Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Australia
Australia: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 19.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Australia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in Australia is 19.2%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Australia peaked at 22.9% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 18.5%, in 2005.
Australia ranks 121st of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.4% | 21.9% | 22.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 21.2% | 21.1% | 21.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 21.4% | 21.3% | 21.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 20.9% | 20.9% | 21.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.4% | 20.3% | 20.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.8% | 18.5% | 19.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 18.7% | 18.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 19.2% | 19.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.09 million people (2100)
- Population density 5.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 29,511 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.5% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Australia?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Australia was 19.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.9% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5% in 2005.
- How does Australia rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Australia ranks 121st out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.