Australia has a population of approximately 27 million people as of 2025, making it the 53rd most populous country in the world. Despite ranking sixth globally in land area, Australia is one of the most sparsely populated nations on Earth, with the vast majority of its people clustered along the coastal fringe while the interior Outback remains nearly empty.
How Many People Live in Australia?
Australia's population reached around 27,000,000 in 2025, a figure that continues to climb steadily year on year. To put that in context, this is roughly comparable to the population of a single large city-region elsewhere in the world, yet it is spread across a continent of nearly 7.7 million square kilometres. The result is an average population density of just 4 people per square kilometre, one of the lowest of any major country.
That national average, however, hides a dramatic imbalance. Coastal cities such as Sydney and Melbourne pack thousands of residents into each square kilometre, while enormous swathes of the arid interior support fewer than one person across vast distances. About 86 percent of Australians live in urban areas, making the country one of the most urbanized on the planet despite its reputation for wide-open spaces.
Population Growth and Immigration
Australia's population is currently growing at roughly 1.34 percent per year, one of the faster rates among developed nations. This growth is driven overwhelmingly by immigration rather than natural increase. The country typically welcomes around 190,000 permanent migrants annually, alongside hundreds of thousands of temporary visa holders including students and skilled workers.
The domestic fertility rate sits at about 1.6 children per woman, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. Without sustained migration, the population would eventually begin to shrink and age rapidly. Instead, demographers project that Australia could reach around 35 million people by 2050. This rapid expansion has fuelled ongoing national debate about housing affordability, infrastructure capacity, water resources, and environmental sustainability, particularly in the largest cities.
The Largest Cities
Australia's population is heavily concentrated in a handful of coastal metropolises. The three largest are Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane:
- Sydney — around 5.4 million metro residents, the nation's largest and most internationally recognised city, home to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
- Melbourne — around 5.1 million residents, widely regarded as the cultural capital and consistently ranked among the world's most livable cities.
- Brisbane — around 2.6 million residents, the fastest-growing of the big cities and the host of the 2032 Summer Olympics.
Greater Sydney and Melbourne together hold roughly 40 percent of the entire national population. Notably, the capital city is neither of these giants: Canberra, a purpose-built city home to fewer than half a million people, was chosen as a compromise between the rival hubs of Sydney and Melbourne when the nation federated.
Demographics and Society
Australia is one of the most multicultural societies in the world. About 30 percent of residents were born overseas, an exceptionally high proportion that reflects decades of migration from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. English serves as the de facto national language, though hundreds of other languages are spoken in homes across the country.
In terms of belief, around 44 percent of Australians identify as Christian, a share that has been declining quickly, while roughly 39 percent report no religion and about 3.2 percent are Muslim. Indigenous Australians, comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, make up approximately 3.8 percent of the population and represent the world's oldest continuous living cultures. The median age is about 38 years, reflecting a maturing but still relatively young population by developed-world standards. For more background on the nation as a whole, see our australia country guide.
Population in Historical Context
Australia's demographic story is one of remarkable expansion. At federation in 1901, the country counted just 3.8 million people. Since then the population has grown more than tenfold, propelled by successive waves of migration after both World Wars and through the multicultural immigration policies of recent decades. This sustained growth has transformed Australia from a sparsely settled outpost into a confident, diverse, and globally connected nation, even as the geographic pattern of settlement along the coast has remained strikingly consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Australia in 2025?
Australia's population is approximately 27 million people in 2025, ranking it as the 53rd most populous country in the world.
Why is Australia so sparsely populated?
Much of Australia's interior is arid desert and semi-desert Outback that cannot easily support large settlements. As a result, around 86 percent of the population lives in coastal urban areas, leaving the centre of the continent nearly empty and giving the country an average density of only about 4 people per square kilometre.
What is the largest city in Australia?
Sydney is Australia's largest city, with roughly 5.4 million residents in its greater metropolitan area. The capital, however, is Canberra, a smaller planned city built as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne.
How fast is Australia's population growing?
The population grows at about 1.34 percent per year, driven mainly by immigration rather than births. Projections suggest Australia could reach around 35 million people by 2050.