Working-age population (Organisation) in Australia
Australia: Working-age population was 22,766 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Working-age population in Australia, 1979–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
Australia recorded 22,766 Persons for working-age population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, working-age population in Australia peaked at 22,766 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,730 Persons, in 1979.
Australia ranks 13th of 33 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Working-age population in Australia, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 10,730 Persons | — |
| 1980 | 10,919 Persons | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 11,140 Persons | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 11,368 Persons | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 11,578 Persons | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 11,784 Persons | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 12,006 Persons | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 12,260 Persons | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 12,521 Persons | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 12,784 Persons | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 13,027 Persons | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 13,246 Persons | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 13,436 Persons | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 13,604 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 13,750 Persons | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 13,903 Persons | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 14,080 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 14,280 Persons | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 14,464 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 14,644 Persons | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 14,838 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 15,044 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 15,272 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 15,490 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 15,709 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 15,921 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 16,156 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 16,420 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 16,742 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 17,113 Persons | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 17,487 Persons | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 17,783 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 18,059 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 18,382 Persons | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 18,701 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 18,989 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 19,270 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 19,574 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 19,907 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 20,233 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 20,564 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 20,810 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 20,881 Persons | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 21,233 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 21,844 Persons | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 22,356 Persons | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 22,766 Persons | +1.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 22,766 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,857 Persons, 2.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10,730 Persons | 10,730 Persons | 10,730 Persons | 1 |
| 1980s | 11,939 Persons | 10,919 Persons | 13,027 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 14,024 Persons | 13,246 Persons | 14,838 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,135 Persons | 15,044 Persons | 17,487 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,146 Persons | 17,783 Persons | 20,564 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,649 Persons | 20,810 Persons | 22,766 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,193 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2553 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.2773 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is working-age population in Australia?
- Working-age population in Australia was 22,766 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest working-age population recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 22,766 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest working-age population recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,730 Persons in 1979.
- How does Australia rank for working-age population?
- Australia ranks 13th out of 33 countries with data for 2025.
- Is working-age population rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Working-age population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on working age population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the working age population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and selected other economies. The working-age population is commonly defined as persons aged 15 years and older. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.