National, state and territory population

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Statistics about the population and components of change (births, deaths, migration) for Australia and its states and territories

Reference period

December 2020

Released

17/06/2021

View all releases

Key statistics

Australia’s population was 25,694,393 people at 31 December 2020.
The quarterly growth was 6,900 people (0.03%).
The annual growth was 136,300 people (0.5%).
97.6% of annual growth was due to natural increase, and 2.4% was due to net overseas migration.

National

Annual population change

In the year ending 31 December 2020, Australia's population grew by 136,300 people (0.5%).

Annual population growth rate(a)(b)
	Annual population change (%)
Dec-00	1.2
Mar-01	1.3
Jun-01	1.3
Sep-01	1.3
Dec-01	1.3
Mar-02	1.2
Jun-02	1.1
Sep-02	1.1
Dec-02	1.1
Mar-03	1.2
Jun-03	1.2
Sep-03	1.2
Dec-03	1.1
Mar-04	1.1
Jun-04	1.1
Sep-04	1.1
Dec-04	1.1
Mar-05	1.2
Jun-05	1.2
Sep-05	1.3
Dec-05	1.3
Mar-06	1.4
Jun-06	1.4
Sep-06	1.5
Dec-06	1.6
Mar-07	1.7
Jun-07	1.8
Sep-07	1.9
Dec-07	1.9
Mar-08	2.0
Jun-08	2.0
Sep-08	2.1
Dec-08	2.2
Mar-09	2.1
Jun-09	2.1
Sep-09	2.0
Dec-09	1.8
Mar-10	1.7
Jun-10	1.6
Sep-10	1.5
Dec-10	1.4
Mar-11	1.4
Jun-11	1.4
Sep-11	1.5
Dec-11	1.6
Mar-12	1.7
Jun-12	1.8
Sep-12	1.8
Dec-12	1.8
Mar-13	1.8
Jun-13	1.7
Sep-13	1.7
Dec-13	1.6
Mar-14	1.6
Jun-14	1.5
Sep-14	1.5
Dec-14	1.5
Mar-15	1.5
Jun-15	1.5
Sep-15	1.5
Dec-15	1.5
Mar-16	1.5
Jun-16	1.6
Sep-16	1.7
Dec-16	1.7
Mar-17	1.7
Jun-17	1.7
Sep-17	1.7
Dec-17	1.6
Mar-18	1.6
Jun-18	1.6
Sep-18	1.6
Dec-18	1.6
Mar-19	1.6
Jun-19	1.5
Sep-19	1.5
Dec-19	1.5
Mar-20	1.5
Jun-20	1.3
Sep-20	0.8
Dec-20	0.5

Annual population growth rate(a)(b)

["","Annual population change"]

[["Dec-00","Mar-01","Jun-01","Sep-01","Dec-01","Mar-02","Jun-02","Sep-02","Dec-02","Mar-03","Jun-03","Sep-03","Dec-03","Mar-04","Jun-04","Sep-04","Dec-04","Mar-05","Jun-05","Sep-05","Dec-05","Mar-06","Jun-06","Sep-06","Dec-06","Mar-07","Jun-07","Sep-07","Dec-07","Mar-08","Jun-08","Sep-08","Dec-08","Mar-09","Jun-09","Sep-09","Dec-09","Mar-10","Jun-10","Sep-10","Dec-10","Mar-11","Jun-11","Sep-11","Dec-11","Mar-12","Jun-12","Sep-12","Dec-12","Mar-13","Jun-13","Sep-13","Dec-13","Mar-14","Jun-14","Sep-14","Dec-14","Mar-15","Jun-15","Sep-15","Dec-15","Mar-16","Jun-16","Sep-16","Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20"],[[1.1699999999999999],[1.26],[1.29],[1.27],[1.28],[1.1899999999999999],[1.1399999999999999],[1.1399999999999999],[1.1299999999999999],[1.1499999999999999],[1.1599999999999999],[1.1499999999999999],[1.1299999999999999],[1.1100000000000001],[1.0700000000000001],[1.0900000000000001],[1.1000000000000001],[1.1699999999999999],[1.22],[1.28],[1.3200000000000001],[1.3500000000000001],[1.3600000000000001],[1.47],[1.5600000000000001],[1.6899999999999999],[1.8400000000000001],[1.8600000000000001],[1.8799999999999999],[1.96],[2.02],[2.1099999999999999],[2.1899999999999999],[2.1400000000000001],[2.0800000000000001],[1.98],[1.8200000000000001],[1.6799999999999999],[1.5700000000000001],[1.45],[1.3999999999999999],[1.3899999999999999],[1.3999999999999999],[1.49],[1.5800000000000001],[1.6699999999999999],[1.76],[1.79],[1.8],[1.78],[1.74],[1.6899999999999999],[1.6100000000000001],[1.5800000000000001],[1.5],[1.48],[1.47],[1.45],[1.45],[1.45],[1.46],[1.51],[1.5700000000000001],[1.6499999999999999],[1.6899999999999999],[1.72],[1.7],[1.6499999999999999],[1.5700000000000001],[1.55],[1.55],[1.5700000000000001],[1.6100000000000001],[1.5800000000000001],[1.53],[1.53],[1.54],[1.49],[1.3100000000000001],[0.83999999999999997],[0.53000000000000003]]]

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Annual growth calculated at the end of each quarter.
All data after 30 June 2016 is subject to revision.

Australia's population growth is comprised of natural increase (births minus deaths) and net overseas migration (migration arrivals minus migration departures).

Components of quarterly population change

In the December 2020 quarter, natural increase:

was 31,900 people
increased by 1,300 people since the previous quarter

In the December 2020 quarter, net overseas migration:

was -24,900 people
increased by 16,300 people since the previous quarter

Components of quarterly population change
	Total growth	Natural increase	Net overseas migration
Dec-16	89,831	36,238	53,593
Mar-17	128,671	39,902	88,769
Jun-17	83,505	36,173	47,332
Sep-17	100,022	30,290	69,732
Dec-17	71,468	35,640	35,828
Mar-18	125,281	40,176	85,105
Jun-18	84,057	36,498	47,559
Sep-18	107,012	33,184	73,828
Dec-18	81,591	35,863	45,728
Mar-19	121,676	38,122	83,554
Jun-19	72,778	34,550	38,228
Sep-19	106,783	32,258	74,525
Dec-19	85,604	34,291	51,313
Mar-20	112,637	35,409	77,228
Jun-20	27,324	35,169	-7,845
Sep-20	-10,631	30,565	-41,196
Dec-20	6,931	31,865	-24,934

Components of quarterly population change

["","Total growth","Natural increase","Net overseas migration"]

[["Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20"],[[89831],[128671],[83505],[100022],[71468],[125281],[84057],[107012],[81591],[121676],[72778],[106783],[85604],[112637],[27324],[-10631],[6931]],[[36238],[39902],[36173],[30290],[35640],[40176],[36498],[33184],[35863],[38122],[34550],[32258],[34291],[35409],[35169],[30565],[31865]],[[53593],[88769],[47332],[69732],[35828],[85105],[47559],[73828],[45728],[83554],[38228],[74525],[51313],[77228],[-7845],[-41196],[-24934]]]

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Components of annual population change

In the year ending 31 December 2020, natural increase:

was 133,000 people
decreased by 6,200 people (4.5%) since the previous year
contributed 97.6% to Australia's annual population growth

In the year ending 31 December 2020, net overseas migration:

was 3,300 people
decreased by 244,400 people (98.7%) since the previous year
contributed 2.4% to Australia's annual population growth

Components of annual population change(a)
	Total growth	Natural increase	Net overseas migration
Dec-00	221,826	121,831	111,441
Mar-01	238,470	120,435	128,796
Jun-01	245,899	120,306	135,673
Sep-01	243,067	121,430	131,490
Dec-01	245,425	118,978	136,076
Mar-02	228,169	119,918	117,651
Jun-02	220,509	119,120	110,556
Sep-02	219,764	115,874	112,733
Dec-02	218,980	117,024	110,475
Mar-03	223,278	115,779	115,694
Jun-03	225,527	116,899	116,498
Sep-03	224,558	118,327	113,833
Dec-03	221,714	118,944	110,104
Mar-04	217,477	120,541	104,002
Jun-04	211,985	118,817	99,966
Sep-04	216,248	119,865	103,135
Dec-04	218,848	119,133	106,425
Mar-05	232,448	121,098	118,020
Jun-05	244,122	126,994	123,763
Sep-05	255,050	130,362	130,819
Dec-05	265,540	134,156	137,009
Mar-06	271,579	133,543	143,153
Jun-06	274,122	131,973	146,753
Sep-06	297,555	136,595	166,253
Dec-06	316,004	139,793	182,196
Mar-07	344,685	146,327	205,033
Jun-07	376,656	151,225	232,796
Sep-07	381,878	151,295	238,660
Dec-07	388,574	153,327	244,030
Mar-08	406,111	154,155	261,444
Jun-08	421,577	154,432	277,338
Sep-08	441,889	154,320	298,648
Dec-08	459,504	155,794	315,687
Mar-09	452,748	154,693	310,921
Jun-09	442,454	156,343	299,866
Sep-09	422,039	158,728	278,259
Dec-09	389,998	159,237	246,900
Mar-10	362,421	161,691	218,063
Jun-10	340,097	162,566	196,058
Sep-10	316,314	161,846	175,318
Dec-10	306,846	157,978	172,038
Mar-11	304,661	157,003	173,149
Jun-11	308,274	155,714	180,372
Sep-11	328,369	154,518	194,040
Dec-11	349,728	156,050	206,240
Mar-12	372,185	157,854	219,276
Jun-12	393,441	158,822	231,947
Sep-12	401,151	158,708	239,848
Dec-12	405,826	163,064	240,248
Mar-13	402,061	162,153	237,462
Jun-13	394,664	161,958	230,329
Sep-13	386,309	162,611	221,214
Dec-13	369,754	158,791	208,379
Mar-14	363,189	158,305	202,191
Jun-14	347,557	156,976	187,778
Sep-14	342,670	155,718	183,735
Dec-14	342,554	156,565	182,345
Mar-15	339,436	154,285	181,080
Jun-15	340,309	151,779	184,033
Sep-15	341,370	150,622	184,227
Dec-15	344,250	148,985	186,730
Mar-16	357,796	151,267	195,976
Jun-16	374,912	154,351	206,233
Sep-16	395,582	154,883	229,509
Dec-16	405,103	153,212	243,829
Mar-17	414,930	150,436	259,585
Jun-17	410,953	147,602	263,351
Sep-17	402,029	142,603	259,426
Dec-17	383,666	142,005	241,661
Mar-18	380,276	142,279	237,997
Jun-18	380,828	142,604	238,224
Sep-18	387,818	145,498	242,320
Dec-18	397,941	145,721	252,220
Mar-19	394,336	143,667	250,669
Jun-19	383,057	141,719	241,338
Sep-19	382,828	140,793	242,035
Dec-19	386,841	139,221	247,620
Mar-20	377,802	136,508	241,294
Jun-20	332,348	137,127	195,221
Sep-20	214,934	135,434	79,500
Dec-20	136,261	133,008	3,253

Components of annual population change(a)

["","Total growth","Natural increase","Net overseas migration"]

[["Dec-00","Mar-01","Jun-01","Sep-01","Dec-01","Mar-02","Jun-02","Sep-02","Dec-02","Mar-03","Jun-03","Sep-03","Dec-03","Mar-04","Jun-04","Sep-04","Dec-04","Mar-05","Jun-05","Sep-05","Dec-05","Mar-06","Jun-06","Sep-06","Dec-06","Mar-07","Jun-07","Sep-07","Dec-07","Mar-08","Jun-08","Sep-08","Dec-08","Mar-09","Jun-09","Sep-09","Dec-09","Mar-10","Jun-10","Sep-10","Dec-10","Mar-11","Jun-11","Sep-11","Dec-11","Mar-12","Jun-12","Sep-12","Dec-12","Mar-13","Jun-13","Sep-13","Dec-13","Mar-14","Jun-14","Sep-14","Dec-14","Mar-15","Jun-15","Sep-15","Dec-15","Mar-16","Jun-16","Sep-16","Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20"],[[221826],[238470],[245899],[243067],[245425],[228169],[220509],[219764],[218980],[223278],[225527],[224558],[221714],[217477],[211985],[216248],[218848],[232448],[244122],[255050],[265540],[271579],[274122],[297555],[316004],[344685],[376656],[381878],[388574],[406111],[421577],[441889],[459504],[452748],[442454],[422039],[389998],[362421],[340097],[316314],[306846],[304661],[308274],[328369],[349728],[372185],[393441],[401151],[405826],[402061],[394664],[386309],[369754],[363189],[347557],[342670],[342554],[339436],[340309],[341370],[344250],[357796],[374912],[395582],[405103],[414930],[410953],[402029],[383666],[380276],[380828],[387818],[397941],[394336],[383057],[382828],[386841],[377802],[332348],[214934],[136261]],[[121831],[120435],[120306],[121430],[118978],[119918],[119120],[115874],[117024],[115779],[116899],[118327],[118944],[120541],[118817],[119865],[119133],[121098],[126994],[130362],[134156],[133543],[131973],[136595],[139793],[146327],[151225],[151295],[153327],[154155],[154432],[154320],[155794],[154693],[156343],[158728],[159237],[161691],[162566],[161846],[157978],[157003],[155714],[154518],[156050],[157854],[158822],[158708],[163064],[162153],[161958],[162611],[158791],[158305],[156976],[155718],[156565],[154285],[151779],[150622],[148985],[151267],[154351],[154883],[153212],[150436],[147602],[142603],[142005],[142279],[142604],[145498],[145721],[143667],[141719],[140793],[139221],[136508],[137127],[135434],[133008]],[[111441],[128796],[135673],[131490],[136076],[117651],[110556],[112733],[110475],[115694],[116498],[113833],[110104],[104002],[99966],[103135],[106425],[118020],[123763],[130819],[137009],[143153],[146753],[166253],[182196],[205033],[232796],[238660],[244030],[261444],[277338],[298648],[315687],[310921],[299866],[278259],[246900],[218063],[196058],[175318],[172038],[173149],[180372],[194040],[206240],[219276],[231947],[239848],[240248],[237462],[230329],[221214],[208379],[202191],[187778],[183735],[182345],[181080],[184033],[184227],[186730],[195976],[206233],[229509],[243829],[259585],[263351],[259426],[241661],[237997],[238224],[242320],[252220],[250669],[241338],[242035],[247620],[241294],[195221],[79500],[3253]]]

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Annual components calculated at the end of each quarter.

Births and deaths

Births

In the year ending 31 December 2020:

there were 294,400 births
births decreased by 11,900 (3.9%) since the previous year

Deaths

In the year ending 31 December 2020:

there were 161,400 deaths
deaths decreased by 5,600 (3.4%) since the previous year

Overseas migration arrivals and departures

Overseas migration arrivals

In the year ending 31 December 2020:

there were 243,500 people immigrating to Australia
arrivals decreased by 364,400 people (59.9%) since the previous year

Overseas migration departures

In the year ending 31 December 2020:

there were 240,200 people emigrating from Australia
departures decreased by 120,000 people (33.3%) since the previous year

States and territories

Annual population change

All states and territories had positive population growth over the year ending 31 December 2020.
Queensland had the highest growth rate (1.1%).
Victoria had the lowest growth rate (0.01%).

	Population at 31 Dec 2020 ('000)	Change over previous year ('000)	Change over previous year (%)
New South Wales	8,172.5	35.6	0.4
Victoria	6,661.7	0.7	0.0
Queensland	5,194.9	58.1	1.1
South Australia	1,770.8	9.4	0.5
Western Australia	2,670.2	24.5	0.9
Tasmania	541.5	3.2	0.6
Northern Territory	246.6	1.3	0.5
Australian Capital Territory	431.5	3.2	0.8
Australia (a)	25,694.4	136.3	0.5

a. Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.

State and territory population change is comprised of natural increase, net overseas migration, and net interstate migration (interstate arrivals minus interstate departures).

Components of annual population change

For the year ending 31 December 2020:

natural increase was the major contributor to population change in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory
net interstate migration was the major contributor to population change in Queensland.

Components of annual population growth
	Natural increase	Net interstate migration	Net overseas migration
NSW	42,968	-18,873	11,513
Vic.	32,432	-12,737	-18,950
Qld	28,120	30,018	-24
SA	4,889	98	4,414
WA	17,432	1,385	5,720
Tas.	1,344	1,164	729
NT	2,610	-1,342	76
ACT	3,206	287	-252

Components of annual population growth

["","Natural increase","Net interstate migration","Net overseas migration"]

[["NSW","Vic.","Qld","SA","WA","Tas.","NT","ACT"],[[42968],[32432],[28120],[4889],[17432],[1344],[2610],[3206]],[[-18873],[-12737],[30018],[98],[1385],[1164],[-1342],[287]],[[11513],[-18950],[-24],[4414],[5720],[729],[76],[-252]]]

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Natural increase by state and territory

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
Births	95,460	73,543	59,490	18,526	32,426	5,780	3,752	5,369
Deaths	52,492	41,111	31,370	13,637	14,994	4,436	1,142	2,163
Natural increase	42,968	32,432	28,120	4,889	17,432	1,344	2,610	3,206

Net overseas migration by state and territory

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
Overseas arrivals	95,475	61,489	38,895	13,230	24,493	2,806	2,218	4,848
Overseas departures	83,962	80,439	38,919	8,816	18,773	2,077	2,142	5,100
Net overseas migration	11,513	-18,950	-24	4,414	5,720	729	76	-252

Net interstate migration by state and territory

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
Interstate arrivals	87,140	65,958	101,217	23,833	29,201	12,668	13,720	20,442
Interstate departures	106,013	78,695	71,199	23,735	27,816	11,504	15,062	20,155
Net interstate migration	-18,873	-12,737	30,018	98	1,385	1,164	-1,342	287

Notes

COVID-19

Statistics in this release are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting Australian Government closure of the international border from 20 March 2020.

To ensure the ongoing production of fit-for-purpose official population estimates through the COVID-19 pandemic, the ABS has been assessing the likely impact of changed traveller behaviour on preliminary overseas migration estimates, a component of ERP. The ABS has introduced more frequent revisions to overseas migration to ensure the suite of demographic statistics continue to be of high quality and reflect the most timely data available. Preliminary overseas migration estimates will be revised every quarter over four quarters, instead of once after four quarters, until it becomes final. These more frequent revisions will ensure the most timely and accurate data flows through to ERP.

For further information see the Information Paper: Improvements to estimation of net overseas migration (cat. no. 3412.0.55.004).

Forthcoming issues

Reference period	Release date
March 2021	16 September 2021
June 2021	16 December 2021
September 2021	17 March 2022
December 2021	June 2022

Data downloads - time series spreadsheets

Population and components of change - national

Quarterly population and components of change, national, from June 1981 onwards

Data files

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Components of population change - states and territories

Quarterly components of change, by state and territory, from June 1981 onwards

Data files

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Population - states and territories

Quarterly population by sex, by state and territory, from June 1981 onwards

Data files

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Interstate migration arrivals

Quarterly interstate migration arrivals, from June 1981 onwards

Data files

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Interstate migration departures

Quarterly interstate migration departures, from June 1981 onwards

Data files

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Population - New South Wales

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, NSW, from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - Victoria

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Vic., from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - Queensland

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Qld, from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - South Australia

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, SA, from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - Western Australia

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, WA, from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - Tasmania

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Tas., from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - Northern Territory

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, NT, from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - Australian Capital Territory

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, ACT, from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

Population - Australia

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Aust., from 1971 onwards

Data files

Download xls [346.5 KB]

All time series spreadsheets

Data files

Download zip [1.18 MB]

Data downloads - data cubes