
31% of Australians were born overseas as of 2023, up from 23% thirty years ago.
The total fertility rate in Australia is 1.50 births per woman. For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, the rate is 2.17 births per woman.
