Total population (thousands) in Australia
Australia: Total population (thousands) was 26,845 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
26,845 thousands
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
55th
of 233 countries
All-time high
26,845 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
12,399 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Australia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Australia recorded 26,845 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Australia peaked at 26,845 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 12,399 thousands, in 1970.
Australia ranks 55th 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.
Total population (thousands) in Australia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,399 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 12,800 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 13,196 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 13,414 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 13,623 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 13,816 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 13,972 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 14,121 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 14,286 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 14,448 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 14,618 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 14,825 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 15,073 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 15,312 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 15,518 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 15,723 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 15,948 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 16,191 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 16,454 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 16,735 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 17,004 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 17,248 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 17,458 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 17,641 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 17,805 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 17,990 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 18,201 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 18,410 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 18,600 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 18,803 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 19,017 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 19,248 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 19,483 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 19,708 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 19,931 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 20,162 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 20,426 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 20,755 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 21,154 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 21,587 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 21,979 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 22,304 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 22,656 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 23,050 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 23,423 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 23,768 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 24,128 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 24,532 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 24,930 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 25,310 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 25,656 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 25,832 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 26,081 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 26,321 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 26,581 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 26,845 thousands | +1.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 26,845 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 8.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 26,845 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,410 thousands, 19.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,608 thousands | 12,399 thousands | 14,448 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 15,640 thousands | 14,618 thousands | 16,735 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,916 thousands | 17,004 thousands | 18,803 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,147 thousands | 19,017 thousands | 21,587 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 23,608 thousands | 21,979 thousands | 25,310 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 26,219 thousands | 25,656 thousands | 26,845 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 total population in Australia?
- Total population in Australia was 26,845 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 26,845 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,399 thousands in 1970.
- How does Australia rank for total population?
- Australia ranks 55th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. 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 Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release