Damon Mcknight
Australia, the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, is highly urbanised and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. The continent of Australia is sometimes known by the names Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia. Australia has a population of almost 28 million, making it the 54th or 55th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| World ranking by population size | 54th or 55th |
| Population | 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025 |
| Population density | 3.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area |
| Immigrant population world ranking | 9th |
| Life expectancy | 83 years (81 years for males and 85 years for females) |
| Median age | 37 years |
| Foreign-born population | One of the highest in the world |
| Diversity | One of the most diverse cultures in the world |
| Number of ancestries | 2 (as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics) |
| Indigenous population | 3.2% (2021 census); 2.5% (2011 census) |
| Immigrant population since 1945 | 7 million |
| Immigrant population since World War II | 6 million |
| Immigrant population since end of White Australia policy in 1973 | Large and continuing wave of immigration from across the world |
| Most common sources of immigration | United Kingdom, New Zealand, China, India, Vietnam |
| Ranking by press freedom | 39th out of 180 countries |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's population is approximately 28 million
Australia is a continent and country with a population of approximately 28 million people. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is highly urbanised, with the majority of its population concentrated on the eastern seaboard in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, both with over five million people.
The continent of Australia includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea. It is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, or Meganesia to differentiate it from the country of Australia.
The country of Australia has six states and ten territories, with Canberra as its capital. It has a highly developed economy, ranking 14th globally, and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. Its economy is heavily reliant on abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations.
Australia has a diverse culture, influenced by its indigenous history and various waves of immigration. Since the end of the White Australia policy in 1973, the country has pursued an official policy of multiculturalism, resulting in a large and continuous wave of immigration from Asia and other parts of the world.
With a population of nearly 28 million, Australia is the 54th or 55th most populous country globally and the most populous Oceanian country. Its population growth rate has slowed in recent decades due to falling fertility rates, and a natural increase below zero is expected by the mid-2030s.
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It is the 54th/55th most populous country
Australia is a country in Oceania, known for its Great Barrier Reef and vast Outback. It has a population of approximately 28 million, ranking it as the 54th or 55th most populous country in the world. Its population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards. The capital, Canberra, is located in the southeast between the larger cultural and economic centres of Sydney and Melbourne, which both have populations of over five million.
Australia's population has grown significantly since British colonisation in 1788, when the indigenous population was estimated to be between 300,000 and 2,400,000. This growth is largely due to numerous waves of immigration, particularly from the British Isles, Europe, and more recently, Asia. Australia has one of the world's highest foreign-born populations, with over 30% of Australians born in another country and 46% having at least one overseas-born parent. The country has the world's 9th largest immigrant population and the second-highest human development index globally.
The population of Australia is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts that continued low fertility and an ageing population will result in natural population growth falling below zero by the mid-2030s. The median age in Australia is currently 37 years, and the country's demographics are shifting towards an older population.
Australia is a highly urbanised country, with an average population density of 3.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries globally. The Australian continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the island of New Guinea, which comprises Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea.
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Australia is the smallest continent
The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and other tiny islands in the Central and South Pacific. However, Australia as a continent includes the nation of Australia, the nation of Papua New Guinea, and the island nation of New Zealand. The continent includes a continental shelf overlain by shallow seas that divide it into several landmasses, including the Arafura Sea and Torres Strait between mainland Australia and New Guinea, and Bass Strait between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Australia is highly urbanised, with a population of almost 28 million people, and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally. Australia also has the world's 9th largest immigrant population. Sydney is the most multicultural city in Oceania, with more than 250 different languages spoken, and about 40% of residents speaking a language other than English at home.
Australia is also the largest country without land borders and the sixth-largest country on Earth. It is the largest single country to exist entirely within the Southern Hemisphere.
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It has the world's 9th-largest immigrant population
Australia is a continent with a highly urbanised population of almost 28 million people. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia has the world's 9th-largest immigrant population, with 8.6 million people born overseas out of a total population of 27.2 million as of June 2024. The proportion of Australia's population born outside the country was 31.5% in 2024, up from 30.7% in 2023 and 23.8% in 2004. This is due to a net inflow of migrants, with more people migrating to Australia than leaving. The country's diverse culture is reflected in its immigrant population, which includes people from England, India, China, New Zealand, and Singapore, among other countries.
Historically, Australia has experienced several waves of migration, with the majority of settlers and immigrants coming from Britain and Ireland until the mid-20th century. During the 19th century, there was also significant immigration from China and Germany. Following World War II, Australia launched a large-scale immigration programme, attracting hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans and over one million British subjects under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. This scheme initially targeted citizens of Commonwealth countries but later expanded to include other nations such as the Netherlands and Italy.
Since the end of the White Australia policy in 1973, the country has officially embraced multiculturalism, and immigration from Asia and other non-European countries has increased significantly. In the 21st century, Asia has been the largest source of immigrants to Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary halt in immigration, leading to a shrinkage of the Australian population for the first time since World War I. However, the years 2021-22 showed a strong recovery in migrant arrivals.
Australia offers various types of immigration visas, including skilled occupation visas, student visas, and sponsored working visas. The country's economy is the 14th-largest in the world, and it boasts one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to its economic success. Australia's high quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights also contribute to its appeal as an immigration destination.
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Australia is a multicultural country
Australia is a continent and a country, the smallest continent but one of the largest countries on Earth. It is highly urbanised, with a population of almost 28 million, and has the world's 14th-largest economy and the second-highest human development index globally.
Australia has a diverse culture, with one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. Aboriginal Australian culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. At the time of first European contact, Aboriginal Australians belonged to a wide range of societies, with diverse economies spread across at least 250 different language groups. Estimates of the Aboriginal population before British settlement range from 300,000 to 3 million. Aboriginal Australians were largely nomadic hunters and gatherers, but they had also established robust, semi-permanent settlements in well-favoured localities.
Since the end of World War II, the proportion of overseas-born and second-generation migrants in Australia has steadily increased. In 2021, 61.7% of the population of Auburn in western Sydney was born overseas, an increase from 60.0% in 2016. In 2025, Sydney was the most multicultural city in Oceania, with more than 250 different languages spoken and about 40% of residents speaking a language other than English at home.
In the years between 2016 and 2017, skilled migrants accounted for 67.3% of the total migration program outcome that year. The net effect of a multiculturalism policy for Australia has been a brain gain, with skilled migrants contributing to Australia's strong economy. A survey conducted by Gallup World Poll between 2012 and 2014 indicates that out of 142 countries, support for immigration was highest in the Oceania region (Australia and New Zealand), at 69%. Since 2013, the Social Cohesion surveys conducted by the Scanlon Foundation have found a consistently positive attitude towards immigration among its respondents, with 83-86% of responses indicating that multiculturalism has been good for Australia.
Australia is a multicultural success story, with children of immigrants attaining better average educational results than children of native-born Australians. This indicates that immigrants and their children have opportunities to grow and thrive in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,940,400 as of 21 July 2025, with nearly 30% of Australians born in another country.
Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. It is the 54th or 55th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country.
Australia's population growth rate has been falling since 1962 due to decreasing fertility rates. The population is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029.
