Population in Australia
Australia: Population was 26.45 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
26.45 million people
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
55th
of 239 countries
All-time high
26.45 million people
in 2023
All-time low
200,000 people
in 1800
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Australia, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Australia stood at 26.45 million people. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Australia peaked at 26.45 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 200,000 people, in 1800.
Australia ranks 55th of 239 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Australia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 314,851 people | — |
| 1100 | 315,026 people | +0.1% |
| 1200 | 315,290 people | +0.1% |
| 1300 | 315,685 people | +0.1% |
| 1400 | 316,277 people | +0.2% |
| 1500 | 317,166 people | +0.3% |
| 1600 | 318,500 people | +0.4% |
| 1700 | 314,500 people | -1.3% |
| 1710 | 314,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1720 | 314,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1730 | 314,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1740 | 314,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1750 | 314,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 314,500 people | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 314,667 people | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 315,087 people | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 316,556 people | +0.5% |
| 1800 | 200,000 people | -36.8% |
| 1801 | 205,195 people | +2.6% |
| 1802 | 210,524 people | +2.6% |
| 1803 | 215,992 people | +2.6% |
| 1804 | 221,602 people | +2.6% |
| 1805 | 227,357 people | +2.6% |
| 1806 | 233,263 people | +2.6% |
| 1807 | 239,321 people | +2.6% |
| 1808 | 245,537 people | +2.6% |
| 1809 | 251,914 people | +2.6% |
| 1810 | 258,627 people | +2.7% |
| 1811 | 265,344 people | +2.6% |
| 1812 | 272,236 people | +2.6% |
| 1813 | 279,307 people | +2.6% |
| 1814 | 286,561 people | +2.6% |
| 1815 | 294,004 people | +2.6% |
| 1816 | 301,640 people | +2.6% |
| 1817 | 309,474 people | +2.6% |
| 1818 | 317,512 people | +2.6% |
| 1819 | 323,943 people | +2.0% |
| 1820 | 328,728 people | +1.5% |
| 1821 | 331,827 people | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 333,197 people | +0.4% |
| 1823 | 332,795 people | -0.1% |
| 1824 | 332,395 people | -0.1% |
| 1825 | 331,994 people | -0.1% |
| 1826 | 331,595 people | -0.1% |
| 1827 | 331,195 people | -0.1% |
| 1828 | 330,797 people | -0.1% |
| 1829 | 332,089 people | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 335,111 people | +0.9% |
| 1831 | 339,904 people | +1.4% |
| 1832 | 346,508 people | +1.9% |
| 1833 | 354,966 people | +2.4% |
| 1834 | 363,631 people | +2.4% |
| 1835 | 372,507 people | +2.4% |
| 1836 | 381,599 people | +2.4% |
| 1837 | 390,914 people | +2.4% |
| 1838 | 400,456 people | +2.4% |
| 1839 | 411,303 people | +2.7% |
| 1840 | 423,526 people | +3.0% |
| 1841 | 437,202 people | +3.2% |
| 1842 | 452,407 people | +3.5% |
| 1843 | 469,223 people | +3.7% |
| 1844 | 486,665 people | +3.7% |
| 1845 | 504,755 people | +3.7% |
| 1846 | 523,518 people | +3.7% |
| 1847 | 542,978 people | +3.7% |
| 1848 | 563,161 people | +3.7% |
| 1849 | 589,474 people | +4.7% |
| 1850 | 622,584 people | +5.6% |
| 1851 | 663,068 people | +6.5% |
| 1852 | 711,848 people | +7.4% |
| 1853 | 769,782 people | +8.1% |
| 1854 | 832,431 people | +8.1% |
| 1855 | 900,179 people | +8.1% |
| 1856 | 973,440 people | +8.1% |
| 1857 | 1.05 million people | +8.1% |
| 1858 | 1.14 million people | +8.1% |
| 1859 | 1.22 million people | +6.9% |
| 1860 | 1.29 million people | +5.8% |
| 1861 | 1.35 million people | +4.8% |
| 1862 | 1.40 million people | +3.9% |
| 1863 | 1.44 million people | +2.9% |
| 1864 | 1.49 million people | +2.9% |
| 1865 | 1.53 million people | +2.9% |
| 1866 | 1.58 million people | +2.9% |
| 1867 | 1.62 million people | +2.9% |
| 1868 | 1.67 million people | +2.9% |
| 1869 | 1.72 million people | +2.8% |
| 1870 | 1.76 million people | +2.6% |
| 1871 | 1.80 million people | +2.4% |
| 1872 | 1.84 million people | +2.3% |
| 1873 | 1.88 million people | +2.1% |
| 1874 | 1.92 million people | +2.1% |
| 1875 | 1.96 million people | +2.1% |
| 1876 | 2.01 million people | +2.1% |
| 1877 | 2.05 million people | +2.1% |
| 1878 | 2.09 million people | +2.1% |
| 1879 | 2.14 million people | +2.4% |
| 1880 | 2.20 million people | +2.7% |
| 1881 | 2.27 million people | +3.0% |
| 1882 | 2.34 million people | +3.2% |
| 1883 | 2.42 million people | +3.5% |
| 1884 | 2.51 million people | +3.5% |
| 1885 | 2.60 million people | +3.5% |
| 1886 | 2.69 million people | +3.5% |
| 1887 | 2.78 million people | +3.5% |
| 1888 | 2.88 million people | +3.5% |
| 1889 | 2.97 million people | +3.1% |
| 1890 | 3.05 million people | +2.8% |
| 1891 | 3.13 million people | +2.5% |
| 1892 | 3.20 million people | +2.2% |
| 1893 | 3.25 million people | +1.9% |
| 1894 | 3.31 million people | +1.9% |
| 1895 | 3.38 million people | +1.9% |
| 1896 | 3.44 million people | +1.9% |
| 1897 | 3.50 million people | +1.9% |
| 1898 | 3.57 million people | +1.9% |
| 1899 | 3.63 million people | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 3.69 million people | +1.7% |
| 1901 | 3.76 million people | +1.7% |
| 1902 | 3.82 million people | +1.6% |
| 1903 | 3.87 million people | +1.6% |
| 1904 | 3.94 million people | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 4.00 million people | +1.6% |
| 1906 | 4.06 million people | +1.6% |
| 1907 | 4.12 million people | +1.6% |
| 1908 | 4.19 million people | +1.6% |
| 1909 | 4.25 million people | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 4.33 million people | +1.7% |
| 1911 | 4.41 million people | +1.8% |
| 1912 | 4.49 million people | +1.9% |
| 1913 | 4.58 million people | +2.0% |
| 1914 | 4.68 million people | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 4.77 million people | +2.0% |
| 1916 | 4.87 million people | +2.0% |
| 1917 | 4.97 million people | +2.0% |
| 1918 | 5.07 million people | +2.0% |
| 1919 | 5.17 million people | +2.0% |
| 1920 | 5.27 million people | +2.0% |
| 1921 | 5.38 million people | +2.0% |
| 1922 | 5.48 million people | +1.9% |
| 1923 | 5.59 million people | +1.9% |
| 1924 | 5.69 million people | +1.9% |
| 1925 | 5.80 million people | +1.9% |
| 1926 | 5.91 million people | +1.9% |
| 1927 | 6.02 million people | +1.9% |
| 1928 | 6.14 million people | +1.9% |
| 1929 | 6.24 million people | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 6.33 million people | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 6.41 million people | +1.3% |
| 1932 | 6.48 million people | +1.1% |
| 1933 | 6.54 million people | +0.9% |
| 1934 | 6.59 million people | +0.9% |
| 1935 | 6.65 million people | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 6.70 million people | +0.9% |
| 1937 | 6.76 million people | +0.9% |
| 1938 | 6.82 million people | +0.9% |
| 1939 | 6.89 million people | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 6.97 million people | +1.2% |
| 1941 | 7.06 million people | +1.3% |
| 1942 | 7.16 million people | +1.5% |
| 1943 | 7.28 million people | +1.6% |
| 1944 | 7.40 million people | +1.6% |
| 1945 | 7.52 million people | +1.6% |
| 1946 | 7.64 million people | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 7.76 million people | +1.6% |
| 1948 | 7.89 million people | +1.6% |
| 1949 | 8.03 million people | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 8.18 million people | +1.9% |
| 1951 | 8.42 million people | +3.0% |
| 1952 | 8.63 million people | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 8.82 million people | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 9.00 million people | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 9.21 million people | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 9.42 million people | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 9.64 million people | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 9.85 million people | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 10.06 million people | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 10.28 million people | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 10.50 million people | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 10.71 million people | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 10.91 million people | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 11.13 million people | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 11.36 million people | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 11.59 million people | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 11.81 million people | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 12.03 million people | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 12.27 million people | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 12.60 million people | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 13.00 million people | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 13.30 million people | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 13.52 million people | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 13.72 million people | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 13.89 million people | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 14.05 million people | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 14.20 million people | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 14.37 million people | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 14.53 million people | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 14.72 million people | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 14.95 million people | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 15.19 million people | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 15.41 million people | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 15.62 million people | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 15.84 million people | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 16.07 million people | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 16.32 million people | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 16.59 million people | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 16.87 million people | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 17.13 million people | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 17.35 million people | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 17.55 million people | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 17.72 million people | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 17.90 million people | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 18.10 million people | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 18.31 million people | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 18.50 million people | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 18.70 million people | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 18.91 million people | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 19.13 million people | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 19.37 million people | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 19.60 million people | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 19.82 million people | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 20.05 million people | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 20.29 million people | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 20.59 million people | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 20.95 million people | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 21.37 million people | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 21.78 million people | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 22.14 million people | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 22.48 million people | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 22.85 million people | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 23.24 million people | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 23.60 million people | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 23.95 million people | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 24.33 million people | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 24.73 million people | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 25.12 million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 25.48 million people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 25.74 million people | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 25.96 million people | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 26.20 million people | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 26.45 million people | +1.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 26.45 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.98 million people, 8.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 26.45 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 19.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | -36.8% | 316,556 people | 200,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 314,851 people | 314,851 people | 314,851 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 315,026 people | 315,026 people | 315,026 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 315,290 people | 315,290 people | 315,290 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 315,685 people | 315,685 people | 315,685 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 316,277 people | 316,277 people | 316,277 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 317,166 people | 317,166 people | 317,166 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 318,500 people | 318,500 people | 318,500 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 314,500 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 314,667 people | 314,667 people | 314,667 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 315,087 people | 315,087 people | 315,087 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 316,556 people | 316,556 people | 316,556 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 225,070 people | 200,000 people | 251,914 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 290,865 people | 258,627 people | 323,943 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 331,661 people | 328,728 people | 333,197 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 369,690 people | 335,111 people | 411,303 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 499,291 people | 423,526 people | 589,474 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 888,154 people | 622,584 people | 1.22 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.51 million people | 1.29 million people | 1.72 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.95 million people | 1.76 million people | 2.14 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.56 million people | 2.20 million people | 2.97 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.35 million people | 3.05 million people | 3.63 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 3.97 million people | 3.69 million people | 4.25 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.73 million people | 4.33 million people | 5.17 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 5.75 million people | 5.27 million people | 6.24 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 6.62 million people | 6.33 million people | 6.89 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 7.47 million people | 6.97 million people | 8.03 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 9.12 million people | 8.18 million people | 10.06 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.26 million people | 10.28 million people | 12.27 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.72 million people | 12.60 million people | 14.53 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.76 million people | 14.72 million people | 16.87 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.02 million people | 17.13 million people | 18.91 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.30 million people | 19.13 million people | 21.78 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.79 million people | 22.14 million people | 25.48 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.09 million people | 25.74 million people | 26.45 million 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 population in Australia?
- Population in Australia was 26.45 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.45 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 200,000 people in 1800.
- How does Australia rank for population?
- Australia ranks 55th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.