Population Hits 28 Million

Australia’s population has hit 28 million people – that’s 10 million more than in 1995.

This is despite our fertility rate plummeting in the past decade to 1.48, which means couples are not replacing themselves.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Population Clock shows the most recent million were added in less than three years, meaning migration has significantly boosted numbers.

It estimates that every one minute and 15 seconds, another person is added to the Australian population.

In 2003 Australia wasn’t forecast to reach 26.4 million people until 2051. The ABS now estimates Australia’s total population will reach 30 million by 2031.

In the year to October 2025, Western Australia had the fastest population growth of 2.2%, followed by Queensland and Victoria (both 1.7%), the Northern Territory (1.4%) and the ACT (1.3%).

South Australia grew by 1.1% and  Tasmania by 0.3%.

Demography director at the ABS, Beidar Cho, says Australia’s growth rate has been consistent at about 1.6% over the past 20 years.