Lyla Lindsey
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, with a land area of approximately 2,969,907 square miles. Despite its size, Australia has one of the lowest population densities globally, with only nine people per square mile as of 2020. This is due to a variety of factors, including its extreme geography, isolated towns and cities, limited water sources, and vast desert areas, which make human settlements challenging. Australia's population is concentrated in the east and southeast, with major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra having higher population densities. Coastal areas with rainfall make up only five percent of Australia's territory but are home to 95 percent of its population. This uneven distribution of population has implications for workforce planning, access to healthcare, and the creation of sustainable cities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population density | 3.3 people per square kilometre as of June 2020 |
| Population | 23 million |
| Land area | Over 7.6 million square kilometres |
| Density compared to other countries | Very low compared to India (464 people per square kilometre) and the United States (36 people per square kilometre) |
| Density in cities | Higher in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne |
| Density in coastal areas | Higher due to more favourable climates |
| Density in inland areas | Lower due to desert and semi-desert conditions |
| Natural increase | Low due to low birth and death rates |
| Immigration | High with 6.7 million immigrants, comprising 28.2% of the population |
| Urban sustainability | A consideration due to the trade-off between green spaces and dwellings |
| Job opportunities | Higher in areas with greater population density |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's extreme geography
Australia has one of the lowest population densities in the world. With a population of 23 million and a land area of over 7.6 million square kilometres, its density is around 3 people per square kilometre. This is in contrast to countries like Monaco, which has a density of 26,150 people per square kilometre, and India, which has a density of 464 people per square kilometre.
Australia's low population density is due to its extreme geography, with most of the country's interior being desert, also known as the Outback, and presenting extremely difficult living conditions. The population density is higher around the coast, where the climate is more favourable. Moving inland, the land becomes desert and semi-desert, with water shortages that could limit population growth and development in the future.
Australia's vast and arid interior makes it relatively uninhabitable, and the country lacks the infrastructure to support the quality of life that people expect. Building a major city in these regions would require significant investment in infrastructure before the city could even be considered.
However, Australia has abundant natural resources, including large reserves of natural gas, oil, gold, uranium, and metal ores. These resources attract migrant workers, and Australia has the 9th highest immigrant population in the world, with 6.7 million immigrants making up 28.2% of its population.
Despite its low overall population density, Australia's major cities have population densities comparable to those of other Western countries. Cities like Sydney and Melbourne have higher population densities due to the concentration of jobs and opportunities they offer. As more people move into these urban areas, sustainable city planning becomes crucial to preserve green spaces and ensure self-sufficiency.
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Isolated towns and cities
Australia's vast land area and unique geography contribute to the uneven distribution of its population, with people tending to cluster along the coastline and in major cities. One significant factor is the presence of isolated towns and cities, often established during the country's early history to support
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Limited water sources
Australia's limited water sources are a result of its low and variable rainfall, which is exacerbated by climate change, drought, and human activity. With an average annual rainfall of just 470 mm, Australia is one of the driest continents on Earth, and its precipitation is unevenly distributed across the country. For example, Darwin receives around 1,700 mm of rainfall, while Adelaide gets less than one-third of that amount.
The variability in streamflow, which is double that of most other countries, poses challenges for managing water systems and supplies. Lower rainfall and streamflows have led to pressure on water storages and reduced allocations to water license holders. The limited availability of surface water has resulted in increased water market activity and unprecedented prices in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Human activities, such as overgrazing of sheep and cattle, have contributed to desertification and vegetation loss, leading to a further loss of usable water. Additionally, until recently, unchecked water extraction by farmers caused silting, salination, and disputes between users. Groundwater sources, such as aquifers, have been depleted faster than they can naturally replenish, especially in arid regions, requiring active refilling with treated wastewater.
To address water scarcity, Australia has constructed dams and reservoirs in major water systems to ensure consistent supply. The Murray-Darling river system, Australia's largest by capacity, supplies 55% of the country's water and is primarily used for agriculture. However, during the Millennium Drought from 1996 to 2010, even these major water systems were affected, causing serious water shortages in major cities.
To meet the growing demand for water, Australia is investing in alternative sources such as desalination plants, groundwater, recycled sewage, and stormwater runoff. However, desalination is costly and energy-intensive, and other solutions, such as recycled water and greywater, are also being explored.
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Population density in major cities
Australia's population density is interesting when compared to its physical size. As the 6th largest nation in the world, Australia's population density is incredibly low at 3.3 people per square kilometre as of June 2020. This is in stark contrast to countries like India with 464 people per square kilometre or the United States with 36 people per square kilometre. However, this overall figure does not capture the variability in population density across Australia, with major cities like Sydney and Melbourne exhibiting higher population densities.
The uneven distribution of Australia's population is largely due to the country's geography and the concentration of urban areas along the coast. Most of Australia's interior is desert, often referred to as the Outback, which presents challenging living conditions. As a result, the population is concentrated in coastal cities, leading to higher population densities in these urban centres.
Sydney, for example, had the largest combined area in the high and very high-density classes, with 194 square kilometres, followed by Melbourne with 69 square kilometres, and Brisbane with 24 square kilometres. Perth, Canberra, and Adelaide also had areas classified as high or very high density. These cities have experienced significant population growth, with Melbourne leading the way with an increase of 142,600 people, followed by Sydney at 107,500, Brisbane at 72,900, and Perth at 72,700.
The high population density in these cities has implications for urban sustainability and the environment. As the population increases, more dwellings are needed, often resulting in the loss of green spaces. This has led to initiatives like Brisbane's proposal to require apartment buildings to include a certain amount of green and garden space. Additionally, higher population densities can result in increased pollution of air, water, and land, which urban sustainability programs aim to mitigate.
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Migration rates
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted migration patterns in Australia. In 2020 and 2021, border closures and travel restrictions led to a temporary reversal of the migration trend, resulting in a net outflow of migrants from Australia. This was the first net outflow since the Second World War, with a decline of 85,000 people. However, as restrictions eased in 2021 and borders reopened in February 2022, Australia experienced a record surge in net overseas migration, reflecting a catch-up from the pandemic-induced border closures. In 2022-23, net overseas migration reached a record high of 536,000 people, before moderating to 435,000 people in 2023-24, which is still above pre-pandemic levels.
Interstate migration within Australia has also contributed to the uneven population distribution. Australia has relatively high interstate migration rates compared to other countries, although these rates have declined from their peaks in the 1980s and 1990s. The COVID-19 pandemic further impacted interstate migration as state and territory governments imposed temporary restrictions on movements, leading to a reduction in net interstate migration.
Overseas migration has had a notable impact on the composition of Australia's population. In recent decades, the proportion of Australia's population born overseas has been steadily increasing. As of June 2024, 31.5% of Australia's population was born overseas, with this proportion exceeding 30% for the first time since 1893. The top countries of birth contributing to population changes vary across different states and territories. For example, in 2023-24, India was the top country of birth contributing to net gains in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory.
Migration has also had economic implications for Australia. Australia had the second-highest share of migrants in the OECD in 2019, at 30% of the population. Migration boosts labour productivity and employment for Australian-born workers, with no negative impact on their wages. A higher inflow of migrants leads to increased employment opportunities for Australian-born individuals of all skill levels, ages, and genders. Additionally, migration has been linked to increased patenting in Australia, with a positive correlation between the employment share of higher-educated migrants and regional patent applications.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world with a land area of approximately 2,969,907 square miles, but it has a very low population density of 3.3 people per square kilometre. Most of the population lives along the coast in the biggest cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra. The country's interior is desert, making human settlements challenging due to extreme conditions and limited water sources.
The population density of Australia's major cities is still relatively low compared to other large cities worldwide. Melbourne's inner city has Australia's highest population density at 22,400 people per square kilometre. Potts Point and Pyrmont, in Sydney's inner city, have the second-highest population density in Australia at 16,700 and 16,500 people per square kilometre, respectively.
Australia's population density is much lower than that of other countries. For example, India has a population density of 464 people per square kilometre, and the United States has 36 people per square kilometre. Even countries with similar land areas, such as Mexico, have a much higher population density of 167 people per square kilometre.
The distribution of Australia's population is influenced by historical settlement patterns, the economic dominance of major cities, and the liveability factors of certain geographic locations. The availability of jobs and the concentration of economic opportunities in metropolitan areas attract more people, leading to higher population densities in these regions.
