Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a highly urbanised country with a population of almost 28 million, three-quarters of whom live in major cities. The country's population density is 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometre, making it one of the least densely populated countries in the world. About 95% of the population lives within 100 km of the coast, with a large concentration of people in cities along the temperate south-eastern coastline. Only 1.9% of Australians live in remote or very remote areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population of Australia | 27,964,500 as of 4 August 2025 |
| Population density | 3.4/km2 or 3.6/km2 |
| Population growth rate | Similar to New Zealand and Canada |
| Population born overseas | 31.5% as of 30 June 2024 |
| Population growth | 8.6% since the 2016 Census |
| Median age | 38.3 years as of 30 June 2024 |
| Percentage of population aged 65 and over | 17% |
| Population in major cities | 73% |
| Population in inner and outer regional areas | 25% |
| Population in remote and very remote areas | 1.9% |
| Indigenous population | 984,000, representing 3.8% of the total population |
| Fertility rate for Indigenous women | 2.17 births per woman |
| Total fertility rate | 1.50 births per woman |
| Urban population | 90% as of 2021 |
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Population density
Australia has a low population density, with an average of 3.4 to 3.6 people per square kilometre of total land area, according to June 2022 data. This makes it the third least densely populated country in the world, after Namibia and Mongolia. The country's population is highly urbanised, with around 73% of people living in major cities, particularly along the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern coastal seaboards. The remaining population is distributed between inner and outer regional areas (25%) and remote and very remote regions (1.9%).
The population density in central Melbourne, for example, exceeds 38 people per square kilometre. In contrast, the Northern Territory, with an Indigenous population of 61,115, has a relatively lower population density, representing 26.3% of the total population in the region.
The Australian population is ageing, with the median age increasing from 33.4 years in 1994 to 38.3 years in 2024. The average age of the population was 39 years in 2021. The percentage of the population aged 65 and over has increased from 12% to 17% between 1994 and 2024. This shift towards an older population is accompanied by a decreasing fertility rate, which stood at 1.5 births per woman for all Australian women and 2.17 births per woman for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Australia has a high proportion of foreign-born residents, with around 31.5% of its population born outside the country as of June 2024. This percentage has been steadily increasing since 1947, when it was at 10%. The main countries of birth for this overseas-born population are England, India, China, and New Zealand. The population of Australia is diverse, with almost half of Australians (48%) having at least one parent born outside the country.
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Urbanisation
Australia's population is heavily urbanised, with around 90% of its population living in urban areas as of 2021. The country's population is highly concentrated in major cities, which are home to close to three-quarters (73%) of the total population. These cities include Sydney and Melbourne, both with a population of over five million, making them the most populous cities in Australia. Other cities with over a million inhabitants include Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
The population is also largely found along the coastal fringes, with about 95% of the population living within 100 km of the coast. This is in contrast to the world average of 39%. The population density of Australia is low, at around 3.4 to 3.6 people per square kilometre, making it one of the least densely populated countries in the world. However, population density in central Melbourne exceeds 38 people per square kilometre.
The high urbanisation rate in Australia can be attributed to the country's history of immigration. Australia has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world, with 31.5% of its population born overseas as of 2024. This percentage has been increasing over time, with a notable rise after the COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted in 2022, leading to an increase in overseas migration. The most common countries of birth for overseas-born Australians include England, India, China, and New Zealand.
While the population is heavily urbanised, a significant portion still lives in regional and remote areas. Around a quarter (25%) of Australians live in inner and outer regional areas, while 1.9% reside in remote and very remote locations. The Northern Territory has the highest percentage of Indigenous residents, with 26.3% of its population identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Australian population is also ageing, with a median age of 38.3 years as of 2024, up from 33.4 years in 1994. The percentage of the population aged 65 and over has increased from 12% to 17% during the same period. This shift towards an older population is accompanied by a decrease in fertility rates, which fell from 3.1 births per woman in 1921 to 1.5 births per woman in recent years.
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Indigenous Australians
Australia has a population of around 28 million people, with an average population density of 3.6 people per square kilometre, making it one of the least densely populated countries in the world. The population is concentrated in urban areas, particularly on the eastern, southeastern, and southern coasts, with almost three-quarters (73%) of people living in major cities.
In 2021, one-third (32.7%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales lived in Greater Sydney. In Victoria, half (50.2%) lived in Greater Melbourne, while in Queensland, one-third (32.4%) lived in Greater Brisbane. Over half (55.8%) of Indigenous people in South Australia lived in Greater Adelaide, and in the Northern Territory, the Indigenous population of 61,115 represents 26.3% of the total population.
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Population growth
Australia's population is heavily concentrated in urban areas, particularly on the eastern seaboard. The country's population is estimated to be 27.9 million as of August 2025, with a population density of 3.4 people per square kilometre, making it the third least densely populated country in the world. About 95% of the population lives within 100 km of the coast, and the majority live near coastlines. Five cities have populations of over a million people.
Australia's population has grown from an estimated 300,000 to 2.4 million Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788. This growth is due to numerous waves of immigration, with the European component's share of the population rising sharply in the late 18th and 19th centuries. However, the percentage of Europeans has been declining since the 1960s and 1970s, coinciding with the abolition of the White Australia policy.
In recent years, Australia's population growth has been similar to that of New Zealand and Canada. These countries have smaller populations and higher contributions to growth from net overseas migration, resulting in more volatile growth rates compared to larger countries like the United States. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, higher net overseas migration rates in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada resulted in faster population growth than in the US, the UK, and the European Union.
During the pandemic, international travel restrictions limited global migration, causing a sharp decline in population growth in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. However, as these countries reopened their borders in 2021-22, they recorded their highest population growth rates in decades. As of June 2024, Australia's population included 18.6 million people born in the country and 8.6 million people born overseas, with the proportion of the population born overseas increasing to 31.5%.
Australia has a highly urbanised population, with about 73% of people living in major cities, 25% in inner and outer regional areas, and the remaining 1.9% in remote and very remote areas. The median age of the population has increased from 33.4 years in 1994 to 38.3 years in 2024, and the country is experiencing a demographic shift towards an older population, with more retirees and fewer people of working age.
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Migration
Australia is the 54th most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 27.9 million as of August 2025. The country's population is concentrated in major cities, with almost three-quarters (73%) living in urban areas, particularly on the eastern, southeastern, and southern coastlines. Only about a quarter (25%) of Australians live in inner or outer regional areas, while 1.9% reside in remote or very remote locations. This makes Australia the third least densely populated country globally, with an average of 3.6 people per square kilometre.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia, along with New Zealand and Canada, had higher net overseas migration rates, resulting in faster population growth compared to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. However, international travel restrictions during the pandemic significantly reduced global migration, including in Australia. This led to a decline in the proportion of Australia's population born overseas, which had been as high as 31.5% in 2024.
As Australia and other countries reopened their borders in 2021-2022, the country experienced its highest population growth rate in decades. The proportion of Australia's population born overseas increased again, reaching 31.5% by June 2024, with nearly every country represented in the birthplaces of Australia's population. This diversity in migration sources has influenced the cultural diversity of Australia's population.
While most Australians live in urban areas, there has been some migration from metropolitan areas to regional districts, known as "outmigration." This phenomenon has been observed in New South Wales, where economic, environmental, and lifestyle factors have influenced people's decisions to move from cities like Sydney to non-metropolitan areas. The Australian government has also implemented policies to encourage immigration to regional areas, aiming to strengthen the economy and boost these regions.
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Frequently asked questions
Only about 1.9% of Australians live in remote and very remote areas. A quarter (25%) live in inner and outer regional Australia, while the majority (73%) live in major cities.
Australia's population is highly urbanised and concentrated on the eastern, southern and south-eastern seaboards.
Australia's population is estimated to be around 28 million as of 2025.
Australia is the 3rd least densely populated country in the world, with a population density of 3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi).
Australia has five cities with populations of over one million people: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
