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Population Projections, Australia

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Population projections (based on assumptions of fertility, mortality and migration) for Australia, states and territories and capital cities

Reference period
2017 (base) - 2066
Released
22/11/2018

Key statistics

  • Australia's population in 2017 (24.6 million) is projected to reach between 37.4 and 49.2 million people by 2066.
  • The current average annual growth rate (1.7%) is projected to decline to between 0.9% and 1.4%.
  • The median age (37.2 years) is projected to increase to between 39.5 and 43.0 years.

These projections are not predictions or forecasts. They are an assessment of what would happen to Australia's population if assumed levels of the components of population change (births, deaths and migration) were to occur between 2018 and 2066. 

Users should assess the available assumptions and choose the combination that best suits their needs. 

Assumptions

Introduction

Summary

Projection series

Fertility

Mortality

Net overseas migration

Net interstate migration

National

Assumptions

Population size and change

Australia's population at 30 June 2017 of 24.6 million is projected to:

  • increase by an annual average of between 1.4% to 1.8% until June 2027
  • grow by an annual average of between 0.9% and 1.4% per year over the entire projection period
  • reach between 28.3 and 29.3 million people by 2027, and between 37.4 and 49.2 million people by 2066
     

An assumption of zero net overseas migration has been included to demonstrate the trajectory of Australia's future population relying entirely on natural increase.

Australia's population growth is comprised of natural increase (births minus deaths) and net overseas migration (migrant arrivals minus migrant departures). 

Natural increase

There were 307,800 births and 160,200 deaths during 2016-17, resulting in a natural increase of 147,600 people. 

  • The number of births is projected to increase to between 384,400 to 626,400 births per year by 2066. 
  • The number of deaths is projected to reach between 340,200 to 379,200 by 2066.
  • Natural increase is projected to be between 14,200 to 286,300 people in 2066.
     

Net overseas migration

In all series, overseas migrant arrivals are assumed to exceed departures, resulting in positive net overseas migration between 9.0 million to 13.5 million in total between 2027 and 2066. 

Population by age

States and territories

The high and medium series both project population growth for all states and territories between 2017 and 2066. The low series projects growth for all states and territories except Tasmania, which would decline from 2028. New South Wales is projected to remain as the largest state in all series, reaching over 9 million between 2025 and 2028. Victoria is projected to experience the largest and fastest increase in population over the projection period, increasing by between 60% to 130%.

By 2027: 

  • New South Wales is projected to reach between 8.9 and 9.3 million people
  • Victoria's population is projected to reach between 7.5 and 7.9 million people
  • Queensland is projected to reach between 5.7 and 5.9 million people
  • growth in Western Australia will be slower, reaching between 2.8 and 3.0 million
  • South Australia's population is projected to be between 1.8 and 1.9 million
  • Tasmania's population is projected to increase to between 544,900 and 573,300
  • the Northern Territory's population is projected to reach between 260,200 and 293,400
  • the population of Australian Capital Territory is projected to reach between 479,200 and 510,000 people, exceeding Tasmania's population by the year 2040
     

Projected population, 2066

 High series ('000)Medium series ('000)Low series ('000)
New South Wales14,79613,08811,754
Victoria14,52512,03010,091
Queensland10,4698,7187,507
South Australia2,4372,2142,040
Western Australia4,9264,7604,493
Tasmania744581453
Northern Territory386439490
Australian Capital Territory939775612
Australia(a)49,22642,60837,444

a. Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.

Capital cities

Melbourne is projected to be the largest city in Australia by 2066 with a projected population between 8.6 million and 12.2 million, surpassing Sydney between 2031 and 2057. 

At 30 June 2017, 67% of Australians lived in capital cities. This proportion is projected to increase to between 69% and 70% by 2027. All capital cities are projected to grow more than their respective rest of state or territory.

  • Sydney is projected to increase from 65% of the state's population in 2017 to between 67% and 68% in 2027.
  • Melbourne is projected to increase from 77% of Victoria in 2017 to 79% in 2027.
  • Brisbane is projected to increase from 49% of Queensland's population to 51% in 2027, becoming the majority part of Queensland's population. 
  • Adelaide is projected to grow from 77% in 2017 to between between 78% and 79% in 2027.
  • Perth is projected to grow from 79% to between 80% and 81%.
  • Hobart is projected to increase its share of Tasmania's population, from 44% in 2017 to 46% in 2027.
  • Darwin is projected to increase its share of the territory’s population by more than any other capital city, increasing from 60% in 2017 to between 63% and 64% in 2027.

New South Wales

Assumptions

Population size and change

New South Wales' population of 7.9 million is projected to:

  • grow by between 0.7% and 1.4% per year, slightly lower than the average annual growth rate projected for Australia
  • reach between 8.9 million and 9.4 million by 2027, and between 11.0 million and 15.6 million by 2066
     

Most of New South Wales growth is projected to occur in Greater Sydney. Sydney is projected to: 

  • increase from 65% of the state’s population in 2017 to 67-68% in 2027
  • have between 6.0 million and 6.4 million people by 2027
     

The rest of New South Wales is projected to have between 2.9 million and 3.0 million people by 2027.

  1. Results from low assumptions for fertility, mortality and overseas migration, with small interstate migration flows.
  2. Results from high assumptions for fertility, mortality and overseas migration, with large interstate migration flows. 
     

The largest projected population for New South Wales is obtained by combining small flows interstate migration assumption with the high assumption for other components. This is because New South Wales experiences negative interstate migration, so smaller flows leads to smaller migration loss. Conversely, the smallest projected population for New South Wales is obtained by combining large flows interstate migration assumption with the low assumption for other components.

Natural increase

  • In all series, births continue to exceed the number of deaths for New South Wales. 
  • Some series project higher numbers of deaths than births outside of Greater Sydney.
     

The declining natural increase in the medium and low assumption series is due to the lower migration assumptions rather than the lower fertility rate assumption. This is because the fertility rate is applied to a smaller population, resulting in less births.

Net overseas migration

  • In all series, net overseas migration is projected to decline the high recorded in 2017, returning net overseas migration to its long term average.
  • Greater Sydney is assumed to receive 86% of the state's net overseas migration.
     

Net interstate migration

In all series, the projected number of interstate departures exceeds interstate arrivals in New South Wales, resulting in a net interstate migration loss. 

Population by age

Victoria

Assumptions

Population size and change

Victoria's population of 6.3 million is projected to:

  • increase by between 1.0% and 1.7% per year, slightly higher than the average annual growth rate projected for Australia
  • reach a population of between 10.1 million and 14.5 million by 2066
     

Most of Victoria's growth is projected to occur in Greater Melbourne. Melbourne is projected to: 

  • increase from 77% of the state's population in 2017 to 79% in 2027
  • have between 5.9 million and 6.2 million by 2027
     

Projected growth rates for the rest of Victoria are smaller, with the population projected to have between 1.6 and 1.7 million by 2027.

Natural increase

  • In all three series, births will continue to exceed the number of deaths for Victoria.
  • All series project higher number of births than deaths in Melbourne, and higher number of deaths than births outside of Melbourne. 
     

Net overseas migration

  • In all series, arrivals exceed departures, resulting in positive net overseas migration with between 50,600 and 79,500 people added each year from 2027. 
  • Melbourne is assumed to receive around 92% of the state's net overseas migration.
     

Net interstate migration

  • In the high and medium series, interstate arrivals exceed departures, resulting in a net interstate migration gain between 7,000 and 18,000 people per year from 2027. 
  • The low series assumes a net interstate migration loss of 2,000 people per year from 2027. 
     

Population by age

Queensland

Assumptions

Population size and change

Queensland's population of 4.9 million is projected to:

  • increase by between 0.8% and 1.5% per year, slightly higher than the average annual growth rate projected for Australia
  • reach a population of between 7.5 million and 10.5 million by 2066
     

More of the projected growth occurs in Brisbane than in the rest of the state. Brisbane is projected to: 

  • increase from 49% of the state's population in 2017 to 51% in 2027
  • have between 2.9 million and 3.0 million by 2027
     

The rest of Queensland is projected to grow from 2.5 million to between 2.8 million and 2.9 million in 2027.

Natural increase

  • In all series, births will continue to exceed the number of deaths for Queensland.
  • All series project higher number of births than deaths in Brisbane.
  • Steady numbers of births, and increasing deaths may result in natural decrease in the rest of Queensland from 2042.
     

Net overseas migration

  • In all series, arrivals exceed departures, resulting in positive net overseas migration with between 29,100 to 45,700 people added each year from 2027. 
  • Brisbane is assumed to receive around 60% of the state's net overseas migration.
     

Net interstate migration

  • In all series, interstate arrivals exceed departures, resulting in a net interstate migration gain between 6,000 and 20,000 people per year from 2027. 
  • The proportion of Queensland's net interstate migration gain received by Brisbane is projected to decrease from 68% in 2017 to 45% in 2066.
     

Population by age

South Australia

Assumptions

Population size and change

South Australia's population of 1.7 million people is projected to:

  • increase by between 0.1% and 0.9% per year, a slower rate than that projected for all other states other than Tasmania
  • reach a population of between 1.8 million and 2.7 million people by 2066 
     

South Australia's growth is projected to be driven by growth in Adelaide. Adelaide is projected to increase from:

  • 77% of the state's population in 2017 to 80% by 2042 
  • 1.3 million people in 2017 to between 1.4 million and 1.5 million by 2027
     

The rest of South Australia is projected to have very low growth, with an increase from 389,500 people in 2017 to between 389,900 and 406,900 people in 2027. 

  1. Results from low assumptions for fertility, mortality and overseas migration, with small interstate migration flows.
  2. Results from high assumptions for fertility, mortality and overseas migration, with large interstate migration flows. 
     

The largest projected population for South Australia is obtained by combining small flows interstate migration assumption with the high assumption for other components. This is because South Australia experiences negative interstate migration, so smaller flows leads to smaller migration loss. Conversely, the smallest projected population for South Australia is obtained by combining large flows interstate migration assumption with the low assumption for other components.

Natural increase

Under the:

  • high series, natural increase is projected for South Australia for the whole period
  • low and medium series, deaths will exceed births in South Australia from 2035 (low) and 2047 (medium)
  • medium series, natural increase is projected for Adelaide over the whole period, natural decrease is projected for the rest of South Australia from 2026
     

Net overseas migration

  • Net overseas migration is assumed to increase to 15,700 people per year under the high series and decline to 10,000 people per year under the low series. 
  • Adelaide is assumed to receive 92% of the state’s net overseas migration. 
     

Net interstate migration

  • In all series, interstate departures will exceed interstate arrivals in South Australia, resulting in a net interstate migration loss. 
  • This loss is projected to be between 2,500 to 7,000 people per year from 2027. 
     

Population by age

Western Australia

Assumptions

Population size and change

Western Australia's population of 2.6 million is projected to:

  • increase by between 0.7% and 1.7% per year
  • reach a population of between 3.6 million and 5.9 million by 2066
     

More of the projected growth occurs in Perth than in the rest of the state. Perth is projected to increase from: 

  • 79% of the state's population in 2017 to between 80% and 81% in 2027
  • 2.0 million people in 2017 to between 2.3 million and 2.4 million by 2027
     

The rest of Western Australia is projected to grow from 536,400 people in 2017 to between 588,200 and 538,100 in 2027. 

  1. Results from low assumptions for fertility, mortality and overseas migration, with small interstate migration flows.
  2. Results from high assumptions for fertility, mortality and overseas migration, with large interstate migration flows. 
     

The largest projected population for Western Australia is obtained by combining small flows interstate migration assumption with the high assumption for other components. This is because Western Australia experiences negative interstate migration, so smaller flows leads to smaller migration loss. Conversely, the smallest projected population for Western Australia is obtained by combining large flows interstate migration assumption with the low assumption for other components.

Natural increase

  • In all series, births will continue to exceed the number of deaths for Western Australia.
  • All series project higher number of births than deaths in Perth.
  • Under low assumptions, steady numbers of births and increasing deaths result in natural decrease in the rest of Western Australia from 2052.
     

Net overseas migration

  • In all series, net overseas migration for Western Australia is projected to increase from the low recorded in 2017 to its long term average. 
  • Overseas arrivals will exceed overseas departures in all series, resulting in positive net overseas migration between 23,3000 to 36,600 people in 2066. 
  • Perth is assumed to receive around 90% of the state's net overseas migration.
     

Net interstate migration

  • Under high assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to result in a loss of 10,000 people from 2027.
  • Under medium and low assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to gain between 500 to 7,000 people from 2027. 
     

Population by age

Tasmania

Assumptions

Population size and change

Tasmania's population of 522,300 people is projected to:

  • increase to 744,500 and 580,500 respectively in 2066 under high and medium series
  • decline to 452,700 by 2066 under low assumptions
     

Hobart is projected to grow in each series from:

  • 44% of the state's population in 2017 to 46% in 2027
  • 229,100 people in 2017 to between 250,700 and 264,600 people in 2027
     

Population growth for the rest of Tasmania is smaller, with both medium and low assumptions projecting population decline.

Natural increase

  • Under medium and low assumptions, the number of deaths will exceed births, leading to natural decrease for Tasmania. 
  • Under high assumptions, Hobart experiences natural increase but medium and low projections assume natural decrease from 2048 and 2034 respectively. 
  • In the rest of Tasmania, natural decrease is projected from between 2023 (low series) to 2032 (high series). 
     

Net overseas migration

  • In the three selected series, net overseas migration is projected to decline from the high recorded in 2017 to its longer term average. 
  • Overseas arrivals will exceed overseas departures in all series, resulting in positive net overseas migration between 1,400 to 2,200 people per year from 2027. 
  • Hobart is assumed to receive around 60% of the state's net overseas migration.
     

Net interstate migration

  • Under high and low assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to result in a gain and loss of 1,500 people respectively from 2027.
  • Under medium assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to be zero (arrivals equal departures). 
     

Population by age

Northern Territory

Assumptions

Population size and change

The Northern Territory's population of 247,700 people is projected to:

  • increase between 0.2% and 1.9% per year
  • reach a population between 275,100 and 622,000 by 2066 
     

Most of the Northern Territory's growth is projected to occur in Darwin. Darwin is projected to increase from:

  • 60% of the territory's population in 2017 to between 63% and 64% in 2027
  • 148,900 people in 2017 to between 164,500 and 187,000 by 2027 
     

Population growth for the rest of the Northern Territory is smaller, with some series projecting population decline.

The largest projected population for the Northern Territory is obtained by combining small flows interstate migration assumption with the high assumption for other components. This is because the Northern Territory experiences negative interstate migration, so smaller flows leads to smaller migration loss. Conversely, the smallest projected population for the Northern Territory is obtained by combining large flows interstate migration assumption with the low assumption for other components.

Natural increase

  • In the three selected series, the number of births will continue to exceed deaths, resulting in natural increase for the Northern Territory. 
  • Increasing numbers of births in Darwin leads natural increase to grow in all series.
  • In the rest of the Northern Territory, the level of natural increase declines in all three series.
     

Net overseas migration

  • In all series, overseas arrivals will exceed departures resulting in positive net overseas migration from 2,500 to 1,600 people per year. 
  • Darwin is assumed to receive 76% of the territory's net overseas migration. 
     

Net interstate migration

  • Under medium and high assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to result in a loss of 1,000 to 3,000 people from 2027. 
  • Under low assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to gain 1,000 people from 2027.
     

Population by age

Australian Capital Territory

Assumptions

Population size and change

The Australian Capital Territory’s population of 412,000 people is projected to:

  • increase between 0.8% and 1.7% per year 
  • reach between 479,200 and 510,000 by 2066
     

Natural increase

In the three selected series, births will continue to exceed the number of deaths during the projection period, resulting in natural increase for the Australian Capital Territory. 

Net overseas migration

  • The three selected series project a decline in net overseas migration from the recent high in 2017, returning to longer term averages.
  • Overseas arrivals will exceed overseas departures in all series, resulting in positive net overseas migration gain of between 2,500 and 3,900 people. 
     

Net interstate migration

  • Under medium and high assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to result in a gain of 500 to 1,500 people per year from 2027. 
  • Under low assumptions, net interstate migration is projected to result in a loss of 1,000 people per year from 2027.
     

Population by age

Data downloads - time series spreadsheets

I-note

Table A1. Population projections, by age and sex, New South Wales - high series

Table A2. Population projections, by age and sex, Victoria - high series

Table A3. Population projections, by age and sex, Queensland - high series

Table A4. Population projections, by age and sex, South Australia - high series

Table A5. Population projections, by age and sex, Western Australia - high series

Table A6. Population projections, by age and sex, Tasmania - high series

Table A7. Population projections, by age and sex, Northern Territory - high series

Table A8. Population projections, by age and sex, Australian Capital Territory - high series

Table A9. Population projections, by age and sex, Australia - high series

Table B1. Population projections, by age and sex, New South Wales - medium series

Table B2. Population projections, by age and sex, Victoria - medium series

Table B3. Population projections, by age and sex, Queensland - medium series

Table B4. Population projections, by age and sex, South Australia - medium series

Table B5. Population projections, by age and sex, Western Australia - medium series

Table B6. Population projections, by age and sex, Tasmania - medium series

Table B7. Population projections, by age and sex, Northern Territory - medium series

Table B8. Population projections, by age and sex, Australian Capital Territory - medium series

Table B9. Population projections, by age and sex, Australia - medium series

Table C1. Population projections, by age and sex, New South Wales - low series

Table C2. Population projections, by age and sex, Victoria - low series

Table C3. Population projections, by age and sex, Queensland - low series

Table C4. Population projections, by age and sex, South Australia - low series

Table C5. Population projections, by age and sex, Western Australia - low series

Table C6. Population projections, by age and sex, Tasmania - low series

Table C7. Population projections, by age and sex, Northern Territory - low series

Table C8. Population projections, by age and sex, Australian Capital Territory - low series

Table C9. Population projections, by age and sex, Australia - low series

All data cubes

Data downloads - data cubes

Projected population, components of change and summary statistics - Australia, state/territory, greater capital city and rest of state, 2017 (base) to 2066

Projection assumptions (detailed)

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3222.0.
 

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