Lexi Webster
Australia's population is concentrated in urban areas, with 86.5% of the population living in urban regions. The country's population is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029, with the majority of Australians residing in major cities. The Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards are particularly populated. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth are among the cities with the highest population growth rates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 26,974,026 (2025) |
| Population Density | 3.5 people per square kilometre (2024) |
| % of Urban Population | 86.51% (2025) |
| Median Age | 38.3 years (2024) |
| Life Expectancy | 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females (2021-23) |
| Fertility Rate | 1.49 babies per woman (2023-24) |
| Birth Rate | 289,000 (2023-24) |
| Death Rate | 183,000 (2023-24) |
| Religious Affiliation | 38.9% No Religion, 43.9% Christian (2021) |
| Immigration Sources | Asia is the largest source of immigrants in the 21st century |
| Main Cities | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth |
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Population density
Australia's population density was 3.5 people per square kilometre as of June 2024. This figure makes Australia one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The country's population is concentrated in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards.
Major cities are home to close to three-quarters (73%) of the total population. The majority of Australians reside in these cities, with Inner Regional Australia being the next most populous region, followed by Outer Regional Australia, and then Remote and Very Remote Australia. 70% of the population lives in the top eight most populous cities. The eight Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs) are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, and Canberra-Queanbeyan.
Sydney had the largest combined area in the high and very high population density classes (194 km²), followed by Melbourne. In 2023-24, Melbourne had the largest increase in population (142,600), followed by Sydney (107,500), Brisbane (72,900), and Perth (72,700). Perth had the highest growth rate (3.1%), followed by Melbourne and Brisbane (both 2.7%).
Local government areas (LGAs) are the main units of local government in Australia. They cover approximately 90% of the country. Brisbane is the only state capital city with its respective LGA (City of Brisbane) covering a significant portion of its urban area.
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Urban areas
Australia's population is concentrated in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards. 70% of the population lives in the top eight most populous cities, and 86.51% of the population is urban. The majority of Australians reside in the major cities, with the next most populous region being Inner Regional Australia, followed by Outer Regional Australia, and then Remote and Very Remote Australia.
The eight Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs) are the most often-quoted figure for the population of capital cities. They are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as representing a broad functional definition of each of the eight state and territorial capital cities. They correspond broadly to the international concept of metropolitan areas.
Significant Urban Areas (SUAs) are defined as significant towns and cities or agglomerations of smaller towns with at least 10,000 people. Urban centres are defined by the ABS as a population cluster of 1,000 or more people. For statistical purposes, people living in urban centres are classified as urban.
The most populous cities in Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Sydney had the largest combined area in the high and very high-density classes (194 km²), followed by Melbourne. Melbourne had the largest increase in population in 2023-24, with 142,600 people, and Perth had the highest growth rate of 3.1%.
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Capital cities
Australia's capital cities are losing affordable housing at an alarming rate, with 24 affordable houses being lost every day. This is due to rising construction costs, chronic undersupply, and government policies that inflate prices without addressing supply constraints. Sydney is leading this decline, with 7.1 affordable properties disappearing daily, followed by Brisbane at 5.0, and Melbourne at 3.6. Even smaller markets like Adelaide and Hobart are experiencing significant losses of 2.1 and 0.7 properties per day, respectively.
In contrast, Darwin is the only capital city showing growth in affordable housing, gaining 0.3 properties daily. This makes it the sole capital where buyers have better prospects today than a decade ago.
When it comes to population growth, Melbourne had the largest increase in the 2023-24 financial year, with 142,600 people, followed by Sydney (107,500), Brisbane (72,900), and Perth (72,700). Perth had the highest growth rate at 3.1%, followed by Melbourne and Brisbane at 2.7%.
The Australian Capital Territory, home to Canberra, witnessed a population increase of 7,500 people (1.6%) during the same period. Net overseas migration and natural increase contributed positively to this growth, while net internal migration was negative.
Canberra's population growth has been steady since it became the capital in 1908, with the federal government acquiring land for the city's development in 1911. The city's expansion was further facilitated by the establishment of the National Capital Development Commission in 1958, which led to a rapid increase in population from 30,000 in 1954 to over 200,000 in the mid-1970s.
In summary, while Australia's capital cities face challenges in providing affordable housing, they continue to experience population growth, particularly in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth.
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$30.95
Migration
Australia's population is estimated to be 26,974,026 as of 2025, with a population density of 4 per square kilometre. 86.51% of the population is urban, and the median age is 38.3 years. The country's population primarily resides in urban centres, with 70% of Australians living in the eight most populous cities.
The history of migration to Australia is a long and complex one, dating back to the first human migrations to the continent over 50,000-65,000 years ago when the ancestors of Indigenous Australians arrived via the islands of Maritime Southeast Asia and New Guinea. The first European migration to Australia occurred in 1788 with the establishment of a British penal colony in New South Wales, and the beginning of transportation of convicts to the continent. By the end of penal transportation in 1868, approximately 165,000 people had entered Australia as convicts.
Following the federation of the Australian colonies into a single nation in 1901, the new Commonwealth Government implemented the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, also known as the White Australia policy. This policy was designed to restrict the settlement of non-White people in Australia and remained in place for much of the 20th century until it was gradually relaxed after World War II and abolished in 1973. Despite this, Australia continued to attract migrants from around the world, with significant immigration from Britain, Ireland, China and Germany during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In recent years, Australia has maintained a positive reputation for its receptiveness to immigration, ranking as the top country destination for individuals seeking a high-quality life. The largest components of immigration today are the skilled migration and family reunion programs. Net overseas migration has contributed positively to the population increase in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, with Melbourne experiencing the largest growth in 2023-24, followed by Sydney.
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Population growth
Australia's population growth has been influenced by various factors, including immigration, fertility rates, and life expectancy. As of August 2025, the country's population is estimated to be around 27 million people, with an average population density of approximately 3.6 people per square kilometre, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries.
Historically, Australia's population growth has been shaped by waves of immigration. From the late 18th to the mid-20th centuries, most immigrants originated from the British Isles, with significant numbers also coming from China, Germany, and Southern and Eastern Europe. The end of the White Australia policy in 1973 ushered in an era of multiculturalism, attracting immigrants from diverse backgrounds, particularly Asia in the 21st century. This multicultural immigration has contributed to the growth of non-Christian religions, with Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism now having sizeable followings.
In recent years, population growth trends have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. International border restrictions in 2020 led to a historic low in population growth of 0.1% in 2020-21. However, the subsequent easing of restrictions and the resumption of overseas migration saw a rebound in growth to 2.5% in 2022-23 and 2.0% in 2023-24. Net overseas migration reached a record high of 536,000 people in 2022-23, moderating to 435,000 in 2023-24.
While immigration has been a key driver of population growth, fertility rates and life expectancy also play a role. Australia's total fertility rate has been declining and fell below the replacement level in the mid-1970s. In 2023-24, the fertility rate was 1.49 babies per woman, and the number of births was 289,000, reflecting a decrease likely influenced by the pandemic. Conversely, life expectancy at birth has increased, contributing to an ageing population. The median age in Australia as of June 2024 was 38.3 years, and the percentage of the population aged 65 and over has risen from 12% to 17% over the years.
The majority of Australia's population resides in major cities, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern, and Southern seaboards. About 70% of Australians live in the top eight most populous cities, with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth leading in growth rates. However, regional areas are also experiencing growth, with 25% of the population living in Inner and Outer regional Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
The largest concentration of people in Australia is in its major cities, with 73% of the population residing in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards.
The cities with the highest population in Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Perth had the highest growth rate of 3.1%, followed by Melbourne and Brisbane at 2.7%.
