Historical population

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Demographic data going back as far as data is available

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Reference period
2021

Key statistics

  • Australia's population has increased from 3.8 million in 1901 to 25.7 million in 2021.
  • The urban population has increased from 58% of the total population in 1911 to 90% in 2021.
  • Fertility has decreased from 3.1 births per woman in 1921 to 1.7 in 2021.
  • Life expectancy at birth has increased by 26 years since the early 1900s.

Population size and growth

Since 1901, Australia's population has substantially increased both nationally and at the state and territory level.

  • Australia’s 2021 population is 6.8 times larger than in 1901, increasing from 3.8 to 25.7 million.
  • The national population has grown every year, excluding WWI, since 1901.
  • The highest net population growth occurred in 2009.
  • Excluding 2021, population growth from migration has exceeded natural increase since 2006.
  1. Data for 1971 was not included in this graph due to a conceptual break in series with the introduction of the Estimated Resident Population and the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in official population counts.

Population age and sex structure

Australia's population has aged considerably, but at varying rates, since Federation. 

  • Australia's median age has increased from 22.5 in 1901 to 38.4 in 2021. 
  • The population aged between 1901 and 1944, and 1971 and 2021.
  • Nationally, females have outnumbered males since 1978.
  • Since 1901, the 5-9 years age group has had the greatest decline as a proportion of the total population. The 60-64 age group has had the greatest increase.
  • The ratio of the combined under-15 and over-65 year old populations to the 15-64 year old population (total dependency ratio) has shifted from its highest value, 0.64, in 1901 to 0.55 in 2021. The lowest ratio was 0.46 in 1943. Higher total dependency ratios represent a larger population of dependants compared to the working age population than lower ratios.

Population distribution

The majority of the population of Australia was urbanised in 1911. The proportion of the population living in urban areas has continued to increase since. 

  • Since 1954, the majority of Australia's population has resided in Capital cities.
  • Australia's population was 57.5% urban in 1911 and 90.3% in 2021. 
  • Urbanisation increased at a rate three times higher in the first half of the 20th century than the second.
  • In 2018, the Significant Urban Area population of Melbourne overtook Sydney's. Sydney continues to have the largest Greater Capital City Statistical area population.

Fertility

Australians are starting families later and having fewer children than in the past.

  • Australia's fertility rate was highest in 1961, at 3.5 births per woman.
  • The average age of first-time mothers increased from 23.6 in 1975 to 30.5 in 2020.
  • Between 1935 and 1946, the total fertility rate increased from 2.1 to 3.0, with age-specific fertility rates having increased for mothers aged under 45.
  • The 1946 to 1961 baby boom resulted from a large increase in births to mothers aged under 30.
  • Fertility rates for mothers aged under 30 have declined most years since the 1970s.
  • Fertility rates for mothers aged over 30 increased substantially between 1979 and 2008 before levelling off.
  1. Births per 1,000 females in age group.
  2. Births to mothers aged under 15 are grouped into the 15-19 age category.
  3. Births to mothers aged over 49 are grouped into the 45-49 age category.

Life expectancy

Australians are living longer and are more likely to live to very old ages.

  • Life expectancy at birth increased from 58.8 to 85.4 years for females and 55.2 to 81.3 years for males between the start of the 20th century and 2021. 
  • Females have had consistently longer life expectancies than males throughout the last 120 years.
  • Males are 1.8 and females 1.7 times more likely to reach their 65th birthday in 2021 than in 1901. 
  • Males are 143 and females 82 times more likely to reach their 100th birthday in 2021 than in 1901 .
  • Infant mortality has decreased from 10.4% of infants dying in their first year of life in 1901 to 0.3% in 2021.
  1. The life expectancy for the year 1910 refers to the period 1901-1910. Between 1922 and 1967, and 1995 and 2021, life expectancy was calculated as an average of the reference year and the two years prior. 

 

Proportion of population living until select exact ages(a), 1901-1910 and 2019-2021
 Male(%)Female(%)
Age1901-19102019-20211901-19102019-2021
190.4999.6492.0599.71
587.5999.5889.2999.66
1885.0799.3986.9899.54
5068.2295.9471.9497.72
6548.6788.6456.2593.26
901.6528.813.5742.39
1000.012.120.064.61
  1. Proportions are calculated from life table qx values.

Migration

Yearly migration to Australia has increased over time, albeit at varying rates, whilst migration rates per 1000 usual residents have fluctuated over time.

  • Yearly net overseas migration has increased from 76,000 in 1972 to 241,000 in 2019.
  • The rate of yearly net overseas migration has changed from 5.7 migrants per 1,000 usual residents in 1972 to 9.5 in 2019. The highest rate since 1972 was 13.8 in 2009. The lowest was -3.3 in 2021.
  • 23,000 short-term international visitors travelled to Australia in 1925. This increased to 9.5 million in 2019. 
  • The yearly rate of international short-term visitors increased from 3.9 to 371 per 1,000 usual residents between 1925 and 2019.
  1. Excludes Australia.

Overseas-born population

The country of birth of Australian residents born overseas has become more diverse since Federation.

  • The overseas-born proportion of the population has increased from 23% in 1901 to its highest proportion of 29% in 2021. The lowest proportion was 10% in 1947.
  • British- and Irish-born Australian residents have comprised between 73% (1961) and 95% (1933) of residents born in North-West Europe.
  • New Zealander-born Australian residents have comprised between 70% (1901) and 92% (1933) of residents born in Oceania but outside Australia.
  • Combined, Italian- and Greek-born Australian residents have comprised 40%-60% of residents born in Southern and Eastern Europe.
  • Chinese-born Australian residents have comprised between 38% and 87% of residents born in North-East Asia. This proportion decreased throughout the second half of the 20th century before increasing again in the 21st.
  • Indian-born Australian residents have comprised between 49% and over 90% of residents born in Southern and Central Asia. This proportion has declined since 1901. 

Interstate migration

Interstate migration has increased in line with the national population. Queensland experiences the highest net gain, and NSW the highest net loss from internal migration.

  • Total interstate movements have increased from 240,000 in 1972 to 480,000 in 2019.
  • The rate of yearly interstate movements per 1,000 usual residents has changed from 18.0 movements in 1972 to 18.7 in 2019. The highest rate was 21.4 in 1989. The lowest was 13.2 in 2020.
  • Between 1972 and 2021, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory have lost population through interstate migration. Queensland, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory have gained population through interstate migration.

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Methodology

Historical population methodology, 2021