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Australia's population has reached 28 million

The country's population is estimated to hit 30 million in 2031.

A large crowd of people walking throughout a busy shopping mall.
Australia's population hit the 28 million milestone on Tuesday morning. Source: AAP / Steven Saphore

Australia's population has reached 28 million.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) population clock estimated that the milestone was hit at 6am on Tuesday, based on the growth rate set on 1 July 2025.

The growth rate assumes that every minute and 15 seconds, another person is added to the Australian population.

The growth was recorded as the federal government tightens immigration policies to cut net migration. During the 2024-25 financial year, Australia's net overseas migration was 306,000, down from 429,000 a year earlier.

The ABS model also estimates that in 2026, the average age of the country is 39.72 years, with the female population 1.8 per cent higher than the male population.

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Data released by the ABS in March also showed that Australia's annual population growth rate in the year ending 30 September 2025 was 1.6 per cent.

During this period, the country's annual natural increase was 112,600, one-third of net overseas migration, which was 311,000.

Western Australia recorded the fastest population growth rate (2.2 per cent), while Tasmania had the slowest growth of 0.3 per cent compared to the previous year.

Australia passed the 27 million milestone in 2024, around two years after the Australian government lifted COVID lockdown border restrictions, leading to a rise in migration from 2022.

Australia is estimated to reach a population of 30 million people in 2031.

The 2026 Census will be conducted in three months.


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2 min read

Published

By Wing Kuang

Source: SBS News




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