Population physically present in Australia

Key points

The measures of population usually resident and population present are generally very close.
The population usually resident is less influenced by seasonality and is usually slightly higher than the population present.
The population usually resident is more useful in understanding population and population change.

The key population concepts

Australia’s population by place of usual residence is published as Estimated Resident Population (ERP). For more information see: National, state and territory population.
Census count by place of usual residence excludes overseas visitors. This is a measure of people residing in Australia on Census night. For more information see: Population: Census, 2021.
Census count by place of enumeration is a measure of the population present in Australia on Census night. This includes overseas visitors and guests staying away from home in Australia. In 2021, more than 95% of people were counted at home on Census Night. For more information see: Comparing Place of enumeration with Place of usual residence.

Looking at countries across the world, population is generally measured on one of two concepts: usual residence or population present.

The two concepts are defined as:

Usual residence - based on where people are usually resident using a range of criteria. In the United Nations literature, usual residence population is referred to as 'de jure' population;
Population present - based on where people are at a particular point in time i.e. place of enumeration. In the United Nations literature, population present is referred to as 'de facto' population.

For more information and further population concepts see Information Paper: Population Concepts, 2008.

The diagram below shows the intersection of the two concepts of Usual Residence of Australia and Physical Presence in Australia:

Australian residents and residents temporarily overseas make up the usual resident population of Australia.
Australian residents and overseas visitors make up the population physically present in Australia.

Physical presence by usual residence

Image

Description

Australian residents and overseas visitors make up the population physically present in Australia.

Physically present population

Physically Present Population at Census time

Physically Present Population after a Census

Usual Resident Population

The concept of usual residence, in simple terms, is the dwelling a person calls home and resides in on a permanent basis. In most circumstances this makes determining a person's usual residence straightforward. The concept of usual residence is based on the assumption that each person has an attachment to a particular dwelling.

Usual residence is a key collection and output variable for determining the geographic distribution of the population. This is used for the drawing of electoral boundaries and calculations for distributing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Australian state and territory governments. The official measure of Australia's population is the Estimated Resident Population (ERP). ERP is published quarterly in National, state and territory population.

At the national level, the Census count based on usual residence will be lower than the Census count based on population present due to usual residents of other countries being removed from the usual residence count. However, a large group of Australian residents temporarily overseas on Census night are also included in the ERP (ABS, 2023).

For many people in the population, their place of usual residence is also where they were physically present in the Census. Between the 2006 and 2021 Census, more than 93% of people were counted at home on Census Night (ABS, 2022). This shows a large overlap between Census counts by place of enumeration and place of usual residence.

Usual residence is collected at two levels of geography, Usual residence - country and Usual residence - location. The country level is used to decide if an individual is in scope for ERP which excludes overseas visitors as their usual residence is outside Australia.

For more information, including the United Nations (UN) principles of usual residence see: Usual residence standard, 2025 . The UN suggests that information on both place of enumeration and place of usual residence be collected for a population (Sloggett, 2015).

A limitation of usual residence is that it does not capture population mobility or temporary populations. An estimate of the physically present population may therefore be a useful complementary measure to show the seasonal changes of an area such as school holidays and snow seasons.

Estimates of the population physically present in Australia

The Estimated resident population (ERP) is published quarterly and provides the official measure of the usual resident population. This can be used to estimate the physically present population using overseas temporary flows to calculate visitors in Australia and residents overseas at a given time.

The equation is as follows:

\(PPPE=ERP+VTA–RTO\)

Physically present population estimates (PPPE) are calculated as ERP plus total Visitors Temporarily in Australia (VTA) less total Residents Temporarily Overseas (RTO).

The graph below shows the seasonal variation for the Physically Present population, as more residents are overseas in June and December quarters. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border closures, these populations were particularly close between 2020 and 2022. The pre-Covid pattern of PPPE being usually lower than ERP has resumed from the end of 2022 onwards..

ERP and PPPE - December quarter 2006 to December quarter 2025
	Estimated Resident Population	Physically Present Population Estimates
Dec qtr 2006	20,627,500	20,567,300
Mar qtr 2007	20,742,800	20,837,800
Jun qtr 2007	20,827,600	20,666,700
Sep qtr 2007	20,924,200	20,788,700
Dec qtr 2007	21,016,100	20,870,700
Mar qtr 2008	21,148,900	21,216,900
Jun qtr 2008	21,249,200	21,061,400
Sep qtr 2008	21,366,000	21,228,500
Dec qtr 2008	21,475,600	21,322,200
Mar qtr 2009	21,601,700	21,706,300
Jun qtr 2009	21,691,700	21,494,400
Sep qtr 2009	21,788,100	21,654,300
Dec qtr 2009	21,865,600	21,665,600
Mar qtr 2010	21,964,100	21,990,000
Jun qtr 2010	22,031,800	21,739,100
Sep qtr 2010	22,104,400	21,902,600
Dec qtr 2010	22,172,500	21,898,200
Mar qtr 2011	22,268,800	22,310,900
Jun qtr 2011	22,340,000	22,007,900
Sep qtr 2011	22,432,800	22,166,200
Dec qtr 2011	22,522,200	22,208,200
Mar qtr 2012	22,640,900	22,637,100
Jun qtr 2012	22,733,500	22,383,000
Sep qtr 2012	22,833,900	22,570,300
Dec qtr 2012	22,928,000	22,634,600
Mar qtr 2013	23,043,000	23,048,900
Jun qtr 2013	23,128,100	22,787,100
Sep qtr 2013	23,220,200	22,943,700
Dec qtr 2013	23,297,800	23,005,700
Mar qtr 2014	23,406,200	23,463,800
Jun qtr 2014	23,475,700	23,105,200
Sep qtr 2014	23,562,900	23,303,100
Dec qtr 2014	23,640,300	23,336,400
Mar qtr 2015	23,745,600	23,771,800
Jun qtr 2015	23,816,000	23,451,700
Sep qtr 2015	23,904,300	23,663,600
Dec qtr 2015	23,984,600	23,684,000
Mar qtr 2016	24,103,400	24,130,600
Jun qtr 2016	24,190,900	23,819,400
Sep qtr 2016	24,297,500	24,063,700
Dec qtr 2016	24,385,100	24,068,600
Mar qtr 2017	24,511,400	24,577,400
Jun qtr 2017	24,592,600	24,219,600
Sep qtr 2017	24,690,100	24,434,100
Dec qtr 2017	24,759,000	24,425,700
Mar qtr 2018	24,881,800	24,930,300
Jun qtr 2018	24,963,300	24,567,800
Sep qtr 2018	25,067,400	24,801,300
Dec qtr 2018	25,146,100	24,775,400
Mar qtr 2019	25,264,900	25,361,200
Jun qtr 2019	25,334,800	24,966,600
Sep qtr 2019	25,438,100	25,166,500
Dec qtr 2019	25,520,500	25,119,100
Mar qtr 2020	25,627,900	25,786,200
Jun qtr 2020	25,649,200	25,744,700
Sep qtr 2020	25,633,300	25,655,200
Dec qtr 2020	25,630,700	25,630,000
Mar qtr 2021	25,653,000	25,648,500
Jun qtr 2021	25,685,400	25,679,700
Sep qtr 2021	25,704,800	25,679,700
Dec qtr 2021	25,773,800	25,644,700
Mar qtr 2022	25,913,000	25,884,500
Jun qtr 2022	26,018,700	25,716,900
Sep qtr 2022	26,169,300	25,967,100
Dec qtr 2022	26,320,300	25,943,000
Mar qtr 2023	26,514,300	26,518,600
Jun qtr 2023	26,659,900	26,224,600
Sep qtr 2023	26,831,100	26,544,500
Dec qtr 2023	26,956,700	26,479,500
Mar qtr 2024	27,113,500	27,075,500
Jun qtr 2024	27,194,300	26,770,500
Sep qtr 2024	27,301,100	26,974,800
Dec qtr 2024	27,388,500	26,802,000
Mar qtr 2025	27,529,800	27,554,300
Jun qtr 2025	27,611,000	27,213,300
Sep qtr 2025	27,722,400	27,367,400
Dec qtr 2025	27,801,000	27,151,300

COVID-19

ERP and PPPE - December quarter 2006 to December quarter 2025

["","Estimated Resident Population","Physically Present Population Estimates"]

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Key points

Apart from 2020 through to 2022, ERP was larger than PPPE for all June, September and December quarters.
In March quarters, PPPE is often but not always slightly larger than ERP.
Over the time series, on average there are around 180,000 more people in ERP than PPPE.

RTO's and VTA's - December quarter 2006 to December quarter 2025
	Residents Temporarily Overseas	Visitors Temporarily in Australia
Dec qtr 2006	620,900	560,600
Mar qtr 2007	282,000	377,000
Jun qtr 2007	481,100	320,300
Sep qtr 2007	460,000	324,600
Dec qtr 2007	694,300	548,900
Mar qtr 2008	302,500	370,500
Jun qtr 2008	503,200	315,400
Sep qtr 2008	482,700	345,100
Dec qtr 2008	731,400	578,000
Mar qtr 2009	284,400	389,000
Jun qtr 2009	518,100	320,800
Sep qtr 2009	486,200	352,400
Dec qtr 2009	802,600	602,600
Mar qtr 2010	376,100	401,900
Jun qtr 2010	623,100	330,400
Sep qtr 2010	558,300	356,500
Dec qtr 2010	874,300	600,100
Mar qtr 2011	329,700	371,800
Jun qtr 2011	650,300	318,100
Sep qtr 2011	602,100	335,600
Dec qtr 2011	915,100	601,100
Mar qtr 2012	411,700	407,800
Jun qtr 2012	703,200	352,800
Sep qtr 2012	645,600	382,000
Dec qtr 2012	956,600	663,200
Mar qtr 2013	458,100	464,000
Jun qtr 2013	729,900	388,900
Sep qtr 2013	676,000	399,500
Dec qtr 2013	1,009,800	717,700
Mar qtr 2014	379,500	437,100
Jun qtr 2014	749,300	378,700
Sep qtr 2014	675,700	415,900
Dec qtr 2014	1,034,600	730,700
Mar qtr 2015	460,800	487,000
Jun qtr 2015	765,300	401,100
Sep qtr 2015	688,700	448,000
Dec qtr 2015	1,078,600	778,000
Mar qtr 2016	496,200	523,400
Jun qtr 2016	802,600	431,200
Sep qtr 2016	710,100	476,300
Dec qtr 2016	1,145,000	828,500
Mar qtr 2017	466,800	532,800
Jun qtr 2017	842,300	469,300
Sep qtr 2017	767,500	511,500
Dec qtr 2017	1,200,600	867,300
Mar qtr 2018	570,200	618,800
Jun qtr 2018	873,900	478,500
Sep qtr 2018	789,000	522,900
Dec qtr 2018	1,260,400	889,700
Mar qtr 2019	459,000	555,200
Jun qtr 2019	846,000	477,700
Sep qtr 2019	791,700	520,200
Dec qtr 2019	1,234,800	833,400
Mar qtr 2020	61,000	219,300
Jun qtr 2020	28,400	123,800
Sep qtr 2020	30,900	52,700
Dec qtr 2020	30,400	29,800
Mar qtr 2021	27,300	22,800
Jun qtr 2021	46,400	40,700
Sep qtr 2021	45,900	20,800
Dec qtr 2021	229,700	100,600
Mar qtr 2022	225,200	196,700
Jun qtr 2022	587,200	285,400
Sep qtr 2022	577,900	375,700
Dec qtr 2022	1,082,700	705,300
Mar qtr 2023	501,300	505,600
Jun qtr 2023	907,300	472,000
Sep qtr 2023	810,700	524,000
Dec qtr 2023	1,311,700	834,600
Mar qtr 2024	659,400	621,400
Jun qtr 2024	919,900	496,100
Sep qtr 2024	853,200	526,900
Dec qtr 2024	1,460,500	874,000
Mar qtr 2025	562,300	586,800
Jun qtr 2025	900,400	502,700
Sep qtr 2025	940,100	585,100
Dec qtr 2025	1,615,600	965,900

COVID-19

RTO's and VTA's - December quarter 2006 to December quarter 2025

["","Residents Temporarily Overseas","Visitors Temporarily in Australia"]

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Key points

Apart from 2020 through to 2022, RTO's are larger than VTA's for all June, September and December quarters.
December quarters are noteworthy for having the largest estimates for both RTO's and VTA's.
March quarters have the smallest estimates for RTO's while June quarters generally have the lowest estimates of VTA's.

RTO's and VTA's - December 2007 to December 2025 (a)
	Residents Temporarily Overseas	Visitors Temporarily in Australia
2006	620,900	560,600
2007	694,300	548,900
2008	731,400	578,000
2009	802,600	602,600
2010	874,300	600,100
2011	915,100	601,100
2012	956,600	663,200
2013	1,009,800	717,700
2014	1,034,600	730,700
2015	1,078,600	778,000
2016	1,145,000	828,500
2017	1,200,600	867,300
2018	1,260,400	889,700
2019	1,234,800	833,400
2020	30,400	29,800
2021	229,700	100,600
2022	1,082,700	705,300
2023	1,311,700	834,600
2024	1,460,500	874,000
2025	1,615,600	965,900

COVID-19

RTO's and VTA's - December 2007 to December 2025 (a)

["","Residents Temporarily Overseas","Visitors Temporarily in Australia"]

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As at 31 December

Key points

Looking at an annual snapshot at 31 December (to assess underlying change over time by removing the effect of seasonal volatility), RTO's are larger than VTA's over the annual series.

Glossary

Show all

12/16 month rule

Under a '12/16 month rule', incoming overseas travellers (who are not currently counted in the population) must be resident in Australia for a total period of 12 months or more, during the 16 month follow-up period to then be added to the estimated resident population. Similarly, those travellers departing Australia (who are currently counted in the population) must be absent from Australia for a total of 12 months or more during the 16-month follow-up period to then be subtracted from the estimated resident population.

The 12/16 month rule does not have to be continuous and takes account of those persons who may have left Australia briefly and returned, while still being resident for 12 months out of 16. Similarly, it takes account of Australians who live most of the time overseas but periodically return to Australia for short periods.

De facto

The population is enumerated where it is found, regardless of the respondent’s usual place of residence. Latin, for ‘in actual fact’.

De jure

The respondent is enumerated at their usual place of residence, regardless of where they stayed on the census date. Latin for ‘in law’.

Estimated resident population (ERP)

The official measure of the population of Australia. It refers to all people, regardless of their country of citizenship or legal status, who usually live in Australia, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families. It includes usual residents who are overseas for less than 12 months over a 16 month period. It excludes overseas visitors who are in Australia for less than 12 months over a 16 month period. It is measuring the usual resident population. See National, state and territory population methodology.

Physically present population estimate (PPPE)

Population within Australia at the time of collection, this includes temporary populations. It is calculated by place of enumeration on Census night or estimating from ERP using the following formula:

\(PPPE=ERP–RTO+VTA\)

Place of enumeration

For Census, this is the place at which the person is counted on Census Night, which may not be where they usually live. For other surveys it is where the person is at the time of collection.

Place of usual residence

Within Australia, usual residence is the address of the dwelling at which a person considers themselves to currently live, either having lived there for some time or intending to live there for some time. The usual residence of a newborn is that of the mother. See Usual residence standard, 2025.

Resident temporarily overseas (RTO)

A person who is included in Australia’s estimated resident population (ERP) on the date in question but is not present in Australia on that date (e.g. an international student living, studying and working in Australia, who has travelled outside Australia for 4 weeks to visit family).

Temporarily absent

Refers to people who are away from home on Census Night. The Census form seeks information about people who usually reside in a dwelling, but who are temporarily absent on Census Night.

Usual resident population

The population that lives in a certain area or country. This does not include temporary movements such as tourists.

Physically present population

The population that is counted in a certain area or country at a given point in time, regardless of where they usually live. This can fluctuate more if the population is influenced by seasonal factors such as crop-picking employment, school holidays or annual events.

Service population

The population that access services provided in a given area or country. Services can include healthcare, food and accommodation, utilities and more. Some people may travel away from their usual residence to access services.

Visitor temporarily in Australia (VTA)

A person who is not included in Australia’s estimated resident population (ERP) on the date in question but is present in Australia on that date (e.g. an international tourist, visiting Australia on a 4 week holiday).

APA

Citation

Population physically present in Australia

APA

Citation

Key points

The key population concepts

Physical presence by usual residence

Physically present population

Physically Present Population at Census time

Physically Present Population after a Census

Usual Resident Population

Usual Resident Population

Estimates of the population physically present in Australia

Key points

Key points

Key points

Glossary

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12/16 month rule

De facto

De jure

Estimated resident population (ERP)

Physically present population estimate (PPPE)

Place of enumeration

Place of usual residence

Resident temporarily overseas (RTO)

Temporarily absent

Usual resident population

Physically present population

Service population

Visitor temporarily in Australia (VTA)

References

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