50 years of estimated resident population

An overview of Australia's population change over the past 50 years.

Released

16/12/2021

Source

National, state and territory population, June 2021

Key Statistics

The estimated resident population time series spans 50 years from 1971 to 2021.
Australia’s population almost doubled in the past 50 years, from 13.1 million in 1971 to 25.7 million in 2021.
Fertility and mortality rates declined over the past 50 years, contributing to an ageing population.
The arrival of younger overseas migrants partly offset the ageing population.

Population growth

Australia’s population almost doubled in the past 50 years, from 13,067,265 in 1971 to 25,739,256 in 2021. The average annual growth rate during this time (1.4%) was higher than many developed countries. Australia’s strong population growth was driven mainly by natural increase (births minus deaths, 60% of growth) before the turn of the millennium, and since then overseas migration was the major contributor (57%) until international borders closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Comparison of annual population growth
Year	Australia (% change)	United States (% change)	OECD members (% change)	European Union (% change)	China (% change)
1971	3.38	1.26	1.31	0.54	2.75
1972	1.84	1.07	1.16	0.67	2.46
1973	1.53	0.95	1.12	0.65	2.28
1974	2.53	0.91	1.08	0.62	2.07
1975	1.23	0.99	1.05	0.60	1.77
1976	1.00	0.95	0.98	0.54	1.55
1977	1.13	1.01	0.95	0.49	1.36
1978	1.16	1.06	0.95	0.46	1.34
1979	1.08	1.10	0.96	0.44	1.33
1980	1.22	0.96	0.94	0.45	1.25
1981	1.59	0.98	0.92	0.41	1.28
1982	1.67	0.95	0.87	0.33	1.47
1983	1.25	0.91	0.83	0.26	1.44
1984	1.13	0.87	0.79	0.23	1.31
1985	1.37	0.89	0.79	0.24	1.36
1986	1.64	0.92	0.80	0.28	1.49
1987	1.52	0.89	0.80	0.30	1.60
1988	1.64	0.91	0.80	0.32	1.61
1989	1.69	0.94	0.84	0.34	1.53
1990	1.48	1.13	0.88	0.34	1.47
1991	1.27	1.34	0.96	0.30	1.36
1992	1.21	1.39	0.94	0.29	1.23
1993	0.98	1.32	0.89	0.33	1.15
1994	1.06	1.23	0.82	0.25	1.13
1995	1.21	1.19	0.80	0.19	1.09
1996	1.31	1.16	0.78	0.16	1.05
1997	1.12	1.20	0.77	0.15	1.02
1998	1.04	1.17	0.74	0.13	0.96
1999	1.14	1.15	0.74	0.16	0.87
2000	1.19	1.11	0.72	0.12	0.79
2001	1.35	0.99	0.75	0.13	0.73
2002	1.22	0.93	0.75	0.23	0.67
2003	1.23	0.86	0.74	0.36	0.62
2004	1.16	0.93	0.73	0.38	0.59
2005	1.32	0.92	0.72	0.36	0.59
2006	1.48	0.96	0.75	0.33	0.56
2007	0.62	0.95	0.76	0.34	0.52
2008	2.00	0.95	0.78	0.32	0.51
2009	2.06	0.88	0.71	0.24	0.50
2010	1.56	0.83	0.66	0.14	0.48
2011	1.39	0.73	0.51	-0.18	0.48
2012	1.75	0.73	0.62	0.15	0.49
2013	1.72	0.69	0.64	0.24	0.49
2014	1.49	0.73	0.67	0.25	0.51
2015	1.44	0.74	0.66	0.22	0.51
2016	1.56	0.72	0.67	0.21	0.54
2017	1.68	0.63	0.62	0.16	0.56
2018	1.54	0.53	0.59	0.16	0.46
2019	1.52	0.46	0.50	0.06	0.36
2020	1.26	0.35	0.44	0.13	0.31

Comparison of annual population growth

["Year","Australia","United States","OECD members","European Union","China"]

[["1971","1972","1973","1974","1975","1976","1977","1978","1979","1980","1981","1982","1983","1984","1985","1986","1987","1988","1989","1990","1991","1992","1993","1994","1995","1996","1997","1998","1999","2000","2001","2002","2003","2004","2005","2006","2007","2008","2009","2010","2011","2012","2013","2014","2015","2016","2017","2018","2019","2020"],[[3.3799999999999999],[1.8400000000000001],[1.53],[2.5299999999999998],[1.23],[1],[1.1299999999999999],[1.1599999999999999],[1.0800000000000001],[1.22],[1.5900000000000001],[1.6699999999999999],[1.25],[1.1299999999999999],[1.3700000000000001],[1.6399999999999999],[1.52],[1.6399999999999999],[1.6899999999999999],[1.48],[1.27],[1.21],[0.97999999999999998],[1.0600000000000001],[1.21],[1.3100000000000001],[1.1200000000000001],[1.04],[1.1399999999999999],[1.1899999999999999],[1.3500000000000001],[1.22],[1.23],[1.1599999999999999],[1.3200000000000001],[1.48],[0.62],[2],[2.0600000000000001],[1.5600000000000001],[1.3899999999999999],[1.75],[1.72],[1.49],[1.4399999999999999],[1.5600000000000001],[1.6799999999999999],[1.54],[1.52],[1.26]],[[1.26],[1.0700000000000001],[0.94999999999999996],[0.91000000000000003],[0.98999999999999999],[0.94999999999999996],[1.01],[1.0600000000000001],[1.1000000000000001],[0.95999999999999996],[0.97999999999999998],[0.94999999999999996],[0.91000000000000003],[0.87],[0.89000000000000001],[0.92000000000000004],[0.89000000000000001],[0.91000000000000003],[0.93999999999999995],[1.1299999999999999],[1.3400000000000001],[1.3899999999999999],[1.3200000000000001],[1.23],[1.1899999999999999],[1.1599999999999999],[1.2],[1.1699999999999999],[1.1499999999999999],[1.1100000000000001],[0.98999999999999999],[0.93000000000000005],[0.85999999999999999],[0.93000000000000005],[0.92000000000000004],[0.95999999999999996],[0.94999999999999996],[0.94999999999999996],[0.88],[0.82999999999999996],[0.72999999999999998],[0.72999999999999998],[0.68999999999999995],[0.72999999999999998],[0.73999999999999999],[0.71999999999999997],[0.63],[0.53000000000000003],[0.46000000000000002],[0.34999999999999998]],[[1.3100000000000001],[1.1599999999999999],[1.1200000000000001],[1.0800000000000001],[1.05],[0.97999999999999998],[0.94999999999999996],[0.94999999999999996],[0.95999999999999996],[0.93999999999999995],[0.92000000000000004],[0.87],[0.82999999999999996],[0.79000000000000004],[0.79000000000000004],[0.80000000000000004],[0.80000000000000004],[0.80000000000000004],[0.83999999999999997],[0.88],[0.95999999999999996],[0.93999999999999995],[0.89000000000000001],[0.81999999999999995],[0.80000000000000004],[0.78000000000000003],[0.77000000000000002],[0.73999999999999999],[0.73999999999999999],[0.71999999999999997],[0.75],[0.75],[0.73999999999999999],[0.72999999999999998],[0.71999999999999997],[0.75],[0.76000000000000001],[0.78000000000000003],[0.70999999999999996],[0.66000000000000003],[0.51000000000000001],[0.62],[0.64000000000000001],[0.67000000000000004],[0.66000000000000003],[0.67000000000000004],[0.62],[0.58999999999999997],[0.5],[0.44]],[[0.54000000000000004],[0.67000000000000004],[0.65000000000000002],[0.62],[0.59999999999999998],[0.54000000000000004],[0.48999999999999999],[0.46000000000000002],[0.44],[0.45000000000000001],[0.40999999999999998],[0.33000000000000002],[0.26000000000000001],[0.23000000000000001],[0.23999999999999999],[0.28000000000000003],[0.29999999999999999],[0.32000000000000001],[0.34000000000000002],[0.34000000000000002],[0.29999999999999999],[0.28999999999999998],[0.33000000000000002],[0.25],[0.19],[0.16],[0.14999999999999999],[0.13],[0.16],[0.12],[0.13],[0.23000000000000001],[0.35999999999999999],[0.38],[0.35999999999999999],[0.33000000000000002],[0.34000000000000002],[0.32000000000000001],[0.23999999999999999],[0.14000000000000001],[-0.17999999999999999],[0.14999999999999999],[0.23999999999999999],[0.25],[0.22],[0.20999999999999999],[0.16],[0.16],[0.059999999999999998],[0.13]],[[2.75],[2.46],[2.2799999999999998],[2.0699999999999998],[1.77],[1.55],[1.3600000000000001],[1.3400000000000001],[1.3300000000000001],[1.25],[1.28],[1.47],[1.4399999999999999],[1.3100000000000001],[1.3600000000000001],[1.49],[1.6000000000000001],[1.6100000000000001],[1.53],[1.47],[1.3600000000000001],[1.23],[1.1499999999999999],[1.1299999999999999],[1.0900000000000001],[1.05],[1.02],[0.95999999999999996],[0.87],[0.79000000000000004],[0.72999999999999998],[0.67000000000000004],[0.62],[0.58999999999999997],[0.58999999999999997],[0.56000000000000005],[0.52000000000000002],[0.51000000000000001],[0.5],[0.47999999999999998],[0.47999999999999998],[0.48999999999999999],[0.48999999999999999],[0.51000000000000001],[0.51000000000000001],[0.54000000000000004],[0.56000000000000005],[0.46000000000000002],[0.35999999999999999],[0.31]]]

[]

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Source: Population growth (annual %) - OECD members | Data (worldbank.org)

Age and sex structure

Australia’s population has aged in the past 50 years. The median age increased by more than 10 years, from 27.5 years in 1971 to 38.2 years in 2021. Population ageing was the result of declining fertility and lower mortality: people are living longer and having fewer babies. The arrival of younger overseas migrants, and their subsequent children, partly offset the ageing population.

Male and Female proportions of population by 5-year age groups, 1971 and 2021
	1971, Males	2021, Males	1971, Females	2021, Females
0–4	4.9	3	4.7	2.9
5–9	4.9	3.3	4.6	3.1
10–14	4.9	3.2	4.7	3.1
15–19	4.4	3	4.3	2.8
20–24	4.5	3.3	4.3	3.1
25–29	3.8	3.6	3.6	3.6
30–34	3.3	3.7	3	3.8
35–39	3	3.6	2.8	3.7
40–44	3.2	3.2	3	3.2
45–49	3.1	3.2	3	3.2
50–54	2.6	3	2.6	3.2
55–59	2.3	2.9	2.4	3.1
60–64	1.9	2.8	2	2.9
65–69	1.5	2.4	1.6	2.6
70–74	1	2.2	1.3	2.3
75-79	0.6	1.5	1	1.6
80-84	0.3	1	0.6	1.2
85+	0.2	0.8	0.4	1.3

Male and Female proportions of population by 5-year age groups, 1971 and 2021

["","1971, Males","2021, Males","1971, Females","2021, Females"]

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Natural increase

Natural increase is the difference between births and deaths. In the past 50 years, natural increase was relatively steady, with declines in fertility and mortality rates. The total fertility rate fell from 2.9 babies per woman in 1971 to 1.6 babies per woman in the year to June 2021. The standardised death rate fell from 12.7 deaths per 1,000 people in the year to June 1971 to 4.7 in the year to June 2021.

Total fertility rate, Standardised death rate and Natural increase, years ending June 30
	Natural increase ('000, RHS)	Standardised death rate (per 1,000, LHS) (Rate)	Total fertility rate (per female, LHS) (Rate)
1971		12.7	2.9
1972	161.8	12.4	2.7
1973	144.5	12.2	2.5
1974	133.5	12.6	2.3
1975	125.3	11.5	2.1
1976	120.5	11.7	2.1
1977	115.5	11	2
1978	118.3	10.7	1.9
1979	115.1	10.3	1.9
1980	117.0	10.3	1.9
1981	121.5	10	1.9
1982	126.1	10.1	1.9
1983	128.8	10	1.9
1984	129.7	9.5	1.9
1985	127.6	9.6	1.9
1986	123.0	9.4	1.8
1987	126.7	9.1	1.8
1988	125.7	9.2	1.8
1989	131.4	8.9	1.8
1990	132.4	9.1	1.9
1991	141.6	8.5	1.9
1992	138.8	8.3	1.9
1993	139.2	8.2	1.9
1994	135.4	8.1	1.9
1995	132.4	8	1.8
1996	124.5	7.8	1.8
1997	126.9	7.6	1.8
1998	120.5	7.5	1.8
1999	122.4	7.2	1.8
2000	122.1	7	1.8
2001	120.3	6.8	1.8
2002	119.1	6.7	1.8
2003	116.9	6.6	1.8
2004	118.8	6.5	1.8
2005	127.0	6.2	1.8
2006	132.0	6.1	1.8
2007	151.2	6.1	2
2008	154.4	6.1	2
2009	156.3	6	2
2010	162.6	5.8	2
2011	155.7	5.7	1.9
2012	158.8	5.6	1.9
2013	162.0	5.5	1.9
2014	157.0	5.4	1.9
2015	151.8	5.4	1.8
2016	154.4	5.3	1.8
2017	147.6	5.3	1.8
2018	142.6	5.2	1.7
2019	141.8	5.1	1.7
2020	134.8	4.9	1.6
2021	134.9	4.7	1.6

Total fertility rate, Standardised death rate and Natural increase, years ending June 30

["","Natural increase ('000, RHS)","Standardised death rate (per 1,000, LHS)","Total fertility rate (per female, LHS)"]

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Net overseas migration

Net overseas migration is the difference between overseas arrivals and overseas departures, and was a strong contributor to population growth in Australia in the past 50 years. Net overseas migration more than tripled from 103,600 in 1971 to a peak of 300,000 in the year to June 2009. Net overseas migration has declined since 2009, particularly so during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Annual net overseas migration
	Net overseas migration
1972	75,672
1973	56,562
1974	82,926
1975	44,675
1976	21,239
1977	43,139
1978	56,137
1979	58,304
1980	76,938
1981	114,647
1982	122,958
1983	75,450
1984	46,538
1985	68,010
1986	93,934
1987	109,141
1988	143,192
1989	137,241
1990	103,866
1991	94,757
1992	89,888
1993	62,671
1994	67,381
1995	93,042
1996	109,661
1997	94,396
1998	79,162
1999	96,483
2000	107,275
2001	135,673
2002	133,684
2003	154,225
2004	164,620
2005	177,973
2006	199,273
2007	232,796
2008	277,338
2009	299,866
2010	196,058
2011	180,372
2012	231,947
2013	230,329
2014	187,778
2015	184,033
2016	206,233
2017	263,351
2018	238,224
2019	241,338
2020	192,703
2021	-88,763

Annual net overseas migration

["","Net overseas migration"]

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Notable use of estimated resident population

The estimated resident population time series spans 50 years from 1971 to 2021. Estimated resident population, as Australia’s official population estimate, provides insight into the composition of Australia’s population and how that has changed over time. Estimated Resident Population underpins critical activities to our democracy and important policies, such as determining the number of seats in Parliament, providing the denominator for calculating COVID-19 vaccination rates, and informing the distribution of Goods and Services Tax (GST) funds between states and territories.

Find out more about Estimated Resident Population in 50 years of Australia’s population in 50 seconds .

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