Australia’s population
27.92mEstimated resident population · End of March 2026
Australia · Population
A changing population.
A changing Australia.
How many people live in Australia, how that number changes, and the births, deaths and migration behind it.
March quarter 2026 · Original data · Published 17 September 2026
Not seasonally adjusted (original) means regular seasonal patterns remain in the figures. It does not mean the first or unrevised edition. Seasonally adjusted figures allow for regular seasonal patterns; the label does not mean more up-to-date.
Annual population change
392,700 peopleYear to March 2026 · Published ABS change
Annual population growth rate
1.43%Year to March 2026 · Published ABS rate
What sits behind the change?
Over the year to March 2026, natural increase was 100,600 people and net overseas migration was 292,100 people. Natural increase is births less deaths; net overseas migration is migrant arrivals less migrant departures.
These are changes over a year. The population estimate above is the number of residents at a point in time. Rounding and population adjustments can mean the components do not exactly match the change in population.
How has the pace changed?
A lower positive growth rate still means more residents; a negative rate means fewer. The first chart shows the pace of growth. The companion chart shows how many people that change represented.
Annual population growth rate
Published annual population change (%) · Original data · Available history from June 1982
Annual population change
Published annual population change (people) · Original data · Available history from June 1982
How has the population changed?
Total population, annual change and growth between chosen dates.
What drives population change?
Natural increase, overseas migration, births and deaths.
Who counts as a resident?
Definitions, published adjustments and the limits of these figures.
Population and the economy
Population affects the scale of the economy. Total production can increase while production per person changes differently. These figures do not, on their own, tell us what caused changes in housing costs, wages or living standards.
Compare GDP per person and in total · Explore jobs and wages
Population sources and methods · March quarter 2026