Australia's population by country of birth

Latest release

Statistics on Australia's estimated resident population by country of birth

Reference period
Jun 2025
Release date and time
29/04/2026 11:30am AEST

Key statistics

  • At 30 June 2025, Australia’s population included 8.8 million people who were born overseas.
  • The proportion of Australia's population born outside Australia was 32.0%.
  • India, England, China, and New Zealand were the countries of birth with the largest populations.
  • Those born in India recorded the largest increase since 2015.

The data presented in this release are population counts as at 30 June for the years specified. Most data in this release have been rounded. As a result, sums of components may not add to totals.

Australia's population by country of birth

As at 30 June 2025, Australia's estimated resident population was 27.6 million people, comprising 18.8 million people born in Australia and 8.8 million people born overseas. 

  • Australia's overseas-born population increased by 258,000 people in 2024-25.
  • The proportion of overseas-born increased to 32.0% in 2025, up from 31.5% in 2024.
  1. Prior to 1992 based on Census counts. Data for 1992 to 2025 uses estimated resident population.
  2. Population estimates for 2025 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.

Source prior to 1992: Historical population publication

Generally, more people migrate to Australia than migrate away. This net flow of migrants contributes to the growth of Australia’s population. On average, the overseas-born population has been growing at a faster rate than the Australian-born population, since the beginning of post-World War II migration. Over the past 20 years, since 2005, Australia’s overseas-born population has grown at an average rate of 3.0% per year. In contrast, the Australia-born population has grown annually by an average of 1.0% over the same period. As a result of these different growth rates, the proportion of Australia’s population born overseas has increased from 24.2% in 2005, to 32.0% in 2025.

According to the earliest population records that contain country of birth, in 1891, 32% of the population was born overseas. This reflects high levels of immigration in the late 19th century. The proportion fell to a low of 10% in 1947 due to decreased migration during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. The proportion then rose rapidly as a result of high levels of post-war migration. From 1971 to 2020, there was a more steady increase in the proportion of Australia’s population born overseas. 

In 2021, the proportion of Australia's population born overseas declined. This is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions and the resulting impact on overseas migration both to and from Australia. These travel restrictions were removed in 2022, and there was a subsequent increase in overseas migration into and out of Australia, most notably by people born overseas migrating to Australia. The proportion of people born overseas has increased each year since, reaching 32.0% in 2025, up from 29.5% in 2022. In 2023, this percentage exceeded 30% for the first time since 1893.

Countries where Australia's population was born

Over time, waves of migrants from different countries have arrived in Australia, influencing the diversity of Australia's population. In 2025, nearly every country from around the world was represented in the birthplaces of Australia's population.

As at 30 June 2025, the 4 most common countries of birth made up over one third of Australians who were born overseas.

  • Those born in India (971,020) were the largest group born overseas for the first time on record, after a continued increase over the last 4 years.
  • Those born in England (970,950) made up the second largest group. This is the second year in a row that this population has had an annual increase, after more than 10 years of decline. It had been steadily decreasing from a peak of just over 1 million in 2013.
  • The third largest group was those born in China (732,000). This is an increase of 32,000 from 2024, when the Chinese-born population had surpassed its previous peak of 661,000 (2019).
  • Those born in New Zealand (638,000) were the fourth largest population, increasing from 618,000 people in 2024.

Australia’s estimated resident population at 30 June 2025 included 18.8 million people born in Australia; an increase of 161,000 since June 2024. This change was comprised of 177,000 people being added to the population from natural increase (births minus Australian-born deaths) and 16,000 being subtracted due to net overseas migration (Australian-born arrivals minus Australian-born departures).

Estimated resident population by country of birth(a)(b)
Country of birth(b)2015201520252025
'000%(c)'000%(c)
India449.041.9971.023.5
England1006.544.2970.953.5
China(d)508.872.1731.542.6
New Zealand575.432.4637.682.3
Philippines241.131.0412.531.5
Vietnam235.591.0326.631.2
South Africa177.390.7229.950.8
Nepal50.150.2213.580.8
Sri Lanka119.700.5184.800.7
Malaysia143.420.6184.320.7
Total overseas-born6729.7328.38833.7132.0
Australian-born17086.2771.718779.9568.0
Total population23816.00100.027613.65100.0
  1. Population estimates for 2025 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
  2. Top 10 countries of birth for Australia’s estimated resident population as at 30 June 2025 (excludes Australia).
  3. Proportion of Australia’s total population.
  4. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
  1. Population estimates for 2025 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
  2. Top 10 countries of birth for Australia’s estimated resident population as at 30 June 2025 (excludes Australia).
  3. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

The countries of birth (excluding Australia) with the largest increases in Australia’s population between 2015 and 2025 were:

  • India, with an increase of 522,000 people
  • China, with 223,000
  • The Philippines, with 171,000
  • Nepal, with 163,000.

The top 4 countries of birth with the largest decreases in Australia’s population between 2015 and 2025 were all European countries. The largest decreases occurred for people born in:

  • Italy, with a decrease of 46,000 people
  • England, with 36,000
  • Greece, with 29,000
  • Germany, with 18,000.

In 2025, these countries of birth all had a median age of 60 or over, reflecting high levels of migration from these countries in the years following World War II. In 2024, Italy dropped out of Australia’s top 10 countries of birth for the first time since 1901.

State and territory

Australia's population by country of birth is measured at 30 June each year. Data is only available at the state and territory level for census years, most recently 2021. 

The proportion of Australia's population born overseas nationally was 29.3% as at 30 June 2021. However, this varied across the country.

In 2021, Western Australia had the highest proportion of people born overseas at 34.1% and Tasmania had the lowest at 16.3%.

Overview

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

Northern Territory

Australian Capital Territory

​Age and sex

The age structures of the population born in Australia and those born overseas are inherently different, with the population born overseas tending to be older. This structure is influenced by many factors including that most people migrate to Australia as adults, and that when migrants have their children in Australia their children are included in the proportion born in Australia.

As at 30 June 2025, the age groups with the largest populations for:

  • People born in Australia were 0-4, 5-9 and 10-14 year olds (all 5.3% of the total population)
  • People born overseas were 35-39 year olds (3.2%) and 30-34 year olds (3.1%).

Ten years earlier, in 2015, the most highly populated age group for:

  • People born in Australia was 0-4 year olds (6.2% of the total population)
  • People born overseas was 30-34 year olds (2.7%).
  1. Population estimates for 2025 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
  2. Australian-born and overseas-born persons as a proportion of Australia's total population as at 30 June 2025.

Median age and sex ratio

Median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger, and provides an indication of the overall age of the population. Comparing median age over time can identify whether a population is ageing and how fast the change is occurring.

The median age for the Australian-born population has gradually been increasing over time, from 33 years in 2005 to 35 years as at 30 June 2025.

In contrast, the median age of those born overseas has fluctuated over time, peaking at a median of 46 years in 2002 and decreasing to 44 years in 2019. In 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the decrease in younger people (such as international students) migrating to Australia, the median age of the overseas-born population increased to 45 years. In 2023 it decreased to 43 years, after the re-opening of international borders in 2022 and the associated increase in migrant arrivals. It remained at 43 years for 2024 and 2025.

Migrant populations from many countries that were part of the post-World War II migration streams have a high median age, with fewer people now migrating from these countries. At 30 June 2025, Australians born in Greece had a median age of 77 years and those born in Italy had a median age of 74 years. In contrast, the more recently arrived Nepalese-born population had a median age of 30 years in 2025.

Estimated resident population by country of birth - median age and sex ratio(a)(b)
Country of birth(b) Median age(c)  Sex ratio(d)
200520152025 200520152025
India37.033.036.1 123.6119.6115.2
England52.854.559.8 102.3103.7103.5
China(e)39.934.639.9 85.380.081.0
New Zealand38.840.545.5 104.9104.1103.6
Philippines39.939.140.1 55.964.970.7
Vietnam40.144.747.7 92.883.277.9
South Africa37.541.646.0 99.099.298.5
Nepal28.928.429.6 171.5125.5117.4
Sri Lanka42.741.240.5 104.2105.9107.0
Malaysia39.139.443.8 86.489.085.9
Total overseas-born46.444.343.0 98.496.695.7
Australian-born32.633.635.0 98.799.5100.0
Total36.537.338.4 98.698.798.6
  1. Population estimates for 2025 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
  2. Top 10 countries of birth for Australia’s estimated resident population as at 30 June 2025 (excludes Australia).
  3. Median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.
  4. Sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females.
  5. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

As at 30 June 2025 (for countries of birth with a resident population of at least 1000), the group with the:

  • highest median age was from Latvia, at 80 years
  • lowest median age was Qatar, at 15 years
  • highest sex ratio was Vanuatu, with 271 males per 100 females
  • lowest sex ratio was Thailand, with 43 males per 100 females.

International comparisons

In 2024, the United Nations estimated there were 304 million people worldwide residing outside their country of birth, making up 3.7% of the global population.

The USA had more international migrants in its population than any other country, with 52.4 million. This group made up 15.2% of its total population.

Germany was the second highest with 16.8 million people born in a different country (19.8% of its population), followed by Saudi Arabia with 13.7 million (40.3% of its population).

Australia ranked eighth with 8.6 million people (31.5% of its population in 2024).

Migrant populations around the world(a) - count and proportion born overseas
Country of residence(a)2015201520242024
Million%Million%
USA47.9414.752.3815.2
Germany12.6515.416.7519.8
Saudi Arabia13.2544.213.6840.3
United Kingdom(b)9.0713.911.8517.1
France7.9812.39.1913.8
Spain(c)5.8912.68.8718.5
Canada8.0522.48.8122.2
Australia(d)6.7328.38.5831.5
United Arab Emirates6.8679.18.1674.0
Russian Federation9.106.37.615.3
Türkiye3.754.77.088.1
Italy5.519.16.5511.0
Jordan4.39465.2845.7
Ukraine4.9210.75.0613.4
India5.250.44.800.3
Pakistan3.511.64.181.7
Iran2.733.33.844.2
Malaysia3.5111.23.8110.7
Japan2.582.03.412.8
Kuwait2.6168.13.3267.3
World250.043.3304.023.7
  1. Top 20 countries based on 2024 data, with highest number of people born outside their country of residence.
  2. Excludes Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
  3. Includes Ceuta and Melilla.
  4. Data is sourced from the ABS.

 Source: United Nations Population Division International Migration Stock 2024

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