Annual change in population in Australia
Australia: Annual change in population was 250,139 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
250,139 people
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
60th
of 236 countries
All-time high
416,050 people
in 2008
All-time low
152,770 people
in 1976
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Australia, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Australia is 250,139 people, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and down 34.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Australia peaked at 416,050 people in 2008 and was at its lowest, 152,770 people, in 1976.
Australia ranks 60th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 73 years of available data.
Annual change in population in Australia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 241,865 people | — |
| 1952 | 212,091 people | -12.3% |
| 1953 | 185,378 people | -12.6% |
| 1954 | 183,299 people | -1.1% |
| 1955 | 205,805 people | +12.3% |
| 1956 | 219,471 people | +6.6% |
| 1957 | 214,113 people | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 208,863 people | -2.5% |
| 1959 | 212,397 people | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 220,782 people | +3.9% |
| 1961 | 219,626 people | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 206,794 people | -5.8% |
| 1963 | 206,035 people | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 214,987 people | +4.3% |
| 1965 | 229,222 people | +6.6% |
| 1966 | 235,006 people | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 218,036 people | -7.2% |
| 1968 | 219,488 people | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 242,378 people | +10.4% |
| 1970 | 327,027 people | +34.9% |
| 1971 | 398,549 people | +21.9% |
| 1972 | 306,934 people | -23.0% |
| 1973 | 213,792 people | -30.3% |
| 1974 | 200,810 people | -6.1% |
| 1975 | 174,489 people | -13.1% |
| 1976 | 152,770 people | -12.4% |
| 1977 | 156,753 people | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 163,588 people | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 165,935 people | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 188,311 people | +13.5% |
| 1981 | 227,865 people | +21.0% |
| 1982 | 243,274 people | +6.8% |
| 1983 | 222,407 people | -8.6% |
| 1984 | 205,762 people | -7.5% |
| 1985 | 215,090 people | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 233,888 people | +8.7% |
| 1987 | 252,641 people | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 271,832 people | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 275,258 people | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 256,942 people | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 226,887 people | -11.7% |
| 1992 | 196,095 people | -13.6% |
| 1993 | 173,619 people | -11.5% |
| 1994 | 174,528 people | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 197,907 people | +13.4% |
| 1996 | 209,965 people | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 199,606 people | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 196,799 people | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 208,270 people | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 222,492 people | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 232,966 people | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 229,918 people | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 224,093 people | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 227,230 people | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 247,811 people | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 296,076 people | +19.5% |
| 2007 | 363,979 people | +22.9% |
| 2008 | 416,050 people | +14.3% |
| 2009 | 412,419 people | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 358,569 people | -13.1% |
| 2011 | 338,196 people | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 372,869 people | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 383,623 people | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 359,328 people | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 352,398 people | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 381,966 people | +8.4% |
| 2017 | 401,081 people | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 388,656 people | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 363,014 people | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 261,073 people | -28.1% |
| 2021 | 212,630 people | -18.6% |
| 2022 | 244,570 people | +15.0% |
| 2023 | 250,139 people | +2.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 250,139 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people, 79.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 250,139 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3,585 people, 69.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 209,254 people | 183,299 people | 241,865 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 221,235 people | 206,035 people | 242,378 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 226,065 people | 152,770 people | 398,549 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 233,633 people | 188,311 people | 275,258 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 204,062 people | 173,619 people | 256,942 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 287,303 people | 222,492 people | 416,050 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 369,970 people | 338,196 people | 401,081 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 242,103 people | 212,630 people | 261,073 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5755 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2553 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,193 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8589 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.2773 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 5.61 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.09 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Australia?
- Annual change in population in Australia was 250,139 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 416,050 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 152,770 people in 1976.
- How does Australia rank for annual change in population?
- Australia ranks 60th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.