How many people live in Australia?
Australia has a population of more than 27 million people, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the mid-2020s. That is small for a country of its size, which makes Australia one of the least densely populated nations on Earth.
Most Australians live in a handful of large cities. Sydney and Melbourne each have more than five million residents, while Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are the next largest. Together, the state capitals hold about two-thirds of the population.
The population is heavily concentrated along the coast, especially in the southeast and southwest. Large inland areas have very few people, with some remote regions having less than one person for every square kilometre.
A growing, diverse nation
Australia's population grows each year through births and immigration. Nearly a third of Australians were born overseas, and many more have at least one parent born in another country. England, India, China and New Zealand are among the most common countries of birth.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up around 3 to 4 percent of the population. The national census, held every five years, provides a detailed picture of who lives in Australia.
Did You Know?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics runs a live population clock on its website.