The statistic shows the total population of Australia from 1980 to 2023, with projections up until 2030. In 2023, Australia had a total population of about 26.95 million people. Population of Australia Australia is among the ten largest countries in the world, in terms of area size, although its total population is low in relation to this. Much of Australia’s interior remains uninhabited, as the majority of Australians live in coastal metropolises and cities. Most of the population is of European descent (predominantly British), although there is a growing share of the population with Asian heritage; only a small percentage belongs to the indigenous Aboriginal population. Australia's year-on-year population growth is fairly high compared to most other economically and demographically advanced nations, due to comparatively high rates of natural increase and immigration. Living standards Standard of living is fairly high in Australia, which can be seen when looking at the Human Development Index, which ranks countries by their level of human development and living standards, such as their unemployment rate, literacy rate, or life expectancy at birth. Life expectancy of Australia’s population is quite high in international comparison, for example, Australia is also among the leading countries when it comes to this key factor. Economically speaking, Australia is also among the leading nations, with a steadily rising employment rate, an increasing gross domestic product (GDP) with a steady growth rate, and a relatively stable share in the global GDP.

The total population in Australia was estimated at 27.4 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Australia Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Humans have been living on the continent of Australia (name derived from "Terra Australis"; Latin for "the southern land") for approximately 65,000 years, however population growth was relatively slow until the nineteenth century. Europeans had made some contact with Australia as early as 1606, however there was no significant attempt at settlement until the late eighteenth century. By 1800, the population of Australia was approximately 350,000 people, and the majority of these were Indigenous Australians. As colonization progressed the number of ethnic Europeans increased while the Australian Aboriginal population was decimated through conflict, smallpox and other diseases, with some communities being exterminated completely, such as Aboriginal Tasmanians. Mass migration from Britain and China After the loss of its American colonies in the 1780s, the British Empire looked to other parts of the globe to expand its sphere of influence. In Australia, the first colonies were established in Sydney, Tasmania and Western Australia. Many of these were penal colonies which became home to approximately 164,000 British and Irish convicts who were transported to Australia between 1788 and 1868. As the decades progressed, expansion into the interior intensified, and the entire country was claimed by Britain in 1826. Inland colonization led to further conflict between European settlers and indigenous Australians, which cost the lives of thousands of natives. Inward expansion also saw the discovery of many natural resources, and most notably led to the gold rushes of the 1850s, which attracted substantial numbers of Chinese migrants to Australia. This mass migration from non-European countries eventually led to some restrictive policies being introduced, culminating with the White Australia Policy of 1901, which cemented ethnic-European dominance in Australian politics and society. These policies were not retracted until the second half of the 1900s. Independent Australia Australia changed its status to a British dominion in 1901, and eventually became independent in 1931. Despite this, Australia has remained a part of the British Commonwealth, and Australian forces (ANZAC) fought with the British and their Allies in both World Wars, and were instrumental in campaigns such as Gallipoli in WWI, and the South West Pacific Theater in WWII. The aftermath of both wars had a significant impact on the Australian population, with approximately 90 thousand deaths in both world wars combined, as well as 15 thousand deaths as a result of the Spanish flu pandemic following WWI, although Australia experienced a significant baby boom following the Second World War. In the past fifty years, Australia has promoted immigration from all over the world, and now has one of the strongest economies and highest living standards in the world, with a population that has grown to over 25 million people in 2020.

Key information about Australia population

• The Australia population reached 27.0 million people in Dec 2023, compared with the previously reported figure of 26.3 million people in Dec 2022
• The data reached an all-time high of 27.0 million people in Dec 2023 and a record low of 8.2 million people in Dec 1950

CEIC calculates annual Population from quarterly Population. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides Population. Population prior to 1981 is a Mid-year estimate sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Further information about Australia population data

• In the latest reports, Australia Unemployment Rate dropped to 3.9 % in Nov 2024
• Monthly earnings of the Australia population was 3,744.1 USD in Nov 2023
• Australia Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 67.1 % in Nov 2024

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Australia (POPTOTAUA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Australia and population.

Population, total in Australia was reported at 27204809 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Population, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Australia Population: Growth data was reported at 2.371 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.273 % for 2022. Australia Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 1.447 % from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2023, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.380 % in 1971 and a record low of 0.141 % in 2021. Australia Population: Growth 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. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.;Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.;Weighted average;

Since the mid-1970s, Australia's population growth rate has remained fairly constant, fluctuating between one and two percent annual change in most years. Australia's crude birth rate has consistently been higher than its death rate during this time, which means that the population grows naturally and is not dependent on migration - however, Australia has historically been one of the most popular destinations for migrants, who are also responsible for a large share of this change.

Quarterly estimates of total resident population for states, territories and Australia. Includes estimates of the population by sex in five-year age groups; numbers (and some rates) of births, deaths, infant deaths, interstate and overseas movements; quarterly and/or annual time series spreadsheets; projected resident population for states, territories and Australia; and projected number of households for capital cities, states territories and Australia.

Historical dataset showing total population for Australia by year from 1950 to 2025.

Australia Population: Total data was reported at 26,658,948.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 26,014,399.000 Person for 2022. Australia Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 17,381,335.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26,658,948.000 Person in 2023 and a record low of 10,276,477.000 Person in 1960. Australia Population: Total 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. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics; (4) United Nations Statistics Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years).;Sum;Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

Urban population growth (annual %) in Australia was reported at 2.2035 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Urban population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Population growth (annual %) in Australia was reported at 2.05 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Rural population (% of total population) in Australia was reported at 13.25 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Historical dataset showing Australia population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

In June 2022, it was estimated that around 7.3 percent of Australians were aged between 25 and 29, and the same applied to people aged between 30 and 34. All in all, about 55 percent of Australia’s population was aged 35 years or older as of June 2022. At the same time, the age distribution of the country also shows that the share of children under 14 years old was still higher than that of people over 65 years old. A breakdown of Australia’s population growth Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, yet with a population of around 26 million inhabitants, it is only sparsely populated. Since the 1970s, the population growth of Australia has remained fairly constant. While there was a slight rise in the Australian death rate in 2022, the birth rate of the country decreased after a slight rise in the previous year. The fact that the birth rate is almost double the size of its death rate gives the country one of the highest natural population growth rates of any high-income country.
National distribution of the population Australia’s population is expected to surpass 28 million people by 2028. The majority of its inhabitants live in the major cities. The most populated states are New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Together, they account for over 75 percent of the population in Australia.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 0 to 14 for Australia (SPPOP0014TOZSAUS) from 1960 to 2024 about 0 to 14 years, Australia, and population.

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)

Australia Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 3.382 Person/sq km in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.339 Person/sq km for 2021. Australia Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 2.263 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2022, with 62 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.382 Person/sq km in 2022 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.;Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.;Weighted average;

This dataset contains estimates of the resident population and estimates of the components of population change as at 30 June for the years 2001-2021. The data is aggregated to the 2021 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Local Government Areas (LGA).

This data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (Catalogue Number: 3218.0).

For more information please visit the Regional population methodology.

Notes: The population estimates in this issue are final for 2001 to 2016, revised for 2017 to 2020, and preliminary for 2021. Estimated resident population (ERP) is the official estimate of the Australian population, which links people to a place of usual residence within Australia. Usual residence within Australia refers to that address at which the person has lived or intends to live for six months or more in a given reference year. For the 30 June reference date, this refers to the calendar year around it. Estimated resident population is based on Census counts by place of usual residence (excluding short-term overseas visitors in Australia), with an allowance for Census net undercount, to which are added the estimated number of Australian residents temporarily overseas at the time of the Census.

AURIN has ingested this dataset in its GeoPackage format.