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Regional population

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Statistics about the population for Australia's capital cities and regions

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Reference period
2021
Released
26/07/2022
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Key statistics

  • People living in the capitals increased by 2.5 million (17%) between 2011 and 2021.
  • Melbourne had the largest increase (806,800), Darwin grew the least (19,700).
  • Canberra had the highest growth rate (23%), Adelaide had the lowest (11%).
  • Regional Australia grew by 832,000 (11%).

On 31 August 2023, additional datasets containing final rebased population estimates for 2017 to 2021, based on the 2021 Census were added to this issue. These estimates supersede all estimates from June 2016. Commentary in this product has not been updated with final rebased data.

Any reference to population refers to Estimated Resident Population (ERP).

Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to area refers to Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2). 

Capital cities

Population change

  • Between 2011 and 2021, Melbourne had the largest growth (up by 806,800 people), followed by Sydney (650,800) and Brisbane (421,500).
  • Canberra had the highest growth rate (23%), followed by Brisbane and Perth (both 20%).
Population by capital city
 ERP at 30 June 20212011-21 (no.)2011-21 (%)
Sydney5,259,764650,81514.1
Melbourne4,976,157806,79119.4
Brisbane2,568,927421,49119.6
Adelaide1,402,393138,30210.9
Perth2,192,229358,66219.6
Hobart251,04734,77416.1
Darwin148,80119,69515.3
Canberra453,55885,57323.3
Total capital cities17,252,8762,516,10317.1

Regions

The areas with the largest growth between 2011 and 2021 were:

  • Wollert (up by 24,200 people) in Melbourne's outer north
  • Schofields - East (22,900) in Sydney's outer north-west
  • Mickleham - Yuroke (22,200) also in Melbourne's outer north

The areas with the highest growth rates were:

  • Mickleham - Yuroke (up by 1,400%)
  • Schofields - East (960%)
  • North Kellyville (880%) in Sydney's outer north-west

Outside of the capital cities: 

  • Coomera (up by 11,500 people) on Queensland's Gold Coast had the largest growth 
  • Pimpama - North, also on the Gold Coast, had the highest growth rate (600%)
Areas with the largest growth
SA2SA4ERP at 30 June 20212011-21 (no.)
WollertMelbourne - North East24,76224,234
Schofields - EastSydney - Blacktown25,31422,933
Mickleham - YurokeMelbourne - North West23,73122,152
Wentworth Point - Sydney Olympic ParkSydney - Parramatta20,65317,690
Oran ParkSydney - South West17,75917,555
Areas with the highest growth rates
SA2(a)SA4ERP at 30 June 20212011-21 (%)
Mickleham - YurokeMelbourne - North West23,7311,402.9
Schofields - EastSydney - Blacktown25,314963.2
North KellyvilleSydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury17,486878.5
Denham Court - BardiaSydney - Outer South West14,958805.4
Jordan Springs - LlandiloSydney - Outer West and Blue Mountains13,481714.6
  1. Excludes SA2s with less than 1,000 people at June 2011.

The areas with the largest and fastest declines were:

  • Mount Isa (down by 2,700 people) in Queensland's north-west
  • Ashburton (-2,400) in Western Australia's north-west
  • South Australia's Outback (down by 40%)

Centre of population

Population density

Population grid

New South Wales

Population change

Greater Sydney increased by 650,800 people (14%) between 2011 and 2021, the rest of the state increased by 224,500 (8.6%).

The areas with the largest growth were:

  • Schofields - East (up by 22,900 people) in Sydney's outer north-west
  • Wentworth Point - Sydney Olympic Park (17,700) in Sydney's west
  • Oran Park (17,600) in Sydney's outer south-west

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Schofields - East (up by 960%)
  • North Kellyville (880%) in Sydney's outer north-west
  • Denham Court - Bardia (810%) in Sydney's outer south-west

Centre of population

Population density

Victoria

Population change

Greater Melbourne increased by 806,800 people (19%) between 2011 and 2021, the rest of the state increased by 203,400 (15%).

The areas with the largest growth were:

  • Wollert (up by 24,200 people) and Mickleham - Yuroke (22,200), both in Melbourne's outer north
  • Cranbourne East - North (16,400) in Melbourne's outer south-east

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Mickleham - Yuroke (up by 1,400%)
  • Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (540%) in Melbourne's outer west
  • Charlemont (450%), a suburb of Geelong

Centre of population

Population density

Queensland

Population change

Greater Brisbane increased by 421,500 people (20%) between 2011 and 2021, the rest of the state increased by 319,400 (14%).

The areas with the largest growth were:

  • Springfield Lakes (up by 13,500 people), a suburb of Ipswich
  • Coomera on the Gold Coast and Murrumba Downs - Griffin in Moreton Bay (both up 11,500)

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Pimpama - North (up by 600%) on the Gold Coast
  • Ripley (350%), a suburb of Ipswich
  • Dakabin (260%) in Moreton Bay

Centre of population

Population density

South Australia

Population change

Greater Adelaide increased by 138,300 people (11%) between 2011 and 2021, the rest of the state increased by 25,300 (6.7%).

The areas with the largest growth were:

  • Munno Para West - Angle Vale (up by 8,600 people) on the northern outskirts of Adelaide
  • Mount Barker (7,200) in the Adelaide Hills
  • Northgate - Northfield (6,600) in Adelaide's north-east

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Munno Para West - Angle Vale (up by 110%)
  • Northgate - Northfield (56%)
  • Virginia - Waterloo Corner (49%) in Adelaide's north

Centre of population

​​​​​​​Population density

Western Australia

Population change

Greater Perth increased by 358,700 people (20%) between 2011 and 2021, the rest of the state increased by 37,800 (7.3%).

The areas with the largest growth were:

  • Baldivis - South (up by 14,800 people) in Perth's outer south-west
  • Alkimos - Eglinton (14,400) in Perth's outer north-west
  • Piara Waters - Forrestdale (12,900) in Perth's south-east

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Piara Waters - Forrestdale (up by 340%)
  • Brabham - Henley Brook (320%) in Perth's north-east
  • Harrisdale (210%) in Perth's south-east

Centre of population

Population density

Tasmania

Population change

Greater Hobart increased by 34,800 people (16%) between 2011 and 2021, the rest of the state increased by 21,700 (7.3%).

The areas with the largest growth were:

  • Kingston - Huntingfield (up by 2,800 people) in Hobart's south
  • Rokeby (2,500) on the eastern shore of the Derwent River
  • Sorell - Richmond (2,300) in Hobart's north-east

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Rokeby (up by 45%)
  • Brighton - Pontville (35%) on Hobart's northern fringe
  • Old Beach - Otago (33%) in Hobart's north

Centre of population

Population density

Northern Territory

Population change

Greater Darwin increased by 19,700 people (15%) between 2011 and 2021, while the rest of the territory declined by 1,800 (-1.7%).

The areas with the largest growth were:

  • Palmerston - South (up by 6,800 people) in Darwin's south-east
  • Lyons (4,200) on the northern fringe of Darwin
  • Rosebery - Bellamack (3,100), also in Darwin's south-east

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Lyons (up by 190%)
  • Rosebery - Bellamack (78%)
  • Darwin City (52%)

Centre of population

Population density

Australian Capital Territory

Population change

The number of people living in the Australian Capital Territory increased by 85,600 (23%) between 2011 and 2021.

The areas with the largest growth were all on Canberra's northern outskirts:

  • Bonner (up by 5,900 people)
  • Moncrieff (5,300)
  • Casey (5,000)

The areas with the highest growth rates were: 

  • Bonner (up by 410%)
  • Casey (340%)
  • Greenway (180%) in Canberra's south

Centre of population

Population density

Interactive maps

Population change by SA2 and LGA, 2011-2021

Population grid, 2016-2021

Data downloads

Download all (3.25 MB)

Data cubes

Data files

GeoPackages

Data files

Population grid files

Data files

Data Explorer datasets

Caution: Data Explorer can be problematic when trying to view and manipulate large datasets, such as SA2-based or LGA geographies released in this product. Please use the Excel data cubes provided above for these datasets. 

Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.

Population estimates by SA2 and above (ASGS 2021), 2001 to 2021
Population estimates by LGA (ASGS 2021), 2001 to 2021
Population estimates by SA2 and above (ASGS 2016), 2001 to 2021

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

Post-release changes

31/08/2023 - Four additional data cubes containing final rebased population estimates for 2017 to 2021 have been added, and all Data Explorer datasets have been updated with final estimates. These estimates supersede all previously released estimates. 

02/11/2022 - Additional population grid files and an interactive map of the population grid from 2016 to 2021 have been added.

03/08/2022 - As advertised in this publication on 26 July 2022, this additional release contains interactive maps of population change 2011-21.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3218.0.

Methodology

Regional population methodology, 2021

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