Any reference to population refers to Estimated Resident Population (ERP).
Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to area refers to Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2).
Regional population
Latest release
Statistics about the population and components of change (births, deaths, migration) for Australia's capital cities and regions
Reference period
2023-24 financial year
Released
27/03/2025
Key statistics
- The capitals grew by 427,800 people (2.4%) in 2023-24.
- Capital city growth comprised overseas migration (373,000), natural increase (89,500) and internal migration (-34,600).
- Melbourne had the largest increase (142,600), Perth had the highest growth rate (3.1%).
- Regional Australia grew by 113,800 (1.3%).
Capital cities
Population change
- Melbourne had the largest growth (up by 142,600 people), followed by Sydney (107,500), Brisbane (72,900) and Perth (72,700).
- Perth had the highest growth rate (3.1%), followed by Melbourne and Brisbane (both 2.7%).
| Capital city | ERP at 30 June 2024 | 2023-24 (no.) | 2023-24 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 5,557,233 | 107,538 | 2.0 |
| Melbourne | 5,350,705 | 142,637 | 2.7 |
| Brisbane | 2,780,063 | 72,930 | 2.7 |
| Adelaide | 1,469,163 | 22,125 | 1.5 |
| Perth | 2,384,371 | 72,742 | 3.1 |
| Hobart | 254,930 | 946 | 0.4 |
| Darwin | 152,489 | 1,367 | 0.9 |
| Canberra | 473,855 | 7,496 | 1.6 |
| Total capital cities | 18,422,809 | 427,781 | 2.4 |
Components of population change
Population change at the regional level has three components: natural increase, internal migration and overseas migration.
- Natural increase was highest in Melbourne followed by Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
- Brisbane and Perth were the only capitals to have net internal migration gains. Net internal migration loss was largest in Sydney and Melbourne.
- All capital cities experienced net overseas migration gain, which was largest in Melbourne followed by Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.
Regions
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Fraser Rise - Plumpton (up by 4,300 people) and Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (4,100) in Melbourne's outer west
- Box Hill - Nelson (4,000) in Sydney’s outer north-west.
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Taylor (29%) in Canberra's outer north
- Fraser Rise - Plumpton (26%)
- Box Hill - Nelson (22%).
Outside of the capital cities:
- Caloundra West - Baringa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast had the largest growth (up by 2,500 people)
- Googong, just outside the Australian Capital Territory, had the highest growth rate (16%).
| SA2 | SA4 | ERP at 30 June 2024 | 2023-24 (no.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fraser Rise - Plumpton | Melbourne - West | 20,730 | 4,316 |
| Rockbank - Mount Cottrell | Melbourne - West | 31,389 | 4,145 |
| Box Hill - Nelson | Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury | 22,420 | 4,042 |
| Clyde North - South | Melbourne - South East | 24,609 | 3,932 |
| Marsden Park - Shanes Park | Sydney - Blacktown | 27,263 | 3,497 |
| SA2(a) | SA4 | ERP at 30 June 2024 | 2023-24 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor | Australian Capital Territory | 4,766 | 28.7 |
| Fraser Rise - Plumpton | Melbourne - West | 20,730 | 26.3 |
| Box Hill - Nelson | Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury | 22,420 | 22.0 |
| Strathnairn | Australian Capital Territory | 1,915 | 21.6 |
| Tarneit - North | Melbourne - West | 13,485 | 20.3 |
- Excludes SA2s with less than 1,000 people at June 2023.
Centre of population
Population density
Population grid
New South Wales
Population change
Greater Sydney increased by 107,500 people (2.0%), the rest of the state increased by 30,600 (1.1%).
The areas with the largest growth were in Sydney's outer north-west:
- Box Hill - Nelson (up by 4,000)
- Marsden Park - Shanes Park (3,500)
- Schofields - East (2,700 people).
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Box Hill - Nelson (22%)
- Austral - Greendale in Sydney’s outer south-west and Googong, just outside the Australian Capital Territory (both 16%).
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (120,900 people) and natural increase (27,700) were positive contributors to Greater Sydney's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-41,100).
- Schofields - East had the largest natural increase (520 people).
- Box Hill - Nelson had the largest net internal migration gain (3,600).
- Sydney (South) - Haymarket in the city centre had the largest net overseas migration gain (2,300).
Centre of population
Population density
Victoria
Population change
Greater Melbourne increased by 142,600 people (2.7%), the rest of the state increased by 19,800 (1.2%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Fraser Rise - Plumpton (up by 4,300) and Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (4,100 people), both in Melbourne’s outer west
- Clyde North - South (3,900) in Melbourne’s outer south-east.
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Fraser Rise - Plumpton (26%)
- Tarneit - North (20%) in Melbourne's outer west
- Clyde North - South (19%).
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (121,200 people) and natural increase (29,000) were positive contributors to Greater Melbourne's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-7,600).
- Mickleham - Yuroke, in Melbourne's outer north, had the largest natural increase (870 people).
- Fraser Rise - Plumpton had the largest net internal migration gain (3,800).
- Carlton, in inner Melbourne, had the largest net overseas migration gain (2,900).
Centre of population
Population density
Queensland
Population change
Greater Brisbane increased by 72,900 people (2.7%), the rest of the state increased by 50,400 (1.8%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Ripley (up by 2,700) in Ipswich
- Caloundra West - Baringa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast (2,500)
- Chambers Flat - Logan Reserve (2,400) in Logan.
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Chambers Flat - Logan Reserve (19%)
- Ripley (15%)
- Greenbank - North Maclean (13%) in Logan.
Components of population change
Net overseas migration (44,300) people) was the largest contributor to Greater Brisbane's population increase, followed by net internal migration (15,600) and natural increase (13,100).
- Redbank Plains in Ipswich had the largest natural increase (420 people).
- Ripley had the largest net internal migration gain (2,300).
- Brisbane City had the largest net overseas migration gain (1,300).
Centre of population
Population density
South Australia
Population change
Greater Adelaide increased by 22,100 people (1.5%), the rest of the state increased by 2,900 (0.7%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Munno Para West - Angle Vale (up by 2,100 people) in Adelaide's outer north
- Mount Barker (1,100) in the Adelaide Hills
- the city centre of Adelaide (1,000).
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Virginia - Waterloo Corner (14%) in Adelaide's outer north
- Munno Para West - Angle Vale (11%)
- the city centre of Adelaide (5%).
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (21,700 people) and natural increase (3,800) were positive contributors to Greater Adelaide's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-3,300).
- Munno Para West - Angle Vale had the largest natural increase (360 people) and largest net internal migration gain (1,700).
- The city centre of Adelaide had the largest net overseas migration gain (1,400).
Centre of population
Population density
Western Australia
Population change
Greater Perth increased by 72,700 people (3.1%), the rest of the state increased by 8,600 (1.5%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Alkimos - Eglinton (up by 2,100 people) in Perth's outer north-west
- Brabham - Henley Brook in Perth's outer north-east and Baldivis - North in Perth’s outer south (both 1,500).
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Alkimos - Eglinton (12%)
- Brabham - Henley Brook and Baldivis - North (both 11%).
Components of population change
Net overseas migration (53,400 people) was the largest contributor to Greater Perth's population increase, followed by natural increase (11,300) and net internal migration (8,100).
- Piara Waters - Forrestdale in Perth’s south had the largest natural increase (340 people).
- Alkimos - Eglinton had the largest net internal migration gain (1,500).
- Bentley - Wilson - St James, to the south-east of Perth's city centre, had the largest net overseas migration gain (1,500).
Centre of population
Population density
Tasmania
Population change
Greater Hobart increased by 950 people (0.4%), the rest of the state increased by 810 (0.3%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Rokeby (up by 230 people) on the eastern shore of the River Derwent in Hobart
- Kingston - Huntingfield (220) in Hobart's south
- Sorell - Richmond (200) in Hobart's north-east.
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Rokeby (2.7%)
- Risdon Vale (2.3%) in Hobart's north
- Geeveston - Dover (1.9%) in the south of the state.
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (2,500 people) and natural increase (460) were positive contributors to Greater Hobart's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-2,000).
- Rokeby had the largest natural increase (130 people).
- Sorell - Richmond had the largest internal migration gain (120).
- Sandy Bay, to the south of Hobart's city centre, had the largest net overseas migration gain (430).
Centre of population
Population density
Northern Territory
Population change
Greater Darwin increased by 1,400 people (0.9%), the rest of the territory increased by 640 (0.6%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Palmerston - South (up by 400 people) to the south-east of Darwin City
- Howard Springs, to the east of Darwin City, and Lyons on the northern fringe of Darwin (both 210).
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Berrimah (8.1%), to the east of Darwin City
- Palmerston - South (4.9%)
- Howard Springs (3.7%).
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (2,700 people) and natural increase (1,400) were positive contributors to Greater Darwin's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-2,800).
- Palmerston - South had the largest natural increase (170 people) and the largest net internal migration gain (160).
- Darwin City had the largest net overseas migration gain (420).
Centre of population
Population density
Australian Capital Territory
Population change
The number of people living in the Australian Capital Territory increased by 7,500 (1.6%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Taylor (up by 1,100 people) in Canberra's outer north
- Phillip (910), south of Canberra CBD
- Denman Prospect (700) in Canberra's outer west.
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Taylor (29%)
- Strathnairn (22%) in Canberra’s outer north-west
- Denman Prospect (17%).
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (6,200) and natural increase (2,800 people) were positive contributors to Canberra's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-1,600).
- Taylor had the largest natural increase (130 people) and the largest net internal migration gain (890).
- Belconnen town centre in Canberra's north-west had the largest net overseas migration gain (310).
Centre of population
Population density
Interactive maps
On each map an area can be selected to view the underlying data. All data can be found in the Data downloads section of this publication.
Population grid
Geographic areas
Data downloads
Data cubes
Data files
Population estimates and components by SA2, 2023 to 2024
Population estimates and components by LGA, 2023 to 2024
Population estimates by SA2 and above, 2001 to 2024
Population estimates by LGA, Significant Urban Area, Remoteness Area and electoral division, 2001 to 2024
Population components by SA2 and above, 2021-22 to 2023-24
Population components by LGA and above, 2021-22 to 2023-24
GeoPackages
Data files
Population estimates by SA2, 2001 to 2024, GDA 2020, in GeoPackage
Population estimates by LGA, 2001 to 2024, GDA 2020, in GeoPackage
Population grid files
Data files
Australian population grid 2024 in ESRI Grid format
Australian population grid 2024 in GeoTIFF format
Australian population grid 2024 in JPEG format
Data Explorer datasets
Caution: Data Explorer can be problematic when trying to view and manipulate large datasets, such as SA2-based or LGA geographies released in this product. Please use the Excel data cubes provided above for these datasets.
Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.
Population estimates and components by SA2 and above, 2022 to 2024
Population estimates and components by LGA, 2022 to 2024
Population estimates by SA2 and above, 2001 to 2024
Population estimates by LGA, 2001 to 2024
Regional internal migration estimates by region of arrival and departure, SA4 and above, 2021-22 to 2023-24
For information on Data Explorer and how it works, see the Data Explorer user guide.
Post-release changes
07/04/25 - The Australian population grid 2024 in ESRI Grid format has been replaced. The previous version was incomplete.
Previous catalogue number
This release previously used catalogue number 3218.0.