Population of Australia

As of May 2026, the population of Australia is 27.2 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 254 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.95%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 36.2 years in 2016 to 38.3 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 84.1 years and population density is 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Australia peaked in 1970, reaching around 3.19% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.94% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 433.89 thousand in 2008 to nearly 254.48 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Australia, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 81.3 years in 2006 to 84.1 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 3 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Australia

Australia has several cities considered medium-sized by their number of inhabitants, but there are also some large ones. The most populous city is Sydney, New South Wales, with approximately 5.6 million inhabitants. It is followed by Melbourne, Victoria with 5.4 million and Brisbane, Queensland with 2.8 million.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Australia: