Lyla Lindsey
Australia's population is spread across urban, suburban, and rural areas, with 70% of Australians living in the top eight most populous cities. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines urban centres as population clusters of 1,000 or more people, and Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) as towns and cities with at least 10,000 people. The ABS also uses a threshold of 100,000 residents congregated around an urban centre, with dwelling density exceeding 45/km2 and/or population density above 200/km2, to define major cities. The population figures for capital cities are often quoted in terms of their Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs), which represent a broad functional definition of each capital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of a city in Australia | A city in Australia is defined by measures of density, available amenities, and population size. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines urban centres as a population cluster of 1,000 or more people. For statistical purposes, people living in these urban centres are classified as urban. |
| Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) | The ABS defines SUAs as significant towns and cities or agglomerations of smaller towns with a population of at least 10,000. |
| Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs) | Each capital city forms its own GCCSA, which represents a broad functional definition of each of the eight state and territorial capital cities. The population of the GCCSA is the most-often quoted figure for the population of capital cities. |
| Population Density | Australia's population density as of June 2024 was 3.5 people per square kilometre. |
| Most Populous Cities | Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are the largest cities in Australia. Sydney had a population of 4.959 million in 2021, while Melbourne had 4.901 million. Brisbane is the only state capital city with its respective local government area (LGA) covering a significant portion of its urban area. |
| Population Growth | Australia's population is projected to reach between 37.4 and 49.2 million by 2066 and is expected to exceed 50 million by 2101. The capitals grew by 427,800 people (2.4%) in 2023-24, with Melbourne experiencing the largest increase of 142,600 people, followed by Sydney (107,500), and Brisbane (72,900). |
| Rural Population | According to statistics from 2014, around 10% of Australia's population lived in rural towns, showing a decrease as residents move to bigger cities. |
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What You'll Learn
Population density
Australia's population density as of June 2024 was 3.5 people per square kilometre. Its population is projected to reach between 37.4 and 49.2 million by 2066 and is expected to grow to over 50 million by 2101.
The country's population is concentrated in its major cities, with 70% of Australians living in the top eight most populous cities. These cities include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Canberra. Sydney is Australia's largest city, with a population of 4.959 million, closely followed by Melbourne, with 4.901 million people. These two cities, along with Brisbane, are the country's fastest-growing, with Melbourne's population increasing by 2.3% in 2018-19, Brisbane by 2.1%, and Sydney by 1.7%.
Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) are defined as significant towns and cities, or groups of smaller towns, with a population of at least 10,000. In 2024, all SUAs with populations greater than 10,000 were ranked, with the top 50 urban areas containing 21,423,279 people in 2021, or 83.2% of the country's total population. The top 100 urban areas make up 86.9%.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines urban centres as population clusters of 1,000 or more people. For statistical purposes, people living in these centres are classified as urban. ABS also defines a major city as having a population of 100,000 or more, with a dwelling density of over 45/km2 and/or a population density above 200/km2.
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Urban centres
The ABS also defines Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) as significant towns and cities, or agglomerations of smaller towns, that have at least 10,000 total population. In 2024, there were 70 SUAs with a population greater than 10,000. There are urban areas of greater than 10,000 people that the ABS does not classify as SUAs.
The Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) is the most-often quoted figure for the population of capital cities. GCCSAs represent a broad functional definition of each of the eight state and territorial capital cities. The eight GCCSAs are listed for the state and territorial capital cities.
In 2021, the top 50 urban areas in Australia contained 21,423,279 people, which was 83.2% of the country's total population. The top 100 urban areas make up 86.9%. The top 5 alone, the only cities with over 1 million people, make up 61%, showing that Australia is a highly urbanised country.
The most populous cities are located within New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the largest cities and are growing most rapidly. In 2021, Sydney was Australia's largest city, with 4.959 million people, closely followed by Melbourne with 4.901 million. In 2018-19, Melbourne's population increased by 2.3%, Brisbane by 2.1% and Sydney by 1.7%.
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Significant Urban Areas (SUAs)
SUAs are dynamic and change between editions to provide an effective statistical representation of these urban areas. Changes to SUA boundaries occur primarily due to population growth and changes to SA2 boundaries. SUAs can grow, absorb nearby centres, or decline over time. For instance, the urban growth between Melbourne and Melton resulted in the amalgamation of Melton into the Melbourne SUA.
SUAs may contain more than one distinct urban centre. They can also include related peri-urban and satellite development areas, as well as the potential for urban expansion. Each SUA contains at least one centre with a core urban population of over 7,000 people. Related Urban Centres have an edge-to-edge separation of less than 5 kilometres along reasonable sealed roads. All Urban Centres of over 10,000 people are contained within an SUA.
SUAs cover the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps and may cross state or territory borders. In 2011, there were 110 SUAs, including 101 SUAs for urban concentrations and nine remainder areas representing the balance of each state and territory ('Not in any Significant Urban Area').
The Australian population is concentrated in its urban centres, with 70% of the population living in the top eight most populous cities. The most populous cities are located within New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
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Capital cities
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own capital city. The eight capital cities are:
- Sydney, the capital of New South Wales (NSW) and the nation's biggest city. NSW boasts indulgent wine regions, pristine seaside villages, and mountain wilderness.
- Hobart, the capital of Tasmania (TAS), a cosmopolitan city surrounded by exquisite food and wine trails and great family activities.
- Canberra, the capital of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Canberra is one of the best places to live in the world due to its vast number of natural wonders.
- Melbourne, the capital of Victoria (VIC) and a cultural hub. The city has been named the 'Most Liveable City in the World' multiple times due to its cultural diversity, modern cityscape, and friendly atmosphere.
- Brisbane, the capital of Queensland (QLD), also known as 'Brissie'. It enjoys more winter sunshine and warmth than almost anywhere else in the country.
- Adelaide, the capital of South Australia (SA). The city is a great base for exploring the Barossa Valley wineries, the Flinders Ranges, and Kangaroo Island.
- Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory (NT), home to some of the country's most iconic natural wonders, including Kakadu National Park, King's Canyon, and Litchfield National Park.
- The external territory of Norfolk Island has its official capital at Kingston, although its de facto capital is Burnt Pine.
The population of the Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) is the most commonly quoted figure for the population of capital cities. In 2023-24, the capitals grew by 427,800 people (2.4%), with Melbourne experiencing the largest increase (142,600) and Perth having the highest growth rate (3.1%).
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Population growth rates
Australia's population growth rates vary across different cities and regions. The country's population growth was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with border closures and lockdowns leading to a temporary stall or decline in population numbers, particularly in major cities. However, with the easing of restrictions and the reopening of borders, Australia's population is expected to resume its upward trajectory.
During the 2023-24 financial year, the capital cities of Australia experienced a collective growth of 427,800 people, representing a 2.4% increase. This growth was driven by overseas migration (373,000), natural increase (89,500), and partially offset by internal migration (-34,600). Melbourne stood out with the largest increase of 142,600 people, while Perth boasted the highest growth rate of 3.1%. Sydney and Brisbane followed closely behind, both with a 2.7% growth rate.
The population growth rates in Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs) are noteworthy. SUAs are defined as urban areas with a population greater than 10,000, while GCCSAs represent the broader functional definition of capital cities. In 2024, the SUAs and GCCSAs with the highest population growth rates were often located on the outskirts of capital cities. Suburbs like Taylor, Strathnairn, Denman Prospect, and Phillip in Canberra, Fraser Rise - Plumpton and Tarneit - North in Melbourne, and Box Hill - Nelson and Austral - Greendale in Sydney witnessed substantial growth.
While the largest cities experienced fluctuations during the pandemic, they remain the fastest-growing areas in Australia. Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane are the three largest cities, and they are also the most rapidly growing, with Melbourne leading the way at 2.3% growth in 2018-19. This is followed by Brisbane at 2.1% and Sydney at 1.7%. Regional cities like the Gold Coast are also experiencing notable population growth, with a 1.8% increase between 2018 and 2019.
Looking at long-term projections, Australia's population is expected to reach between 37.4 and 49.2 million by 2066 and surpass 50 million by 2101. This anticipated growth underscores the ongoing urbanisation of the country, with over two-thirds of the population already residing in urban areas. The top 50 urban areas alone account for 83.2% of the country's total population, indicating a strong concentration of people in these regions.
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Frequently asked questions
A city in Australia is defined by its population size, density, and available amenities. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines an urban centre as a population cluster of 1,000 or more people. A Significant Urban Area (SUA) is defined as an area with a population of 10,000 or more people. A major city is defined by the ABS as an area with 100,000 or more residents, with a dwelling density of over 45/km2 and/or a population density above 200/km2.
The most populous cities in Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. In 2021, Sydney was the largest city with 4.959 million people, while Melbourne was close behind with 4.901 million.
In 2018-19, Melbourne's population grew by 2.3%, Brisbane by 2.1%, and Sydney by 1.7%. In 2023-24, Melbourne's population increased by 142,600, Sydney's by 107,500, and Brisbane's by 72,900.
Approximately 67% of Australians live in capital cities, with 17 million people residing in these areas.
Australia's population density as of June 2024 was 3.5 people per square kilometre. Sydney has the largest area in the high and very high-density classes, followed by Melbourne and Brisbane.
