What is the population of Australia in 2026?
Australia has a population of 27,614,411 people (2025 estimate), which is 55th in the world and about 0.33% of the global total.
Officially Commonwealth of Australia
Population 2025
27,614,411
0.33% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+1.53%
+423,329 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
3/km²
7,692,020 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
38.3 years
Life expectancy 83.1 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the world's sixth-largest country by land area, comprising the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. Despite its vast size, Australia is one of the least densely populated countries, with most of its 26 million people living along the eastern and southeastern coasts. Known for its unique biodiversity, high quality of life, and multicultural society, Australia is a highly developed nation with the world's 13th-largest economy.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Canberra
- Continent
- Oceania
- ISO codes
- AU · AUS
- Demonym
- Australian
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD $)
- Government
- Federation, Constitutional monarchy, Representative democracy
- State inception
- 1901
- Time zone
- UTC+10:00
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +61
- Internet TLD
- .au
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- English
Religions
- Christianity (43.9%)
- None (38.9%)
- Islam (3.2%)
- Hinduism (2.7%)
- Buddhism (2.4%)
- Sikhism (0.8%)
Demographics
Australia's population of 26 million is highly urbanized, with over 85% living in urban areas and about two-thirds in the five largest cities. Net migration accounts for about 60% of population growth. The median age of 37.9 years reflects an aging but still relatively young population compared to Europe. Indigenous Australians comprise about 3.8% of the population.
Economy
Not published for Australia: Poverty Rate.
Australia has enjoyed 30 years without recession (until COVID-19), driven by mining, agriculture, services, and international education. It is the world's largest exporter of iron ore, coal, and liquefied natural gas. The economy benefits from strong trade ties with Asia, particularly China. The financial services, tourism, and technology sectors are growing. The minimum wage is among the world's highest.
Major exports
- Iron ore
- Coal
- Natural gas
- Gold
- Beef
- Wheat
- Wool
- Education services
- Tourism
Major imports
- Automobiles
- Refined petroleum
- Telecommunications equipment
- Computers
- Medicines
- Furniture
- Clothing
Health
Education
Not published for Australia: Literacy Rate.
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Australia is the world's only country that is also a continent. The interior consists of arid desert and semi-arid land, while coastal areas feature diverse environments including rainforests, mountains, and fertile plains. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, lies off the northeast coast. The Outback covers most of the interior. Climate ranges from tropical in the north to temperate in the south.
Natural resources
- Iron ore
- Coal
- Gold
- Copper
- Natural gas
- Uranium
- Bauxite
- Diamonds
- Rare earth elements
- Lithium
- Zinc
- Lead
- Nickel
Climate
- Mostly arid to semi-arid; tropical north, temperate southeast
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 17.8%
- Age 15–64
- 64.4%
- Age 65+
- 17.7%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 1,348 | 4,625 |
| 95-99 | 14,544 | 33,221 |
| 90-94 | 61,507 | 105,848 |
| 85-89 | 154,844 | 210,286 |
| 80-84 | 286,417 | 332,464 |
| 75-79 | 467,601 | 511,351 |
| 70-74 | 566,293 | 617,663 |
| 65-69 | 656,708 | 711,536 |
| 60-64 | 742,939 | 787,485 |
| 55-59 | 758,218 | 787,219 |
| 50-54 | 834,785 | 860,301 |
| 45-49 | 806,939 | 825,361 |
| 40-44 | 910,202 | 922,861 |
| 35-39 | 965,741 | 982,997 |
| 30-34 | 978,206 | 982,484 |
| 25-29 | 936,201 | 893,163 |
| 20-24 | 828,250 | 783,575 |
| 15-19 | 835,075 | 788,818 |
| 10-14 | 845,957 | 800,910 |
| 5-9 | 814,379 | 769,163 |
| 0-4 | 788,505 | 747,216 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 8,176,750 |
| 1960 | 10,280,813 |
| 1970 | 12,599,411 |
| 1980 | 14,721,347 |
| 1990 | 17,126,298 |
| 2000 | 19,132,471 |
| 2010 | 22,141,581 |
| 2020 | 25,743,791 |
| 2030 | 28,188,539 |
| 2040 | 30,357,450 |
| 2050 | 32,506,969 |
| 2060 | 34,562,683 |
| 2070 | 36,635,122 |
| 2080 | 38,700,844 |
| 2090 | 40,876,704 |
| 2100 | 43,143,685 |
History
Indigenous Australians have inhabited the continent for over 65,000 years, making it one of the world's oldest continuous cultures. Dutch explorers first mapped the coastline in the early 17th century, but British colonization began with the First Fleet's arrival in 1788. Six self-governing colonies federated into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Post-WWII immigration transformed Australia into a multicultural nation.
Culture
Australian culture blends British heritage, Indigenous traditions, and influences from immigrant communities worldwide. 'Mateship,' egalitarianism, and outdoor lifestyle are cultural values. Sport is central to national identity, with cricket, Australian rules football, rugby, and surfing being popular. Australian art, music, and cuisine have gained international recognition. The country celebrates ANZAC Day honoring military history.
Current Challenges
Australia faces challenges including climate change impacts (bushfires, droughts, coral bleaching), housing affordability in major cities, water scarcity, and maintaining economic diversity beyond mining. Indigenous disadvantage gaps in health, education, and employment persist. Balancing relationships between major trading partners and security allies presents diplomatic challenges.
Future Outlook
Australia's population is projected to reach 35-40 million by 2050, primarily through immigration. The economy is diversifying into renewable energy, technology, and advanced manufacturing. Climate adaptation and Indigenous reconciliation are national priorities. Australia aims to maintain its high quality of life while adapting to an increasingly competitive Asia-Pacific region.
Highlights
What Australia Is Known For
- World's only country-continent
- Home to most of the world's deadliest creatures
- 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- World's largest cattle station (Anna Creek) is larger than Israel
- Has the longest fence in the world (Dingo Fence at 5,614 km)
Interesting Facts About Australia
- Australia has over 10,000 beaches - you could visit a new one every day for 27 years
- Kangaroos and emus cannot walk backwards, which is why they're on the coat of arms
- The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth
- Australia was the second country to give women the right to vote (1902)
- The Australian Alps receive more snow than Switzerland
- Canberra was built as a compromise because Sydney and Melbourne couldn't agree on being capital
How Australia Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Australia | 27.6M |
Major Cities in Australia
4 metropolitan areas in our city dataset.
Australia Population FAQ
Is the population of Australia growing or shrinking?
Australia's population is growing at +1.53% per year, a change of roughly 423,329 people annually.
What is the capital of Australia?
The capital of Australia is Canberra.
What is the largest city in Australia?
Sydney is the largest metropolitan area in Australia, with about 5.37M people.
How densely populated is Australia?
Australia has 3/km² across 7,692,020 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Australia?
Life expectancy at birth in Australia is 83.1 years (2024).
What is the median age in Australia?
The median age in Australia is 38.3 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Australia in?
Australia is in Oceania.