Lexi Webster
Australia's population is estimated to be between 26 and 28 million people as of 2025, with a median age of 38-39 years. It is the 54th or 55th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country. Australia's population has grown from an estimated 300,000 to 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788, due to waves of immigration. Now, Australia has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world, with 29.8% of its population born overseas as of 2020. The population is heavily concentrated in urban areas on the eastern seaboard, with most people living near coastlines. Australia's population growth has been similar to that of New Zealand and Canada, with higher contributions from net overseas migration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 26,997,654 (August 2025) / 27.2 million (June 2024) / 27,964,500 (August 2025) |
| Population Rank | 54th or 55th most populous country in the world / Most populous Oceanian country |
| Population Density | 3.4-4 people per Km² (8.8-9 people per sq. mi) |
| Urban Population | 86.51% (23,335,357 people in 2025) |
| Median Age | 38.3-39 years |
| Life Expectancy | 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females (2021-2023) |
| Total Land Area | 7,682,300 Km² (2,966,151 sq. miles) |
| Foreign-Born Population | 29.8% (as of 2020) / 31.5% (including overseas visitors) |
| Net Overseas Migration | 435,000 people in 2023-24 |
| Literacy Rate | 58% of Australians aged 25-64 have vocational or tertiary qualifications |
| Tertiary Graduation Rate | 49% |
| Higher Education Qualification | 30.9% |
| International Students | 812,000 in 2019 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% (June 2022) |
| Poverty Rate | 13.6% |
Explore related products
$30.68 $32.99
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Adventure Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rRihqWqgL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Scenic Drives Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/814R4OsGtCL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Population density
Australia's population density is low, with an average of 3.6 people per square kilometre of total land area. This makes it the third least densely populated country in the world, after Namibia and Mongolia. The country's population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards. Australia has five cities with over one million people, including their suburbs. Sydney, for instance, is considered one of the world's largest metropolitan catchments, attracting hundreds of thousands of people. If we consider the residents of inner-city suburbs located close to Sydney's central business district, the population density rises to above 15,000 people per square kilometre.
Melbourne, another large city, offers some of the best public transport in the world, making city living easy and convenient. However, the overall population density of Australia does not capture how dense the livable areas are, as most of the country's interior is desert, presenting extremely difficult living conditions. When compared to other countries, Australia's population is spread out. For instance, the United States has a population density of 35.71 persons per square kilometre, while India has 464 people per square kilometre.
The population density of Australia is important for urban sustainability, which aims to create self-sufficient cities that are less reliant on the surrounding countryside. Living in a densely populated area provides instant access to a community of people and more job opportunities, as many companies have their headquarters in cities. However, there are downsides to living in cities with high population densities, and it is a matter of personal preference.
Glossier's Shipping to Australia: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Population growth
Australia's population is currently estimated to be around 27 million people, with a median age of 38.3 years. It is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous country in Oceania. Australia's population has grown from an estimated population of between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788. This growth is due to numerous waves of immigration throughout history, particularly from Europe during the late 18th and 19th centuries. The population is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029 and is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071. The current annual growth rate is 1.4%, but this is expected to slow to between 0.2% and 0.9%.
Australia's population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards. The country has a low population density of 3.6 people per square kilometre, making it the third least densely populated country in the world after Namibia and Mongolia. Most Australians live close to coastlines, with five cities (including their suburbs) that have a population of over one million people.
Historically, the rate of natural increase in Australia has fluctuated. It was 14.9 persons per 1,000 population at the time of Australian Federation in 1901 and peaked at 17.4 per thousand population in 1912-1914. During the Great Depression, the rate declined to 7.1 per thousand in 1934-1935. After World War II, the rate increased sharply due to the baby boom and immigration, with a plateau of over 13.0 persons per 1,000 population from 1946 to 1962. Since then, there has been a downward trend, with the rate falling below seven for the first time in 1996.
Australia's closest neighbours include Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, East Timor, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands. While I cannot calculate the average population of these countries, some estimates of their populations are as follows:
- Papua New Guinea: 9,042,082
- New Zealand: 4,995,691
- East Timor: 1,340,524
- Indonesia: 273,827,615
- New Caledonia: 285,357
- Vanuatu: 307,145
- Malaysia: 32,365,622
- Philippines: 109,581,075
- Solomon Islands: 652,857
Cenovis: Australian-Owned and Operated?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Population distribution
Australia's population is estimated to be between 26,974,026 and 27,964,500 as of August 2025, with a median age of 38.3 years. It is the 54th or 55th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country. Australia's population has grown from an estimated population of between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788 due to numerous waves of immigration. The population is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029 and is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million by 2071.
Australia's population is highly urbanised, with 86.51% living in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards. The majority of the population lives near coastlines, with five cities (including their suburbs) that have populations larger than one million people: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. The population density in Australia is low, at around 3 to 4 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
Historically, Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology was the prevalent belief system until around 1840, when European Australians first outnumbered Indigenous Australians. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Australia was majority Protestant with a large Catholic minority. Since 1991, the percentage of Christians has steadily decreased, while the percentage of non-religious people has increased. As of 2020, 29.8% of Australia's population was born overseas, with the largest groups born in England, India, China and New Zealand. The vast majority of Australians speak English at home, with some Aboriginal Australians and first-generation immigrants speaking other languages.
Australia has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. It has a labour force of about 13.5 million people, with an unemployment rate of 3.5% as of June 2022. The country also has one of the highest ratios of international students per capita in the world, with 812,000 international students enrolled in universities and vocational institutions in 2019. According to the Australian Council of Social Service, the poverty rate in Australia exceeds 13.6% of the population, including over 17.7% of children under 15 living in relative poverty.
5G Phones: Australia's Launch and Availability
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Immigration
Australia's population has grown from an estimated 300,000 to 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians at the time of British colonisation in 1788 to 26,997,654 in 2025, due to numerous waves of immigration. As of June 2022, the population density of Australia was 3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi), making it the third least densely populated country in the world. Australia's population is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million people by 2071.
In 2023, BCG ranked Australia as the top country destination for individuals seeking to work and live a high-quality life. The country has a long history of immigration, with the first migration of humans to the continent taking place around 65,000 years ago via the islands of Maritime Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. In more recent history, the Bounty Immigration Scheme (1835-1841) boosted emigration from the United Kingdom to New South Wales. The Gold Rush era, beginning in 1851, led to a large influx of British and Irish settlers, followed by smaller numbers of Germans, other Europeans, and Chinese.
After World War II, Australia launched a massive immigration program, and hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans migrated to the country. Over 1,000,000 British subjects immigrated under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, known colloquially as Ten Pound Poms. The scheme initially targeted citizens of all Commonwealth countries and was later extended to other countries such as the Netherlands and Italy.
In 2023-24, the top five countries of birth for overseas migrants to Australia were India, China, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Net overseas migration has increased from 30,042 in 1992-93 to 536,000 in 2022-23. The largest components of immigration are the skilled migration and family reunion programs. A 2014 sociological study concluded that Australia is one of the most receptive countries to immigration among Western nations.
However, Australia's policy of mandatory detention of unauthorised arrivals by boat has attracted controversy. Some environmental movements argue that Australia, as the driest inhabited continent, cannot sustain its current rate of population growth without becoming overpopulated. The Australia Institute has concluded that Australia's population growth has been a significant factor in the increase in domestic greenhouse gas emissions.
Best Australian Colleges for Animal-Centric Programs
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Religion and demographics
Australia is officially a secular state, with no official religion. Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia states:
> The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.
Christianity is the most common religion in Australia, with 43.9% of Australians identifying as Christian in the 2021 census. This is a decrease of 8.2% from five years prior. The second-largest classification was the 38.9% who identified as "no religion". The Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas are public holidays in Australia.
The Aboriginal peoples of Australia traditionally followed a set of beliefs known as The Dreaming, which is one of the earliest known evidence of religious practices among humans. Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology was the prevalent belief system in Australia until around 1840, when the number of European Australians first outnumbered indigenous Australians.
Australia has become more religiously diverse over time. The number of people affiliated with religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism is increasing. In 2021, the number of people who answered the religion question in the census was 93.1% of the population, an increase from 90.9% in 2016. Hinduism is one of the fastest-growing religions in Australia, with a growth rate of 12.0% per year since 2011. The number of Sikhs in Australia has almost tripled since the 2011 census, and the increase in the number of Muslims can be attributed to recent migration.
The Catholic education system is the second-biggest sector after government schools, with more than 750,000 students in 2018. The Anglican Church educates around 105,000 students, and there are two Catholic universities in Australia.
The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,964,500 as of August 2025, with a median age of 38.3 years. It is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country. Australia has an average population density of 3.4 to 4 people per square kilometre, which makes it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The majority of the population lives in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards, and close to coastlines.
Uluru's Home: An Australian Outback Icon
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Australia's neighbouring countries include New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and East Timor. The average population of these countries is around 20 million people.
As of 2025, Australia's population is estimated to be around 28 million people.
Australia is the 54th most populous country in the world and the most populous country in Oceania.
The population density of Australia is around 3-4 people per square kilometre, making it one of the least densely populated countries in the world.
Australia's population has grown significantly since British colonisation in 1788, when the population was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000 Indigenous Australians. In recent years, Australia's population growth rate has been similar to New Zealand and Canada, with a higher contribution from net overseas migration.
