Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Australia
Australia: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 4,807 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
4,807 thousands
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
29th
of 233 countries
All-time high
4,807 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
1,037 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Australia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Australia recorded 4,807 thousands for population aged 65 years or older in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Australia peaked at 4,807 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,037 thousands, in 1970.
Australia ranks 29th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Australia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,037 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 1,067 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 1,102 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 1,131 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 1,162 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 1,191 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 1,229 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 1,266 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 1,304 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 1,346 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 1,390 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 1,433 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 1,476 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 1,514 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 1,552 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 1,593 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 1,645 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 1,705 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 1,761 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 1,816 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 1,866 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 1,922 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 1,978 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 2,028 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 2,077 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 2,120 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 2,167 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 2,213 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 2,254 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 2,296 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 2,337 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 2,384 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 2,436 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 2,484 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 2,534 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 2,587 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 2,643 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 2,707 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 2,778 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 2,854 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 2,946 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 3,045 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 3,159 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 3,280 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 3,396 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 3,510 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 3,627 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 3,746 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 3,865 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 3,993 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 4,134 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 4,279 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 4,416 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 4,531 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 4,665 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 4,807 thousands | +3.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 4,807 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 291.46 thousands, 16.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 4,807 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 105.87 thousands, 45.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,183 thousands | 1,037 thousands | 1,346 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,588 thousands | 1,390 thousands | 1,816 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,092 thousands | 1,866 thousands | 2,296 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,574 thousands | 2,337 thousands | 2,854 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,457 thousands | 2,946 thousands | 3,993 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,472 thousands | 4,134 thousands | 4,807 thousands | 6 |
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 population aged 65 years or older in Australia?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Australia was 4,807 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 4,807 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,037 thousands in 1970.
- How does Australia rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Australia ranks 29th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release