Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Australia was reported at 3.465 sq. Km in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2026.

Australia: Population density, people per square km: The latest value from 2023 is 3 people per square km, unchanged from 3 people per square km in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 471 people per square km, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Australia from 1961 to 2023 is 2 people per square km. The minimum value, 1 people per square km, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 3 people per square km was recorded in 2001.

Australia Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 3.466 Person/sq km in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.383 Person/sq km for 2022. Australia Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 2.275 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2023, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.466 Person/sq km in 2023 and a record low of 1.365 Person/sq km in 1961. Australia Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.;FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); World Bank population estimates, World Bank (WB), publisher: World Bank (WB);Weighted average;

Historical dataset showing Australia population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

The average for 2023 based on 13 countries was 83 people per square km. The highest value was in Tuvalu: 327 people per square km and the lowest value was in Australia: 3 people per square km. The indicator is available from 1961 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The ABS Australian population grid 2023 was created using 2023 Estimated Residential Population (ERP) data at the SA1 level. The SA1 level ERP data was then modelled down to a 1km x 1km grid across geographic Australia using various point layers that represent population. The value of each grid cell represents the population density (number of people per square kilometre) in that 1km x 1km cell. This is modelled data and caution must be used in its interpretation, as the population has NOT been measured at the 1km cell level. SA1s are defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) and the grid used is based on the National Nested Grid Standard.Data and geography notes:Source data publication: Regional population, 2022-23Geographic boundary information: Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1)(2021) - Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, National Nested Grid StandardAdditional data inputs: ABS Address Register, Indigenous Community Points (ICP)Further information: Regional population methodologySource: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) www.abs.gov.auProcessing steps:A subset of the Address Register was created to represent residential addresses as closely as possible. Indigenous Community Points were included where no AR point existed. SA1 centroid points were included where no AR or ICP point existed within an SA1. All these layers were combined into a single point layer (Allpoints).The Allpoints layer was overlaid with the ASGS 2021 SA1 boundaries to give every point an SA1 code. Points without an SA1 code (outside all SA1 regions) were dropped.Estimated Resident Population by SA1 (ERP) was averaged across all points within each SA1.Points were converted to raster using the National Nested grid as template. Point population values falling within each raster cell were summed.

Please note, we recommend using the new Map Viewer in ArcGIS Online. There is an issue in Map Viewer Classic with the display of grid cell values. The clickable area of each cell is shifted to the northwest. This can result in neighbouring pixel values being displayed. The underlying data is correct, and the values display correctly in the new Map Viewer and in ArcGIS Pro. The Australian population grid 2022 is a modelled 1 km x 1 km grid representation of the estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia from 30 June 2022. The population grid is created by reaggregating estimated resident population data from Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1) to a 1 km x 1 km grid across Australia based on point data representing residential address points. The value of each grid cell represents the estimated population density (number of people per square kilometre) within each 1 km x 1 km grid cell.

SA1 boundaries are defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) and the 1 km x 1 km grid is based on the National Nested Grid.

Data considerations Caution must be taken when using the population grid as it presents modelled data only; it is not an exact measure of population across Australia. Contact the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) If you have questions, feedback or would like to receive updates about this web service, please email geography@abs.gov.au. For information about how the ABS manages any personal information you provide view the ABS privacy policy.

Data and geography references Source data publication: Regional population, 2022 Additional data input: ABS Address Register Geographic boundary information: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, National Nested Grid Further information: Regional population methodology Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

View yearly updates and historical trends for Australia Population Density. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Historical data for Population density in Australia from 2020 to 2026

This resource is a map of coastal population areas for statistical Areas level 2.

ABS Population and people themed data items published in 2022 by Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2), 2021
This dataset presents a range of data items sourced from a wide variety of collections, both Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and non-ABS. The data is derived from the 22 November 2023 release of Data by region (DBR) . Individual data items present the latest reference year data available on DBR. This layer presents data by Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2), 2021.
The Population and people theme is based on groupings of data within Data by region (DBR). Concepts, sources and methods for each dataset can be found on the Data by region methodology page.
The Population and people theme includes:
Estimated resident population (including age by sex)
Births and deaths
Internal and overseas migration
Census data
When analysing these statistics, care needs to be taken as time periods, definitions, methodologies, scope, and coverage can differ across collections. Some data values have been randomly adjusted or suppressed to avoid the release of confidential data. In some cases small cells have been randomly altered to zero. Care should be taken when interpreting cells with small numbers or zeros.

As of June 2025, the proportion of the Australian population that lived in New South Wales amounted to 31 percent. The Northern Territory had the least number of residents in the country, with only one percent of the population residing there.

Historical data for Population density in Australia/New Zealand from 2020 to 2026

The Australian population grid 2024 was created using 2024 Estimated Resident Population (ERP) by Statistical Area Level 1 2021 (SA1) data. This data was modelled to 1 kilometre square grid cells to represent the population density of Australia (people per square kilometre). This is modelled data and should be used and interpreted with caution.SA1s are defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 2021. The grid was constructed using the National Nested Grid Standard.Processing steps:A subset of the ABS Address Register (AR) was created to represent residential addresses as closely as possible. Indigenous Community Points (ICP) were included where no AR point existed. SA1 centroid points were included where no AR or ICP point existed within an SA1. All these layers were combined into a single point layer (Allpoints).The Allpoints layer was overlaid with the SA1 boundaries to give every point an SA1 code. Points without an SA1 code (outside all SA1 regions) were dropped.ERP by SA1 was averaged across all points within each SA1. Points were converted to raster using the National Nested Grid as template. Point population values which fell within each raster cell were summed.Data and geography referencesMain source data publication: Regional population, 2023–24 financial yearGeographic boundary information: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3Further information: Regional population methodologySource: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)Contact the Australian Bureau of StatisticsEmail geography@abs.gov.au if you have any questions or feedback about this web service.Subscribe to get updates on ABS web services and geospatial products.Privacy at the Australian Bureau of StatisticsRead how the ABS manages personal information - ABS privacy policy.

This dataset presents data on population and people available from the ABS Data by Region statistics. This release of Data by Region presents various data for 2011-2019 and Census of Population and Housing data for 2011 and 2016 and is based on the Statistical Area 3 (SA3) 2016 boundaries. The dataset includes information in the following specified areas of population and people: Estimated Resident Population, Working Age Population, Median Age, Births and Deaths, Population Density, Internal and Overseas Migration, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Overseas Born Proportion, Religious Affiliation and Speaks language other than English.

Data by Region contains a standard set of data for each region type, depending on the availability of statistics for particular geographies. Data are sourced from a wide variety of collections, both ABS and non-ABS. When analysing these statistics, care needs to be taken as time periods, definitions, methodologies, scope and coverage can differ across collections. Where available, data have been presented as a time series - to enable users to assess changes over time. However, when looked at on a period to period basis, some series may sometimes appear volatile. When analysing the data, users are encouraged to consider the longer term behaviour of the series, where this extra information is available.

For more information please visit the Explanatory Notes.

AURIN has made the following changes to the original data:

• Spatially enabled the original data with the ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) SA3 2016 dataset.

• Some data values in Data by Region have been randomly adjusted or suppressed to avoid the release of confidential details.

• Where data was not available, not available for publication, nil or rounded to zero in the original data, it has been set to null.

• Columns and rows that did not contain any values in the original data have been removed.

Census data reveals that population density varies noticeably from area to area. Small area census data do a better job depicting where the crowded neighborhoods are. In this map, the yellow areas of highest density range from 30,000 to 150,000 persons per square kilometer. In those areas, if the people were spread out evenly across the area, there would be just 4 to 9 meters between them. Very high density areas exceed 7,000 persons per square kilometer. High density areas exceed 5,200 persons per square kilometer. The last categories break at 3,330 persons per square kilometer, and 1,500 persons per square kilometer.This dataset is comprised of multiple sources. All of the demographic data are from Michael Bauer Research with the exception of the following countries:Australia: Esri Australia and MapData ServicesCanada: Esri Canada and EnvironicsFrance: Esri FranceGermany: Esri Germany and NexigaIndia: Esri India and IndicusJapan: Esri JapanSouth Korea: Esri Korea and OPENmateSpain: Esri España and AISUnited States: Esri Demographics

Historical data for Population density in Europe, Northern America, Australia, and New Zealand from 2020 to 2026

The Census 2021 Usual Residents Population Density for SA2 data.sourced from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/socio-economic-indexes-areas-seifa-australia/latest-release

Author: J Trygestad, educator, Minnesota Alliance for Geographic EducationGrade/Audience: grade 8Resource type: lessonSubject topic(s): population, migrationRegion: australia oceaniaStandards: Minnesota Social Studies Standards

Standard 5. The characteristics, distribution and migration of human populations on the earth’s surface influence human systems (cultural, economic and political systems).Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Compare Australia’s population and culture with the U.S.’s population and culture.
2. Describe the population, population distribution, and population density of Australia.
3. Describe why people moved to Australia by naming push and pull factors.
4. Identify when and where immigrants settled in Australia.
5. Identify how Aborigines and immigrants were treated and the influence they have on Australia.Summary: This lesson is a series of activities and extensions detailing Australia’s population and culture characteristics. Also included are activities to learn about immigration and Aborigines. An Australia skit is a summative activity on Australian culture and history.

The Australian Population Grid 2022 was created using estimated residential population (ERP) data for Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1). The SA1 level ERP data was then modelled down to a 1km x 1km grid across geographic Australia using various point layers that represent population. The value of each grid cell represents the population density (number of people per square kilometre) in that 1km x 1km cell. This is modelled data and caution must be used in its interpretation, as the population has NOT been measured at the 1km cell level. SA1s are defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) and the grid used is based on the National Nested Grid Standard.Data and geography notes: Source data publication: Regional population, 2022Geographic boundary information: Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1) - Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3, National Nested Grid StandardAdditional data inputs: ABS Address Register, Indigenous Community Points (ICP)Further information: Regional population methodologySource: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) www.abs.gov.auProcessing step:1) A subset of the Address Register that represented residential addresses as closely as possible was made. ICP points were included where no AR point existed.SA1 centroid points were included where no AR or ICP point existed within an SA1. All these layers were combined into a single point layer (Allpoints). 2) The Allpoints layer was overlaid with the ASGS 2021 SA1 boundaries to give every point an SA1 code. Points without an SA1 code (outside all SA1 regions) were dropped. 3) Estimated Resident Population by SA1 (ERP) was averaged across all points within each SA1. 4) Points were converted to raster, using the National Nested grid as template. Point population values falling within each raster cell were summed.

NEXIS (National Exposure Information System) Residential Population Density web service is a set of five raster layers, representing the density of people across Australia at different scales and resolution.