Population

Statistics in this release are commonly known as Estimated Resident Population (ERP).

• Australia’s population was 26,473,055 people at 31 March 2023.
• The quarterly growth was 181,600 people (0.7%).
• The annual growth was 563,200 people (2.2%).
• Annual natural increase was 108,800 and net overseas migration was 454,400.

• Australia's population in 2022 (26 million) is projected to reach between 34.3 and 45.9 million people by 2071.
• The current ten year average annual growth rate (1.4%) is projected to decline to between 0.2% and 0.9%.
• The median age (38.5 years) is projected to increase to between 43.8 and 47.6 years.

• Life expectancy at birth was 81.2 years for males and 85.3 years for females in 2020-2022, a decrease of 0.1 years for both from the previous year (2019-2021)
• Life expectancy was highest in the Australian Capital Territory for both males (82.2 years) and females (86.0 years)
• Life expectancy was lowest in the Northern Territory for both males (76.2 years) and females (80.7 years).

• There were 190,939 registered deaths in 2022, an increase of 19,470 since 2021.
• The standardised death rate increased to 5.5 deaths, from 5.1 in 2021.
• Infant deaths decreased by 51 deaths to 958.

• There were 300,684 registered births in 2022, a decrease of 3% from 2021.
• For all Australian women, the total fertility rate was 1.63 births per woman.
• For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, the total fertility rate was 2.35 births per woman.

• Number of Australia's population born overseas was 7.7 million people in 2022
• Proportion of Australia's population born overseas was 29.5% in 2022
• Those born in England, India, China and New Zealand were the largest groups of migrants
• The Indian-born group recorded the largest increase since 2012
• Western Australia had the highest proportion of migrants (34%) of all states and territories in 2021.

• The median age for capital cities (37.2 years) was younger than the rest of Australia (42.0).
• The youngest capital was Darwin with a median age of 34.5 years, while Adelaide was the oldest (39.4).
• Darwin was the only capital with more males than females.

• The capitals grew by 205,400 people (1.2%) in 2021-22.
• Capital city growth comprised overseas migration (151,400), natural increase (101,200) and internal migration (-47,200).
• Brisbane had the largest increase (59,200) and the highest growth rate (2.3%).
• Regional Australia grew by 102,700 (1.2%).

• The Administrative data snapshot identified 25,744,797 residents of Australia on 30 June 2021.
• People aged 25 to 34 were least likely to have lived at the same address five years ago (27.6%).
• Three-quarters (76%) of people who earned $250 to $499 per week had their main source of income as Government benefits and allowances.

• Overseas migration 2021-22 – net gain of 170,900 people
• Migrant arrivals increased 171% to 395,000 from 146,000 arrivals a year ago
• Migrant departures decreased 3% to 224,000 from 230,900 departures a year ago
• Net overseas migration in every state and territory increased in 2021-22 when compared with 2020-21.

• The 2021 Census counted 25,422,788 people in Australia (excludes overseas visitors), an increase of 8.6 per cent since the 2016 Census.
• 49.3 per cent of the population were male with a median age of 37 years old.
• 50.7 per cent of the population were female with the median age of 39 years old.

• The Census net undercount was 0.7% (190,044 persons).
• The Northern Territory recorded the highest net undercount (6.0%) while the Australian Capital Territory recorded a net overcount (-0.6%).
• Males were more likely to be missed in the Census (1.3% net undercount) compared with females (0.2%).
• The net undercount for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was 17.4%.

• 104,100 people moved interstate in the three months to the end of March 2021.
• 16,400 more people moved interstate compared with the March 2020 quarter.
• Capital cities had a net loss of 11,800 people from internal migration, the largest quarterly net loss on record.

For the year ending 30 June 2020:

• There were over 7.6 million migrants living in Australia
• 29.8% of Australia's population were born overseas
• Australia's population increased by 194,400 people due to net overseas migration
• 368,700 people moved interstate, a decrease of 8.7% from the previous year.

• The population increased from 4 million in 1901 to 24 million in 2016.
• Australians living in urban areas increased from 60% in 1911 to 90%.
• Fertility fell from 3.1 births per woman in 1921 to 1.8.
• Life expectancy increased by 25 years since the early 1900s.

• The number of households is projected to increase from 9.2 million in 2016 to between 12.6 and 13.2 million in 2041.
• The number of families is projected to increase from 6.7 million to between 9.2 and 9.4 million. 
• Living with a partner is projected to remain the most common living arrangement. 

This product contains the digital boundaries for the Destination Zones (DZNs) used in the 2016 Census of Population and Housing