Quick facts
Australia population overview
Australia is the most populous of 23 countries and territories in Oceania. The United Nations put the population at 27,103,900 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.9% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 675 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 300,853 births (11.1 per 1,000 people) and 184,307 deaths (6.8 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 130,099 people. The infant mortality rate is 0.2 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 10,276,477 in 1960 to 27,614,411 in 2025 — a change of +168.7%, or +1.5% per year on average. It peaked at 27,614,411 in 2025 and has declined 1.1% since.
Demographically, the median age is 38.5 years; life expectancy at birth is 84.3 years; women have on average 1.5 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 17.7% of residents are under 15 and 18.1% are 65 or older (2025); 87.7% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Canberra. Australia covers 7,741,220 km², giving a population density of about 3.5 people per km². GDP was $1.8T in 2025 — about $65,130 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Australia population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #55 of 238 → | 27,301,322 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 27,103,900 |
| World rank | #55 of 238 |
| Rank in Oceania | #1 of 23 |
| Share of world population | 0.3% |
| Annual growth rate #104 of 238 → | +0.9% |
| Births per year est. | 300,853 |
| Deaths per year est. | 184,307 |
| Net migration per year est. · #26 of 238 → | +130,099 |
| Birth rate #143 of 216 → | 11.1 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #126 of 216 → | 6.8 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #237 of 238 → | 0.2 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #115 of 238 → | 98.5 males per 100 females |
| Median age #80 of 238 → | 38.5 years |
| Life expectancy #22 of 216 → | 84.3 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #154 of 216 → | 1.5 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #41 of 216 → | 87.7% |
| Surface area 2023 · #6 of 215 → | 7,741,220 km² |
| Population density #212 of 215 → | 3.5 per km² |
| Capital | Canberra |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #15 of 212 → | $1.8T |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #18 of 212 → | $65,130 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Australia population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 27,301,322 | – | – |
| 2025 | 27,614,411 | +420,125 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 27,194,286 | +534,364 | +2% |
| 2023 | 26,659,922 | +641,201 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 26,018,721 | +333,309 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 25,685,412 | +36,164 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 25,649,248 | +1,833,253 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 23,815,995 | +1,784,245 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 22,031,750 | +1,854,906 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 20,176,844 | +1,148,042 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 19,028,802 | +1,023,920 | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 18,004,882 | +939,754 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 17,065,128 | +1,276,816 | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 15,788,312 | +1,096,312 | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 14,692,000 | +799,000 | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 13,893,000 | +1,386,000 | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 12,507,000 | +1,119,000 | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 11,388,000 | +1,111,523 | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 10,276,477 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Australia
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | 5,638,830 | 20.7% |
| 2 | Melbourne | 5,435,590 | 19.9% |
| 3 | Brisbane | 2,780,063 | 10.2% |
| 4 | Perth | 2,384,371 | 8.7% |
| 5 | Adelaide | 1,469,163 | 5.4% |
| 6 | Gold Coast | 640,778 | 2.3% |
| 7 | Newcastle | 508,437 | 1.9% |
| 8 | Sunshine Coast | 398,840 | 1.5% |
Sydney is the largest city with 5,638,830 people; the capital, Canberra, has 367,752. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Australia cities →
About Australia
Population over time
- From 10,276,477 in 1960 to 27,301,322 today — up 165.7%.
- Population peaked at 27,614,411 in 2025 and is down 1.1% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.5% per year.
- World rank: Population #55 of 238 · Population growth rate #104 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 83.1 years (2024), up 12.2 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.5 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #22 of 216 · Fertility rate #154 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 10.7 births vs 6.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 3.8 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #143 of 216 · Death rate #126 of 216.
Age structure
- 17.7% of the population is under 15 and 18.1% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 8.5% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #144 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #47 of 216 · Median age #80 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 383.4 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 415.3 Mt in 2010 — down 7.7% since.
- Per person: 14.1 t in 2024, vs 12.85 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #17 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #12 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 4,750.6 kg of oil equivalent per person (2024), down 5.9% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 12.3% of final energy in 2021 (+4.3 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #17 of 150 · Renewable energy share #130 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 17.4% of land area (2023).
- Cover has been essentially stable since 1990 (0 points).
- World rank: Forest area #137 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 87.7% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 81.6% in 1960 (+6.1 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
- World rank: Urban population #41 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 2.4% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 18,909 m³ in 2022, down 59.7% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #32 of 183 · Water stress #127 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $1.8T in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 32.6% since 2015.
- That works out to $65,130 per person.
- World rank: GDP #15 of 212 · GDP per capita #18 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 4.1% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 2.9% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #118 of 186 · Inflation rate #101 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 96.1% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 112.6 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #22 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #113 of 210.
Australia in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Australia in 2026?
As of October 2026, Australia has an estimated population of 27,301,322. The United Nations estimated 27,103,900 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.9% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Australia growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.9% per year — roughly 675 more people every day. Each year there are about 300,853 births and 184,307 deaths, with net migration of +130,099.
What is the population density of Australia?
About 3.5 people per square kilometre: 27,301,322 people living on 7,741,220 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Australia?
The median age is 38.5 years, and life expectancy at birth is 84.3 years. 17.7% of the population is under 15 and 18.1% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Australia rank by population?
Australia is the 55th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 1st in Oceania, with 0.3% of the global population.
How has the population of Australia changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 10,276,477; by 2025 it had grown to 27,614,411 (+168.7%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Australia Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/australia/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/australia/">Australia Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.9%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.