Population of Australia 2025: Current Data and Comparisons

Ever wondered how many people call Australia home right now? The number shifts by the minute, but the latest official count gives us a clear picture: 27,724,744 as of September 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (the nation’s official statistical agency).

Current population (September 2025): 27,724,744 ·
Annual population growth rate (2024–2025): 1.6% ·
Population density (2023): 3.44 people per km² ·
Percentage living in urban areas: 86% ·
Median age (2024): 37.5 years

Australia’s landmass is huge, but its population clusters — a fact that drives most of its demographic story.

What is the population in Australia right now?

What was the population of Australia in 2022?

In 2022, Australia’s population reached 26.0 million, according to the Australian Government Population Statement (the federal government’s demographic outlook). That’s an increase of about 1.7 million over three years.

What is the projected population for 2026?

For 2026, estimates range between 27.2 and 28.5 million. The Government’s medium scenario projects around 27.6 million by mid-2026, as outlined in the same Population Statement.

How fast is Australia’s population growing?

Annual growth hit 1.6% in the year ending September 2025, according to the ABS. But growth is expected to slow to 1.3% in 2025–26 due to falling net overseas migration and a record low fertility rate of 1.42 children per woman, per the Australian Government Population Statement.

The implication: Australia’s population is still climbing, but the engine is shifting from natural increase to migration — and that makes future growth more sensitive to policy changes.

Where does 90% of Australia’s population live?

Over 90% of Australians live in urban areas, mostly along the eastern and southeastern coasts, according to Worldometers. The interior, known as the Outback, is one of the most sparsely populated regions on Earth.

• New South Wales is the most populous state with 8.3 million (ABS).
• Victoria and Queensland together hold roughly 12 million.
• Tasmania, the least populous state, has 573,000 residents.

Why is most of Australia’s population concentrated in coastal areas?

Australia’s interior is arid and extreme. Most of the country’s fertile land and water resources lie near the coast, especially in the southeast. Historical settlement patterns — beginning with the first European colonies in Sydney and Melbourne — locked in a coastal focus that continues today.

What are the most populous states and territories?

New South Wales and Victoria contain around 57% of the total population, as reported by the ABS. Western Australia is the fastest growing state, while Tasmania remains the slowest, according to the Australian Government Population Statement.

The pattern: Australia’s population hugs the coast, and that concentration is only intensifying as capital cities grow nearly twice as fast as regional areas.

What’s bigger, Canada or Australia?

Is China larger than Australia?

China’s land area of 9.6 million km² exceeds Australia’s 7.69 million km², according to the CIA World Factbook. In population terms, China has about 51 times more people than Australia.

How does Australia’s population compare to the USA?

The USA has roughly 335 million residents, as estimated by Worldometers, making it more than 12 times larger than Australia’s population. Australia ranks 54th globally in population size.

The takeaway: Australia’s vast size is matched by few, but its population ranks it 54th globally — showing just how empty the continent is outside a few coastal clusters.

What percentage of Australia is Irish?

What is the most Irish town in Australia?

About 30% of Australians claim Irish ancestry, based on Census data cited by Wikipedia. The town with the highest proportion of Irish-ancestry residents is often cited as Portland, Victoria, though figures vary depending on the source.

What this means: Ireland’s influence on Australian culture runs deep, but the numbers are softer than they seem — many Australians tick Irish ancestry along with other backgrounds.

What are the safest cities in Australia?

What is the nicest city to live in Australia?

• Canberra, Adelaide, and Hobart are often ranked as the safest in terms of crime rates, according to Numbeo.
• Melbourne and Sydney also have crime rates lower than many global cities, as noted by Worldometers.
• Quality-of-life indices frequently highlight Adelaide and Brisbane for affordability and climate.

The trade-off: Safety and liveability are strong across Australian cities, but housing affordability — especially in Sydney and Melbourne — remains a key concern for residents.

Four large countries, one clear pattern: Australia’s landmass is smaller than Canada’s, yet its population is a fraction of each.

Australia’s ranking among large countries reveals its extreme low density compared to its peers.

The pattern: Australia’s population density is so low that even its largest cities feel small compared to global megacities.

Timeline signal

A look at key milestones and projections for Australia’s population.

• 2022: Population reached 26.0 million (Australian Government Population Statement)
• September 2025: Population hit 27,724,744 (ABS)
• 2026 (projected): Estimated 27.2–28.5 million (Government medium scenario)
• 2030 (projected): Around 30 million (medium scenario)

“Australia’s population continues to grow, driven by net overseas migration, but we are seeing a slowdown in natural increase as fertility rates hit record lows.”

— Australian Bureau of Statistics spokesperson, in the ABS National, state and territory population release

“Australia’s population growth is highly concentrated in capital cities, a trend that is expected to persist as regional areas grow at half the rate.”

— World Population Review editorial, in their Australia population page

For policymakers grappling with housing and infrastructure in Sydney and Melbourne, the choice is clear: plan for continued urban concentration, or risk even greater strain on services. The demographic data leaves little room for ambiguity — Australia’s population will keep growing, and it will keep clustering along the coast.

While the national total continues to climb, Australias third-largest city Brisbane has grown to 2.83 million residents, solidifying its position in the urban hierarchy.

Frequently asked questions