Australia Population
Australia population, 1990–2100
Medium projection with low/high uncertainty band
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Australia in context
Australia's population growth is driven heavily by immigration, with one of the highest foreign-born shares of any major country. Domestic fertility sits below the replacement level, so migration is what keeps the population young and expanding. The country's demographic debates centre on the pace of that intake and its effect on housing in a handful of coastal cities.
The Australia demographic outlook
With roughly 27.1 million people as of 2026, Australia ranks 55th in the world by population. A country of Australia/New Zealand, its trajectory to 2100 is governed by how births, deaths and migration play out. It packs in roughly 4 people per square kilometre.
Growth continues for Australia until around 2100, the year its population is set to crest at about 43.0 million. From there a slow fall takes it to roughly 43.0 million by century's end.
With fertility near 1.64, just under the 2.1 replacement mark, natural increase is fading. Net inward migration adds to the population each year and partly offsets the low birth rate.
The median age is set to climb from about 38 today to roughly 45 by 2100, while life expectancy, near 84 years, keeps rising. A rising median age means fewer working-age people supporting each retiree over time.
The trajectory above is the UN's medium scenario. Wars, policy shifts, economic change and migration can all move the numbers, but the broad shape, growth followed by an eventual peak, is robust across the main variants.
Migration & natural change
Net migration against natural change (births − deaths), 2026
Australia is a net destination for migration: roughly 131,706 more people arrive than leave each year. Births still outnumber deaths, adding about 116,312 people a year on their own.
Who supports whom
Dependants (under 15 and 65+) per 100 working-age adults (15–64)
| Year | Youth | Old-age | Total | 65+ share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 | 28 | 55 | 18% |
| 2050 | 26 | 39 | 65 | 24% |
| 2100 | 26 | 50 | 76 | 28% |
A total ratio of 100 means as many dependants as working-age adults. Rising old-age figures signal an ageing population and growing pressure on pensions and healthcare.
Key milestones
Age structure
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Demographic indicators
| Population 2024 | 26.6 million |
| Population 2050 | 32.4 million |
| Population 2075 | 37.6 million |
| Population 2100 | 43.0 million |
| Median age 2050 | 42.0 years |
| Fertility rate 2050 | 1.64 |
| Life expectancy 2100 | 92.6 years |