Damon Mcknight
Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with 86-89% of its population living in a handful of urban areas. The population is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. The country's population density is low, at 3.4-4 people per square kilometre, but this figure exceeds 38 inhabitants per square kilometre in central Melbourne. As of 2024, Australia's population was around 27 million, with the majority of people living within 100 km of the coast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 27.2 million (June 30, 2024) |
| Population growth rate | 1.4% (average annual growth rate) |
| Population density | 3.4-3.5 people per square kilometre |
| Urban population | 86.51%-89% |
| Median age | 38.3-39 years |
| Life expectancy | 83.2 years (2015-2017) |
| Indigenous population | 984,000 (June 30, 2021) |
| Fertility rate | 2.17 (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.49 (2023-24) |
| Crude birth rate | 14.9 per 1,000 population (1901) |
| Crude death rate | 6.4 per 1,000 population (2006) |
| Net overseas migration | 340,800 (June 30, 2024) |
| Major cities | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide |
| Population concentration | Coastal areas, particularly the east coast and south-eastern region |
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What You'll Learn
Population density
Australia's population density is low compared to other countries, with around 3.4 to 4 people per square kilometre of land area. This makes Australia one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The population is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. About 95% of the population lives within 100 km of the coast, compared to a world average of 39%.
The country is highly urbanised, with 67% to 89% of its population living in a handful of urban areas. There are five cities in Australia, including their suburbs, with over a million people: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. The population density in central Melbourne, for example, exceeds 38 inhabitants per square kilometre.
The major cities are home to close to three-quarters (73%) of the total population, with a quarter (25%) living in inner and outer regional areas. The share of the population living in the eight capital cities has been increasing over the past 30 years, driven by overseas migration and a younger age structure resulting in a greater natural increase.
Australia's Indigenous population is mostly located on the east coast, with almost 60% living in New South Wales and Queensland, representing 2-5% of those states' populations. The Northern Territory has an Indigenous population of 61,115, which makes up 26.3% of its total population.
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Urbanisation
Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with 86.51% of its population living in urban areas. The population is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. This coastal concentration is notable, with about 95% of Australians living within 100 km of the coast, compared to a 39% world average.
The country's five largest cities, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, all have metropolitan populations of over one million. These cities are located in the temperate south-eastern region, where population density exceeds 38 inhabitants per square kilometre in central Melbourne. The capitals grew by 427,800 people (2.4%) between 2023 and 2024, with overseas migration being the main driver of this growth.
Australia's population density is low, at around 3.4 to 4 people per square kilometre of total land area, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries globally. However, this masks the high levels of urbanisation, with 67% of the population living in metropolitan areas in 2018. This figure rose to 68% in 2023-24, as capital cities grew faster than regional areas due to overseas migration and a younger age structure resulting in a greater natural increase.
The country's population is expected to continue growing, projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million people by 2071. This growth will be driven by net overseas migration, which has increased the population by 340,800 between 2023 and 2024. The median age is also projected to increase, reflecting a demographic shift towards an older population.
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Indigenous population
Australia's Indigenous population, comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, numbers around 984,000 as of 30 June 2021, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates. This represents about 3.8% of the total Australian population. The Indigenous population has been increasing with each census since 2001, with the proportion rising from 2.4% in 2001 to 3.8% in the 2021 Census.
Indigenous Australians are not a single group but encompass hundreds of distinct communities. The geographical distribution of Indigenous Australians today is similar to that of the pre-colonial population, with most people living on the east coast, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland, which together account for about three-quarters of the Indigenous population. The Northern Territory has a significant Indigenous population, constituting around 26.3% of the territory's total population.
Indigenous Australians have a younger age structure than non-Indigenous Australians, with larger proportions of young people and smaller proportions of older individuals. The median age among Indigenous Australians is 24 years, compared to 38.5 years for the overall Australian population. The higher birth rates and lower life expectancy in the Indigenous population contribute to this age discrepancy.
While the majority of Indigenous Australians reside in major cities, their proportion is lower than that of non-Indigenous Australians. Approximately one-third of Indigenous people live in major cities, while inner and outer regional areas host about a quarter of the Indigenous population each. Additionally, nearly one-fifth of Indigenous Australians live in remote or very remote areas.
Indigenous languages are still prevalent among the Indigenous population, with almost 10% reporting the use of an Indigenous language at home in the 2021 Census. However, only 13 Indigenous languages are not considered endangered.
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Population growth
Australia's population growth has been driven primarily by net overseas migration, which increased from 47,000 people in 1993-94 to 435,000 in 2023-24. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a reversal in this trend, with border restrictions leading to a net outflow of migrants in 2020-21 for the first time since World War II. Despite this, the population continued to grow, reaching an estimated 26 million in 2022 and 27.2 million by June 2024.
The country's population growth has also been influenced by its fertility rates, which have generally been declining. The total fertility rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women was 2.17 births per woman, higher than the overall rate of 1.49 births per woman in 2023-24. The crude birth rate has decreased since Australian Federation in 1901, while the crude death rate has fallen from 12.2 deaths per 1,000 population in 1901 to 6.4 deaths per 1,000 population in 2006.
Australia's population is heavily concentrated in urban areas, with 86.51% to 89% of its population living in cities. The capital cities have been growing faster than regional areas, with the share of the population living in the eight capital cities increasing to 68% in 2023-24. The metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide have over one million inhabitants each. The population density in these cities can exceed 38 inhabitants per square kilometre, while the overall population density in Australia is low, ranging from 3.4 to 4 people per square kilometre.
The population is also concentrated on the coastal fringes, particularly the east coast and the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. About 95% of Australians live within 100 km of the coast, compared to a world average of 39%. This coastal concentration may be attributed to the semi-arid and desert geography of much of the country's interior.
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Population distribution
Australia's population is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. The population density is 3.4-3.5 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. However, the majority of the population lives in urban areas, with 86.51% living in cities. The population is also ageing, with a median age of 38.3-39 years.
Australia's population is ageing, with a declining birth rate and increasing life expectancy. The country has a crude birth rate of 14.9 per 1,000 population and a fertility rate of 1.49 babies per woman as of 2023-24, down from 1.85 in 1993-94. The crude death rate has decreased significantly since 1901, falling from 12.2 deaths per 1,000 population to 6.4 deaths per 1,000 population in 2006. The life expectancy in Australia was 83.2 years during 2015-2017, one of the highest in the world.
The population is also highly urbanised, with 67-68% of the population living in metropolitan areas in and around the state and mainland territorial capital cities. The capital cities have been growing faster than regional areas, driven by overseas migration and a younger age structure resulting in a greater natural increase. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are the metropolitan areas with more than one million inhabitants.
The Indigenous population of Australia, comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, numbered around 984,000 in 2021, representing 3.8% of the total population. The majority of Indigenous Australians live on the east coast, with almost 60% residing in New South Wales and Queensland. The Northern Territory has an Indigenous population of 61,115, which represents 26.3% of the territory's total population.
In summary, Australia's population is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region, and is highly urbanised, with a high proportion of people living in the major cities. The population is ageing, with a declining birth rate and increasing life expectancy, and the Indigenous population makes up around 3.8% of the total population, mostly residing on the east coast.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia's population is heavily concentrated on the east coast, particularly in the south-eastern region between South East Queensland and Adelaide. About 95% of the population lives within 100 km of the coast.
Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with 86.51% to 89% of its population living in a handful of urban areas.
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are metropolitan areas with more than one million inhabitants.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population was 984,000, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population as of June 30, 2021.
Australia's population density is 3.4 to 4 people per square kilometre of total land area, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries globally.
