Australia's Population by Country of Birth, 2022

Rebased ERP

In this issue, Australia's estimated resident population (ERP) by country of birth has been rebased to the 2021 Census of Population . Rebased estimates supersede all prior estimates from June 2016 onwards, for further information see Methodology used in rebased population estimates, June 2021.

ERP by country of birth is measured at 30 June each year. National data is available annually. A state and territory breakdown is only available for Census years with the most recent being for 2021 and now released in this issue.

Impact of COVID-19

Australia by country of birth

Each year, usually more people immigrate to, than emigrate from, Australia. This adds to the growth of Australia's overseas-born population and thereby the national population.

At 30 June 2022, Australia's estimated resident population was 26.0 million people. This was a combination of 18.3 million residents born in Australia and 7.7 million residents born overseas.

There was an annual growth of 155,000 people to the overseas-born population in 2022
The proportion of Australia's overseas-born population increased to 29.5% in 2022 (up from 29.3% one year earlier).

Graph 1.1 - Australian and overseas-born - number and proportion(a)(b)
Year	Proportion of overseas-born (%)	Number of Australian-born (m)	Number of overseas-born (m)
1887	-	-	-
1888	-	-	-
1889	-	-	-
1890	-	-	-
1891	32.4	1.8	0.86
1892	31.3	1.89	0.86
1893	30.2	1.98	0.86
1894	29.1	2.08	0.86
1895	28.1	2.18	0.86
1896	27.1	2.29	0.86
1897	26.2	2.4	0.86
1898	25.2	2.52	0.86
1899	24.3	2.65	0.86
1900	23.5	2.78	0.86
1901	22.7	2.92	0.86
1902	22	2.99	0.85
1903	21.4	3.06	0.84
1904	20.8	3.13	0.83
1905	20.2	3.21	0.82
1906	19.6	3.28	0.81
1907	19.1	3.36	0.8
1908	18.6	3.44	0.79
1909	18	3.53	0.78
1910	17.5	3.61	0.77
1911	17	3.7	0.76
1912	16.9	3.78	0.77
1913	16.7	3.86	0.77
1914	16.5	3.95	0.78
1915	16.4	4.03	0.79
1916	16.2	4.12	0.8
1917	16	4.21	0.81
1918	15.9	4.31	0.81
1919	15.7	4.4	0.82
1920	15.6	4.5	0.83
1921	15.4	4.6	0.84
1922	15.3	4.68	0.84
1923	15.1	4.77	0.85
1924	15	4.86	0.85
1925	14.8	4.95	0.86
1926	14.6	5.04	0.87
1927	14.5	5.13	0.87
1928	14.3	5.23	0.88
1929	14.2	5.32	0.88
1930	14.1	5.42	0.89
1931	13.9	5.52	0.89
1932	13.8	5.62	0.9
1933	13.6	5.73	0.9
1934	13.3	5.8	0.89
1935	13	5.87	0.88
1936	12.7	5.95	0.87
1937	12.4	6.02	0.85
1938	12.1	6.1	0.84
1939	11.8	6.18	0.83
1940	11.6	6.26	0.82
1941	11.3	6.34	0.81
1942	11	6.42	0.8
1943	10.8	6.5	0.79
1944	10.5	6.58	0.78
1945	10.3	6.66	0.77
1946	10.1	6.75	0.75
1947	9.8	6.84	0.74
1948	10.4	6.95	0.8
1949	10.9	7.07	0.87
1950	11.5	7.19	0.94
1951	12.2	7.32	1.02
1952	12.9	7.44	1.1
1953	13.6	7.57	1.19
1954	14.3	7.7	1.29
1955	14.7	7.84	1.35
1956	15	7.98	1.41
1957	15.4	8.13	1.48
1958	15.8	8.27	1.55
1959	16.1	8.42	1.62
1960	16.5	8.57	1.7
1961	16.9	8.73	1.78
1962	17.2	8.86	1.84
1963	17.5	9	1.91
1964	17.8	9.14	1.98
1965	18.1	9.28	2.06
1966	18.4	9.42	2.13
1967	18.8	9.57	2.21
1968	19.1	9.72	2.3
1969	19.5	9.87	2.39
1970	19.9	10.02	2.48
1971	20.2	10.18	2.58
1972	20.2	10.3	2.6
1973	20.1	10.43	2.62
1974	20	10.56	2.64
1975	20	10.69	2.67
1976	19.9	10.83	2.69
1977	20	10.96	2.75
1978	20.2	11.1	2.8
1979	20.3	11.24	2.86
1980	20.4	11.39	2.93
1981	20.6	11.53	2.99
1982	20.7	11.74	3.06
1983	20.8	11.96	3.14
1984	20.9	12.17	3.23
1985	21.1	12.4	3.31
1986	21.2	12.62	3.39
1987	21.5	12.76	3.5
1988	22	12.9	3.63
1989	22.4	13.04	3.77
1990	22.8	13.18	3.89
1991	22.9	13.32	3.97
1992	23.1	13.45	4.03
1993	23	13.58	4.05
1994	23	13.72	4.09
1995	23.1	13.85	4.15
1996	23.3	13.98	4.24
1997	23.3	14.13	4.29
1998	23.2	14.3	4.31
1999	23.1	14.47	4.35
2000	23	14.64	4.39
2001	23.1	14.82	4.45
2002	23.3	14.94	4.55
2003	23.6	15.07	4.66
2004	23.8	15.18	4.75
2005	24.2	15.3	4.88
2006	24.6	15.42	5.03
2007	25.1	15.59	5.23
2008	25.8	15.77	5.48
2009	26.4	15.96	5.73
2010	26.7	16.15	5.88
2011	26.9	16.32	6.02
2012	27.3	16.52	6.21
2013	27.7	16.72	6.41
2014	28	16.91	6.57
2015	28.3	17.09	6.73
2016	28.6	17.28	6.91
2017	29	17.45	7.14
2018	29.4	17.62	7.35
2019	29.8	17.79	7.55
2020	29.9	17.98	7.67
2021	29.3	18.16	7.53
2022	29.5	18.33	7.68

Graph 1.1 - Australian and overseas-born - number and proportion(a)(b)

["Year","Proportion of overseas-born","Number of Australian-born","Number of overseas-born"]

[["1887","1888","1889","1890","1891","1892","1893","1894","1895","1896","1897","1898","1899","1900","1901","1902","1903","1904","1905","1906","1907","1908","1909","1910","1911","1912","1913","1914","1915","1916","1917","1918","1919","1920","1921","1922","1923","1924","1925","1926","1927","1928","1929","1930","1931","1932","1933","1934","1935","1936","1937","1938","1939","1940","1941","1942","1943","1944","1945","1946","1947","1948","1949","1950","1951","1952","1953","1954","1955","1956","1957","1958","1959","1960","1961","1962","1963","1964","1965","1966","1967","1968","1969","1970","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","2021","2022"],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[32.399999999999999],[31.300000000000001],[30.199999999999999],[29.100000000000001],[28.100000000000001],[27.100000000000001],[26.199999999999999],[25.199999999999999],[24.300000000000001],[23.5],[22.699999999999999],[22],[21.399999999999999],[20.800000000000001],[20.199999999999999],[19.600000000000001],[19.100000000000001],[18.600000000000001],[18],[17.5],[17],[16.899999999999999],[16.699999999999999],[16.5],[16.399999999999999],[16.199999999999999],[16],[15.9],[15.699999999999999],[15.6],[15.4],[15.300000000000001],[15.1],[15],[14.800000000000001],[14.6],[14.5],[14.300000000000001],[14.199999999999999],[14.1],[13.9],[13.800000000000001],[13.6],[13.300000000000001],[13],[12.699999999999999],[12.4],[12.1],[11.800000000000001],[11.6],[11.300000000000001],[11],[10.800000000000001],[10.5],[10.300000000000001],[10.1],[9.8000000000000007],[10.4],[10.9],[11.5],[12.199999999999999],[12.9],[13.6],[14.300000000000001],[14.699999999999999],[15],[15.4],[15.800000000000001],[16.100000000000001],[16.5],[16.899999999999999],[17.199999999999999],[17.5],[17.800000000000001],[18.100000000000001],[18.399999999999999],[18.800000000000001],[19.100000000000001],[19.5],[19.899999999999999],[20.199999999999999],[20.199999999999999],[20.100000000000001],[20],[20],[19.899999999999999],[20],[20.199999999999999],[20.300000000000001],[20.399999999999999],[20.600000000000001],[20.699999999999999],[20.800000000000001],[20.899999999999999],[21.100000000000001],[21.199999999999999],[21.5],[22],[22.399999999999999],[22.800000000000001],[22.899999999999999],[23.100000000000001],[23],[23],[23.100000000000001],[23.300000000000001],[23.300000000000001],[23.199999999999999],[23.100000000000001],[23],[23.100000000000001],[23.300000000000001],[23.600000000000001],[23.800000000000001],[24.199999999999999],[24.600000000000001],[25.100000000000001],[25.800000000000001],[26.399999999999999],[26.699999999999999],[26.899999999999999],[27.300000000000001],[27.699999999999999],[28],[28.300000000000001],[28.600000000000001],[29],[29.399999999999999],[29.800000000000001],[29.899999999999999],[29.300000000000001],[29.5]],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[1.8],[1.8899999999999999],[1.98],[2.0800000000000001],[2.1800000000000002],[2.29],[2.3999999999999999],[2.52],[2.6499999999999999],[2.7799999999999998],[2.9199999999999999],[2.9900000000000002],[3.0600000000000001],[3.1299999999999999],[3.21],[3.2799999999999998],[3.3599999999999999],[3.4399999999999999],[3.5299999999999998],[3.6099999999999999],[3.7000000000000002],[3.7799999999999998],[3.8599999999999999],[3.9500000000000002],[4.0300000000000002],[4.1200000000000001],[4.21],[4.3099999999999996],[4.4000000000000004],[4.5],[4.5999999999999996],[4.6799999999999997],[4.7699999999999996],[4.8600000000000003],[4.9500000000000002],[5.04],[5.1299999999999999],[5.2300000000000004],[5.3200000000000003],[5.4199999999999999],[5.5199999999999996],[5.6200000000000001],[5.7300000000000004],[5.7999999999999998],[5.8700000000000001],[5.9500000000000002],[6.0199999999999996],[6.0999999999999996],[6.1799999999999997],[6.2599999999999998],[6.3399999999999999],[6.4199999999999999],[6.5],[6.5800000000000001],[6.6600000000000001],[6.75],[6.8399999999999999],[6.9500000000000002],[7.0700000000000003],[7.1900000000000004],[7.3200000000000003],[7.4400000000000004],[7.5700000000000003],[7.7000000000000002],[7.8399999999999999],[7.9800000000000004],[8.1300000000000008],[8.2699999999999996],[8.4199999999999999],[8.5700000000000003],[8.7300000000000004],[8.8599999999999994],[9],[9.1400000000000006],[9.2799999999999994],[9.4199999999999999],[9.5700000000000003],[9.7200000000000006],[9.8699999999999992],[10.02],[10.18],[10.300000000000001],[10.43],[10.56],[10.69],[10.83],[10.960000000000001],[11.1],[11.24],[11.390000000000001],[11.529999999999999],[11.74],[11.960000000000001],[12.17],[12.4],[12.619999999999999],[12.76],[12.9],[13.039999999999999],[13.18],[13.32],[13.449999999999999],[13.58],[13.720000000000001],[13.85],[13.98],[14.130000000000001],[14.300000000000001],[14.470000000000001],[14.640000000000001],[14.82],[14.94],[15.07],[15.18],[15.300000000000001],[15.42],[15.59],[15.77],[15.960000000000001],[16.149999999999999],[16.32],[16.52],[16.719999999999999],[16.91],[17.09],[17.280000000000001],[17.449999999999999],[17.620000000000001],[17.789999999999999],[17.98],[18.16],[18.329999999999998]],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.84999999999999998],[0.83999999999999997],[0.82999999999999996],[0.81999999999999995],[0.81000000000000005],[0.80000000000000004],[0.79000000000000004],[0.78000000000000003],[0.77000000000000002],[0.76000000000000001],[0.77000000000000002],[0.77000000000000002],[0.78000000000000003],[0.79000000000000004],[0.80000000000000004],[0.81000000000000005],[0.81000000000000005],[0.81999999999999995],[0.82999999999999996],[0.83999999999999997],[0.83999999999999997],[0.84999999999999998],[0.84999999999999998],[0.85999999999999999],[0.87],[0.87],[0.88],[0.88],[0.89000000000000001],[0.89000000000000001],[0.90000000000000002],[0.90000000000000002],[0.89000000000000001],[0.88],[0.87],[0.84999999999999998],[0.83999999999999997],[0.82999999999999996],[0.81999999999999995],[0.81000000000000005],[0.80000000000000004],[0.79000000000000004],[0.78000000000000003],[0.77000000000000002],[0.75],[0.73999999999999999],[0.80000000000000004],[0.87],[0.93999999999999995],[1.02],[1.1000000000000001],[1.1899999999999999],[1.29],[1.3500000000000001],[1.4099999999999999],[1.48],[1.55],[1.6200000000000001],[1.7],[1.78],[1.8400000000000001],[1.9099999999999999],[1.98],[2.0600000000000001],[2.1299999999999999],[2.21],[2.2999999999999998],[2.3900000000000001],[2.48],[2.5800000000000001],[2.6000000000000001],[2.6200000000000001],[2.6400000000000001],[2.6699999999999999],[2.6899999999999999],[2.75],[2.7999999999999998],[2.8599999999999999],[2.9300000000000002],[2.9900000000000002],[3.0600000000000001],[3.1400000000000001],[3.23],[3.3100000000000001],[3.3900000000000001],[3.5],[3.6299999999999999],[3.77],[3.8900000000000001],[3.9700000000000002],[4.0300000000000002],[4.0499999999999998],[4.0899999999999999],[4.1500000000000004],[4.2400000000000002],[4.29],[4.3099999999999996],[4.3499999999999996],[4.3899999999999997],[4.4500000000000002],[4.5499999999999998],[4.6600000000000001],[4.75],[4.8799999999999999],[5.0300000000000002],[5.2300000000000004],[5.4800000000000004],[5.7300000000000004],[5.8799999999999999],[6.0199999999999996],[6.21],[6.4100000000000001],[6.5700000000000003],[6.7300000000000004],[6.9100000000000001],[7.1399999999999997],[7.3499999999999996],[7.5499999999999998],[7.6699999999999999],[7.5300000000000002],[7.6799999999999997]]]

[]

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a. Based on estimated resident population at 30 June each year. Prior to 1986 based on Census years.
b. Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Source prior to 1986: Historical population - country of birth data cube.

According to the first country-wide census in 1891, 32% of the population were born overseas, reflecting high levels of immigration in preceding years. The proportion fell to a low of 10% in 1947, due to lower levels of migration during World War I, the Great Depression and World War II. The proportion then rose rapidly as a result of higher levels of post-war migration. Since then, there has been a steady increase in the overseas-born population until 2021.

In 2021, the number and proportion of migrants declined. This is attributed to the COVID-19 travel restrictions and the resulting impact on overseas migration both to and from Australia. There was a decrease in arrivals of people born overseas immigrating to Australia, as well as a decrease of people born in Australia departing to live overseas.

Countries where Australia's migrants were born

The various waves of migrants from different countries over time, has an important effect on the diversity of Australia's population. Nearly every country from around the world was represented in Australia's population in 2022.

In 2022, those born in England, India, China and New Zealand were the largest groups of overseas-born. Together they made up over one third of all migrants living in Australia.

The English-born group (961,000) continued to be the largest group of overseas-born. However, this population has steadily decreased from a peak of just over a million in 2013
Indian-born (754,000) was the next largest group and surpassed its previous peak in 2020 (724,000)
Chinese-born (597,000), the third largest but decreased after reaching a peak in 2019 (661,000)
New Zealand-born (586,000), was fourth largest and surpassed its previous peak in 2013 (585,000).

The Australian-born population in 2022, was 18.3 million people. It had increased by 173,000 people during the year. This growth was comprised of natural increase (births minus Australian-born deaths) plus net overseas migration (Australian-born arrivals minus Australian-born departures).

Table 1.2 Australia's overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2012		2022
Country of birth(b)	'000	%(c)	'000	%(c)
England	1,004.52	4.4	961.37	3.7
India	355.38	1.6	753.52	2.9
China(d)	406.39	1.8	597.44	2.3
New Zealand	569.63	2.5	586.02	2.3
Philippines	206.11	0.9	320.30	1.2
Vietnam	212.14	0.9	281.81	1.1
South Africa	167.63	0.7	206.73	0.8
Malaysia	136.57	0.6	176.21	0.7
Italy	200.35	0.9	161.56	0.6
Nepal	30.73	0.1	151.14	0.6
Total overseas-born	6,214.01	27.3	7,680.45	29.5
Australian-born	16,519.46	72.7	18,332.62	70.5
Total population	22,733.47	100.0	26,013.06	100.0

Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Top 10 countries of birth for overseas-born residents in Australia as at 30 June 2022.
Proportion of the total population of Australia.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

Graph 1.3 Australia's overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)(b)
	2012 ('000)	2017 ('000)	2022 ('000)
England	1,004.52	999.23	961.37
India	355.38	538.32	753.52
China(c)	406.39	604.18	597.44
New Zealand	569.63	572.25	586.02
Philippines	206.11	265.30	320.30
Vietnam	212.14	251.94	281.81
South Africa	167.63	185.60	206.73
Malaysia	136.57	165.02	176.21
Italy	200.35	190.81	161.56
Nepal	30.73	73.92	151.14

 Graph 1.3 Australia's overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)(b)

["","2012 ('000)","2017 ('000)","2022 ('000)"]

[["England","India","China(c)","New Zealand","Philippines","Vietnam","South Africa","Malaysia","Italy","Nepal"],[[1004.52],[355.38],[406.38999999999999],[569.63],[206.11000000000001],[212.13999999999999],[167.63],[136.56999999999999],[200.34999999999999],[30.73]],[[999.23000000000002],[538.32000000000005],[604.17999999999995],[572.25],[265.30000000000001],[251.94],[185.59999999999999],[165.02000000000001],[190.81],[73.920000000000002]],[[961.37],[753.51999999999998],[597.44000000000005],[586.01999999999998],[320.30000000000001],[281.81],[206.72999999999999],[176.21000000000001],[161.56],[151.13999999999999]]]

[]

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Top 10 countries of birth for overseas-born residents in Australia as at 30 June 2022.
Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

In 2022, compared with a decade earlier, the countries of birth (excluding Australian-born) with the largest increases in Australia's population were:

India with an increase of 398,000 people
China 191,000
Nepal 120,000
The Philippines 114,000.

Graph 1.4 Australia's overseas-born population - largest increase since 2012 - top 10 countries of birth(a)(b)
	2012 ('000)	2017 ('000)	2022 ('000)
India	355.38	538.32	753.52
China(c)	406.39	604.18	597.44
Nepal	30.73	73.92	151.14
Philippines	206.11	265.30	320.30
Vietnam	212.14	251.94	281.81
Pakistan	40.02	76.55	103.12
Iraq	57.43	84.62	104.17
Thailand	54.48	77.64	95.91
Sri Lanka	104.95	128.36	145.43
Malaysia	136.57	165.02	176.21

 Graph 1.4 Australia's overseas-born population - largest increase since 2012 - top 10 countries of birth(a)(b)

["","2012 ('000)","2017 ('000)","2022 ('000)"]

[["India","China(c)","Nepal","Philippines","Vietnam","Pakistan","Iraq","Thailand","Sri Lanka","Malaysia"],[[355.38],[406.38999999999999],[30.73],[206.11000000000001],[212.13999999999999],[40.020000000000003],[57.43],[54.479999999999997],[104.95],[136.56999999999999]],[[538.32000000000005],[604.17999999999995],[73.920000000000002],[265.30000000000001],[251.94],[76.549999999999997],[84.620000000000005],[77.640000000000001],[128.36000000000001],[165.02000000000001]],[[753.51999999999998],[597.44000000000005],[151.13999999999999],[320.30000000000001],[281.81],[103.12],[104.17],[95.909999999999997],[145.43000000000001],[176.21000000000001]]]

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Top 10 countries of birth with the largest increase in volume from 30 June 2012 to 30 June 2022 for overseas-born.
Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

State and territory

Australia's population by country of birth is measured at 30 June each year. At the state and territory level, data is only available for Census years, with the most recent being for 2021.

The number and proportion of migrants nationally at 30 June 2021, had declined from one year earlier. This can be attributed to the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions on overseas migration.

The proportion of Australia's population born overseas nationally was 29.3% in 2021. However, this varied across the country.

In 2021, Western Australia had the highest proportion born overseas at 34% while Tasmania had the lowest at 16%.

Graph 2.1 Proportion of overseas-born by state and territory - largest to smallest(a)(b)(c)
	2001 (%)	2006 (%)	2011 (%)	2016 (%)	2021 (%)
WA	28.6	29.9	33.4	35	34.1
Vic.	24.5	26.3	28.7	30.7	31.7
NSW	24.8	26.5	28.3	30.1	31
ACT	22.9	23.6	26.1	28.2	29.8
SA	21.2	21.9	23.7	24.5	25.1
Qld	18	19.7	22.5	23.5	24.2
NT	16.1	15.7	18.9	22.6	23.9
Tas.	10.8	11.5	12.5	13.1	16.3

Graph 2.1 Proportion of overseas-born by state and territory - largest to smallest(a)(b)(c)

["","2001 (%)","2006 (%)","2011 (%)","2016 (%)","2021 (%)"]

[["WA","Vic.","NSW","ACT","SA","Qld","NT","Tas."],[[28.600000000000001],[24.5],[24.800000000000001],[22.899999999999999],[21.199999999999999],[18],[16.100000000000001],[10.800000000000001]],[[29.899999999999999],[26.300000000000001],[26.5],[23.600000000000001],[21.899999999999999],[19.699999999999999],[15.699999999999999],[11.5]],[[33.399999999999999],[28.699999999999999],[28.300000000000001],[26.100000000000001],[23.699999999999999],[22.5],[18.899999999999999],[12.5]],[[35],[30.699999999999999],[30.100000000000001],[28.199999999999999],[24.5],[23.5],[22.600000000000001],[13.1]],[[34.100000000000001],[31.699999999999999],[31],[29.800000000000001],[25.100000000000001],[24.199999999999999],[23.899999999999999],[16.300000000000001]]]

[]

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a. Country of birth is available at the state and territory level in Census years only.
b. Proportion that were born overseas of each state and territories total population.
c. States and territories sorted from largest to smallest proportion as at 30 June 2021.

The proportion of the population born overseas increased for most states and territories between 2016 and 2021:

Tasmania had the largest increase over the five-year period from 13.1% to 16.3%.
Western Australia however, was the only state or territory to record a decrease over this time, down from 35.0% to 34.1%.

Table 2.2 Australia's population by country of birth - state and territory 2021(a)
	Overseas-born		Australian-born		Total
	'000	%(b)	'000	%(b)	'000
NSW	2,510.26	31.0	5,586.80	69.0	8,097.06
Vic.	2,072.57	31.7	4,475.25	68.3	6,547.82
Qld	1,263.64	24.2	3,952.17	75.8	5,215.81
SA	452.41	25.1	1,350.19	74.9	1,802.60
WA	938.90	34.1	1,810.47	65.9	2,749.37
Tas.	92.32	16.3	474.92	83.7	567.24
NT	59.24	23.9	188.91	76.1	248.15
ACT	134.90	29.8	317.61	70.2	452.51
Aust.(c)	7,525.87	29.3	18,159.54	70.7	25,685.41

Country of birth is available at the state and territory level in Census years only.
Proportion of each state and territory's total population.
Includes Other Territories. See Classifications on the methodology page.

In 2021, those born in England, India, China and New Zealand were the largest groups of overseas-born at the national level. At the state and territory level, the ranking of countries differed from the national level and from each other.

Table 2.3 Largest overseas-born group for each state and territory - 2021(a)
	Country of birth	'000	%(b)
NSW	China(c)	261.33	3.2
Vic.	India	272.25	4.2
Qld	New Zealand	229.92	4.4
SA	England	98.77	5.5
WA	England	211.73	7.7
Tas.	England	20.42	3.6
NT	Philippines	7.32	3.0
ACT	India	17.51	3.9
Aust.(d)	England	973.95	3.8

Country of birth is available at the state and territory level in Census years only.
Proportion of each state and territory's total population.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
Includes Other Territories. See Classifications on the methodology page.

New South Wales

Graph 2.4 NSW - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
China(b)	92.42	190	261.33
England	248.44	248.6	240.53
India	39.26	109.1	219.23
New Zealand	117.96	128.83	128.46
Philippines	57.85	79.38	110.85
Vietnam	67.08	80.64	103.71
Nepal	1.64	17.31	69.22
Lebanon	59.81	66.45	68.78
Iraq	18.08	33.58	59.93
Korea, South	28.12	47.72	55.16

Victoria

Graph 2.5 Vic. - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021('000)
India	31.14	126.82	272.25
China(b)	38.86	112.75	182.14
England	180.31	184.62	181.44
New Zealand	60.61	89.27	108.64
Vietnam	59.49	76.23	99.35
Sri Lanka	29.86	50.45	72.1
Philippines	24.46	42.34	71.25
Italy	94.71	82.67	66.05
Malaysia	26.93	45.69	65.36
Greece	63.01	60.12	50.38

Queensland

Graph 2.6 Qld - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
New Zealand	137.05	215.62	229.92
England	158.16	194.84	201.75
India	7.24	34.93	76.87
China(b)	9.44	33.22	60.35
Philippines	16.56	33.1	54.35
South Africa	15.38	39.35	53.3
Vietnam	12.06	18.34	26.35
Scotland	22.45	25.48	24.52
USA	11.07	18.43	22.9
Germany	20.56	24.58	22.28

South Australia

Graph 2.7 SA - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
England	112.42	108.36	98.77
India	3.75	21.02	47.19
China(b)	3.82	19.34	27.47
Vietnam	10.89	13.41	18.15
Italy	25.83	22.06	17
Philippines	4.87	9.79	16.19
New Zealand	11.8	14.05	14.63
Scotland	15.72	14.29	12.18
Germany	13.76	12.84	9.93
Malaysia	4.5	8.04	9.51

Western Australia

Graph 2.8 WA - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
England	186.55	213.39	211.73
New Zealand	49.68	80.97	85.59
India	13.55	34.64	66.55
South Africa	16.99	39.8	49.3
Philippines	5.97	19.88	40.47
Malaysia	19.39	29.43	34.8
China(b)	5.71	20.52	31.22
Scotland	25.6	29.57	28.84
Vietnam	10.78	14.59	19.92
Ireland	9.72	17.05	19.91

Tasmania

Graph 2.9 Tas. - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
England	19.85	20.93	20.42
China(b)	0.5	2.33	7.44
India	0.59	1.66	6.53
Nepal	0.02	0.33	6.48
New Zealand	4.01	5.46	6.06
Philippines	0.86	1.41	2.59
Scotland	2.85	2.86	2.48
USA	1.1	1.72	2.34
Netherlands	2.95	2.77	2.29
South Africa	1.09	1.69	2.27

Northern Territory

Graph 2.10 NT - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
Philippines	2.13	4.43	7.32
India	0.59	2.39	5.86
England	6.62	6.35	5.79
New Zealand	4.11	4.84	4.84
Nepal	0.01	0.42	3.46
China(b)	0.41	1.13	1.98
Indonesia	0.95	1.27	1.69
Vietnam	0.66	0.82	1.59
USA	1.5	1.38	1.5
Sri Lanka	0.35	0.58	1.49

Australian Capital Territory

Graph 2.11 ACT - overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
India	1.93	6.5	17.51
England	15.24	13.79	13.41
China(b)	2.2	8.03	12.72
Nepal	0.06	0.31	5.69
New Zealand	4.36	4.79	5.46
Philippines	1.55	2.67	5.16
Vietnam	2.35	3.26	4.24
USA	2.17	2.76	3.67
Sri Lanka	1.66	2.58	3.41
Pakistan	0.33	1.24	3.05

Age and sex

There are differences in the age structure of the population born in Australia and that born overseas, with Australia's overseas born population tending to be older. The main reason for this is that most people migrate to Australia as adults and are less likely to migrate with young families. The largest five-year age groups among migrants are those in their thirties. This contrasts with the Australian-born population where children make up the largest five-year age groups.

In 2022 the highest proportions of the population for those born:

in Australia, were aged 0-4 years and 5-9 years (both 5.7%)
overseas, were aged 35-39 years (3.1%).

In 2012 the highest proportions of the population for those born:

in Australia, were aged 0-4 years (6.3%)
overseas, were aged 25-29 years and 30-34 years (both 2.4%).

Graph 3.1 Population structures for Australian-born and overseas-born - 2022(a)(b)
Age group (years)	Aust-born (Males)	OS-born (Males)	Aust-born (Females)	OS-born (Females)
0 - 4	2.9	0.1	2.8	0.1
5 - 9	2.9	0.3	2.8	0.3
10 - 14	2.8	0.4	2.7	0.4
15 - 19	2.5	0.5	2.4	0.5
20 - 24	2.4	0.8	2.3	0.8
25 - 29	2.4	1.2	2.3	1.2
30 - 34	2.3	1.4	2.2	1.5
35 - 39	2.1	1.5	2.1	1.6
40 - 44	1.9	1.3	2	1.3
45 - 49	2	1.1	2	1.1
50 - 54	2.1	1	2.2	1.1
55 - 59	1.9	1	1.9	1.1
60 - 64	1.9	0.9	1.9	1
65 - 69	1.6	0.8	1.7	0.9
70 - 74	1.3	0.8	1.4	0.8
75 - 79	1	0.6	1.1	0.6
80 - 84	0.6	0.4	0.7	0.4
85 - 89	0.3	0.2	0.5	0.3
90 - 94	0.1	0.1	0.3	0.1
95 - 99	0	0	0.1	0
100 +	0	0	0	0

 Graph 3.1 Population structures for Australian-born and overseas-born - 2022(a)(b)

["Age group (years)","Aust-born (Males)","OS-born (Males)","Aust-born (Females)","OS-born (Females)"]

[["0 - 4","5 - 9","10 - 14","15 - 19","20 - 24","25 - 29","30 - 34","35 - 39","40 - 44","45 - 49","50 - 54","55 - 59","60 - 64","65 - 69","70 - 74","75 - 79","80 - 84","85 - 89","90 - 94","95 - 99","100 +"],[[2.8999999999999999],[2.8999999999999999],[2.7999999999999998],[2.5],[2.3999999999999999],[2.3999999999999999],[2.2999999999999998],[2.1000000000000001],[1.8999999999999999],[2],[2.1000000000000001],[1.8999999999999999],[1.8999999999999999],[1.6000000000000001],[1.3],[1],[0.59999999999999998],[0.29999999999999999],[0.10000000000000001],[0],[0]],[[0.10000000000000001],[0.29999999999999999],[0.40000000000000002],[0.5],[0.80000000000000004],[1.2],[1.3999999999999999],[1.5],[1.3],[1.1000000000000001],[1],[1],[0.90000000000000002],[0.80000000000000004],[0.80000000000000004],[0.59999999999999998],[0.40000000000000002],[0.20000000000000001],[0.10000000000000001],[0],[0]],[[2.7999999999999998],[2.7999999999999998],[2.7000000000000002],[2.3999999999999999],[2.2999999999999998],[2.2999999999999998],[2.2000000000000002],[2.1000000000000001],[2],[2],[2.2000000000000002],[1.8999999999999999],[1.8999999999999999],[1.7],[1.3999999999999999],[1.1000000000000001],[0.69999999999999996],[0.5],[0.29999999999999999],[0.10000000000000001],[0]],[[0.10000000000000001],[0.29999999999999999],[0.40000000000000002],[0.5],[0.80000000000000004],[1.2],[1.5],[1.6000000000000001],[1.3],[1.1000000000000001],[1.1000000000000001],[1.1000000000000001],[1],[0.90000000000000002],[0.80000000000000004],[0.59999999999999998],[0.40000000000000002],[0.29999999999999999],[0.10000000000000001],[0],[0]]]

[]

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[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"Males (%)","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"4","tick_interval":"1","precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false},{"value":"1","axis_id":"1","axis_title":"Females (%)","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"4","tick_interval":"1","precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Australian-born and overseas-born persons as a proportion of Australia's total population as at 30 June 2022.
Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.

Median age and sex ratio

Comparing median age over time shows whether the age structure of a given population is changing. It is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger. It shows whether a population is ageing and how fast that change may be over time.

For the Australian-born population, the median age has gradually been increasing over time from 32 years in 2002 to 35 years in 2022.

In contrast, the median age of the overseas-born population has fluctuated over time from a median of 46 years in 2002 and a low of 44 years in 2019. In 2021, due to the impact of the pandemic and the decrease in younger people arriving into the country, such as international students, the median age of the overseas-born population increased to 45 years. In 2022, it remained at 45 years.

Table 3.2 Australia's overseas-born population - top 10 countries of birth by median age and sex ratio(a)
	Median age(c)			Sex ratio(d)
Country of birth(b)	2002	2012	2022	2002	2012	2022
England	52	53	59	102	104	104
India	40	32	36	117	125	118
China(e)	41	35	40	89	82	79
New Zealand	38	39	46	105	106	103
Philippines	39	39	41	54	64	65
Vietnam	38	44	48	95	86	78
South Africa	37	40	46	99	100	98
Malaysia	40	39	43	87	87	88
Italy	63	69	73	111	106	105
Nepal	28	28	29	203	139	124
All overseas-born	46	45	45	99	98	95
Australia-born (f)	32	33	35	98	99	100
Total population	36	37	38	99	99	99

Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Top 10 countries of birth for overseas-born residents in Australia as at 30 June 2022.
Median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.
Sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
2022 includes Norfolk Island.

Migrant populations from countries which were part of the post-second world war migration streams tend to be older. For example, the Greek-born population has a median age of 75 years and the Italian-born has a median age of 73 years. Those populations from birthplaces from more recent groups of migrant arrivals are younger. For example, the Nepalese-born population has a median age of 29 years, 6 years younger than for those born in Australia.

In 2022 (among those overseas-born populations of 100 or more), the group with the:

oldest median age was from Latvia, at 79 years
youngest median age - Qatar, at 15 years
highest sex ratio - Vanuatu, with 301 males per 100 females
lowest sex ratio - Thailand, with 44 males per 100 females.

International comparisons

In 2020, the United Nations estimated there were 280.6 million international migrants worldwide, 3.6% of the global population.

When comparing countries by the number of overseas-born in their respective populations, the USA was the highest with 50.6 million migrants. This made up 15.3% of their national population.

Germany followed with 15.8 million migrants (18.8% of their population) and then Saudi Arabia with 13.5 million migrants (38.6% of their population).

Australia ranked ninth with 7.7 million migrants (29.9% of the population in 2020).

Table 4.1 Overseas-born populations around the world - top 20 countries with migrants(a)
	2010	2010	2020	2020
	million	%(b)	million	%(b)
USA	44.18	14.3	50.63	15.3
Germany	9.81	12.1	15.76	18.8
Saudi Arabia	8.43	30.7	13.45	38.6
Russian Federation	11.19	7.8	11.64	8.0
United Kingdom(c)	7.12	11.2	9.36	13.8
United Arab Emirates	7.32	85.6	8.72	88.1
France	7.31	11.6	8.52	13.1
Canada	6.76	19.8	8.05	21.3
Australia(d)	5.88	26.7	7.67	29.9
Spain(e)	6.28	13.4	6.84	14.6
Italy	5.79	9.8	6.39	10.6
Türkiye	1.37	1.9	6.05	7.2
Ukraine	4.82	10.5	5.00	11.4
India	5.57	0.5	4.88	0.4
Kazakhstan	3.33	20.5	3.73	19.9
Thailand	3.23	4.8	3.63	5.2
Malaysia	2.42	8.6	3.48	10.7
Jordan	2.79	38.4	3.46	33.9
Pakistan	3.94	2.2	3.28	1.5
Kuwait	1.87	62.7	3.11	72.8
World	220.98	3.2	280.60	3.6

Top 10 countries are ranked based on their number of migrants in 2020.
Proportion of each country's population born-overseas.
Excludes Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
2020 includes Norfolk Island. Data is sourced from the ABS.
Includes Ceuta and Melilla.

Source: United Nations Population Division International Migration Stock 2020

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Data files

1. Estimated resident population, country of birth - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022
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2. Estimated resident population, country of birth, state/territory by reference period - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2021 - Census years
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3. Estimated resident population, country of birth, median age - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022
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4. Estimated resident population, country of birth, sex ratio - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022
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Data Explorer datasets

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For information on Data Explorer and how it works, see the Data Explorer user guide.

I-note for Data Explorer datasets

In Data Explorer, two datasets are available for Australia's Population by Country of Birth.

1. Estimated resident population, country of birth, age and sex — as at 30 June annually — 1996 onwards
2. Estimated resident population, country of birth, state/territory, age and sex — as at 30 June Census years only — 1996 onwards

Related ABS publications

National, state and territory population
- includes quarterly data on net overseas migration and net interstate migration estimates.

Regional population
- includes annual data on regional overseas migration and regional internal migration estimates.

Overseas arrivals and departures, Australia
- monthly statistics on all international travel arriving in and departing from Australia.

Overseas migration
- annual statistics on Australia's international immigration and emigration, by state and territory, country of birth, visa, age and sex.

Permanent migrants in Australia — 2021
- statistics about permanent migrants who arrived in Australia between 1 January 2000 and 10 August 2021.

Temporary visa holders in Australia — 2021
- statistics about selected types of temporary visa holders who were present in Australia on Census Night, 10 August 2021.

Migrant settlement outcomes — 2023
- statistics on selected economic and social outcomes of permanent migrants.

Personal income in Australia — migrant content
- Regional data on the number of income earners, amounts received, and the distribution of income for the 2015-16 to 2019-20 financial years.

Jobs in Australia — migrant content
- Information about the number and nature of filled jobs, the people who hold them and their employers.

Personal income of migrants, Australia — 2016-17
- statistics on personal income of migrants including employee income, own unincorporated business income, investment income and other income.

Migrant data matrices
- provides users with links to available summary data on migrants from a wide range of ABS surveys and outputs.

APA

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Australia's Population by Country of Birth

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Australia by country of birth

Countries where Australia's migrants were born

State and territory

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Age and sex

Median age and sex ratio

International comparisons

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1. Estimated resident population, country of birth - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022

2. Estimated resident population, country of birth, state/territory by reference period - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2021 - Census years

3. Estimated resident population, country of birth, median age - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022

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APA

Australia's Population by Country of Birth

APA

Key statistics

Rebased ERP

Impact of COVID-19

Australia by country of birth

Countries where Australia's migrants were born

State and territory

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory

Australian Capital Territory

​Age and sex

Median age and sex ratio

International comparisons

Data downloads

I-note for Excel data cubes

Excel data cubes

1. Estimated resident population, country of birth - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022

2. Estimated resident population, country of birth, state/territory by reference period - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2021 - Census years

3. Estimated resident population, country of birth, median age - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022

4. Estimated resident population, country of birth, sex ratio - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2022

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Australia’s overseas-born population grows to 29.5% in 2022

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