Australia’s Population Surpasses 27 Million

Australia’s population has officially exceeded 27 million, driven mainly by migration.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday indicated that the population reached 27.12 million by the end of March 2024, according to Xinhua news agency.

The population grew by 615,300 people, or 2.3%, in the 12 months leading up to March. “Net overseas migration accounted for 83% of this growth, while natural increase—births minus deaths—made up the remaining 17%,” stated Beidar Cho, head of demography at the ABS.

Net overseas migration was 509,800 for the year ending in March, a decrease from the record high of 559,900 in the year ending September 2023. Natural increase added 105,500 people, with 289,700 births and 184,200 deaths reported during that period.

New South Wales (NSW) remains the most populous state, with 8.46 million residents, representing 31.1% of the national population as of March. Together, the east coast states of NSW, Victoria, and Queensland account for 77.3% of Australia’s population.

Western Australia experienced the fastest growth rate at 3.1% over the past year, while Tasmania recorded the lowest growth at 0.4%.