A nation built by waves of newcomers, Australia's population is soaring past 26 million, transforming into one of the world's most diverse societies while its economy and environment face the challenges and opportunities of rapid growth.
Key Takeaways
- Australia's population reached 26,974,000 as of December 2023, marking a quarterly increase of 115,027 people or 1.7% annually
- In 2023, net overseas migration contributed 536,000 people to Australia's population growth, accounting for 83% of total growth
- Australia's median age was 38.4 years in 2023, up from 38.0 years in 2022, reflecting an ageing population
- Australia's GDP (nominal) was 1.688 trillion USD in 2023, ranking 13th globally
- GDP per capita (nominal) reached 65,330 USD in 2023
- GDP growth rate was 1.5% in 2023, down from 4.3% in 2022
- Australia's total land area is 7,688,287 square kilometers, making it the 6th largest country by area
- Coastline length measures 25,760 kilometers
- Highest point is Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 meters above sea level
- Australia's forest cover is 134 million hectares or 17.4% of land area in 2020
- Annual deforestation rate 0.09% or 47,000 hectares from 2010-2020
- Protected areas cover 19.2% of terrestrial land
- Australia's life expectancy at birth is 83.2 years overall, 81.2 males, 85.2 females (2020-22)
- Infant mortality rate 3.3 per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Obesity rate among adults 31.7% in 2022
Australia's growing, aging population is increasingly urban, diverse, and reliant on immigration for growth.
Demographics
- Australia's population reached 26,974,000 as of December 2023, marking a quarterly increase of 115,027 people or 1.7% annually
- In 2023, net overseas migration contributed 536,000 people to Australia's population growth, accounting for 83% of total growth
- Australia's median age was 38.4 years in 2023, up from 38.0 years in 2022, reflecting an ageing population
- Females make up 50.2% of Australia's population as of June 2023, totaling 13,323,800 individuals
- The birth rate in Australia was 10.7 babies per 1,000 people in 2022, down from 11.0 in 2021
- Australia's total fertility rate stood at 1.50 children per woman in 2023, below the replacement level of 2.1
- Life expectancy at birth for males was 81.3 years and for females 85.1 years in 2020-2022
- 30.1% of Australia's population was born overseas in 2023, the highest proportion among OECD countries
- The largest age group in Australia is 30-34 years, comprising 1,908,200 people or 7.2% of the population in 2023
- New South Wales holds 32.0% of Australia's population with 8,547,400 residents as of June 2023
- Victoria's population grew by 2.7% to 6,893,100 in the year to June 2023
- Indigenous Australians numbered 812,728 or 3.2% of the total population in 2021
- Australia's population density is 3.4 people per square kilometre as of 2023
- Urban population accounts for 86.5% of Australia's total population in 2023
- Net migration rate was 7.5 migrants per 1,000 population in 2023
- Infant mortality rate was 3.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Sex ratio at birth was 105.8 males per 100 females in 2022
- Australia's population is projected to reach 30.9 million by 2032-33 under medium growth scenario
- 29.8% of the population aged 0-14 in 2023
- 23.9% of population aged 65 and over in projections for 2066
- Overseas-born from India numbered 673,352 in 2021 Census
- Mandarin speakers total 685,274 or 2.7% of population in 2021
- Christianity is professed by 43.9% of Australians per 2021 Census
- No religion response was 38.9% in 2021 Census, up from 29.6% in 2016
- Households average 2.5 persons per household in 2021
- Lone person households comprise 25.8% of all households in 2021
- Australia's annual population growth rate was 1.7% in 2023
- Queensland population was 5,424,800 as of June 2023, 20.5% of national total
- Western Australia population grew 3.0% to 2,897,300 in year to June 2023
- Tasmania's population was 572,400, growing 0.9% annually to June 2023
Demographics Interpretation
Australia has quietly transformed into a nation where new arrivals are the main engine of growth, keeping the country young enough to function while it collectively, and with increasing secularism, contemplates its slightly worrying fertility rate and advancing median age.
Economy
- Australia's GDP (nominal) was 1.688 trillion USD in 2023, ranking 13th globally
- GDP per capita (nominal) reached 65,330 USD in 2023
- GDP growth rate was 1.5% in 2023, down from 4.3% in 2022
- Unemployment rate averaged 3.9% in 2023-24 financial year
- Inflation rate (CPI) was 3.8% year-on-year in May 2024
- Public debt was 37.6% of GDP in 2023
- Exports of goods and services were 25.9% of GDP in 2023
- Iron ore exports value reached 136 billion AUD in 2022-23
- Coal exports totaled 91 billion AUD in 2022-23
- LNG exports were 92 billion AUD in 2022-23
- Mining sector contributed 14.3% to GDP in 2022-23
- Average weekly earnings full-time adults were 1,975 AUD in November 2023
- Corporate tax rate is 30% for companies with turnover over 50 million AUD
- Minimum wage is 23.23 AUD per hour as of July 2024
- Stock market capitalization was 1,599 billion USD in 2022
- Foreign direct investment inflow was 67.5 billion USD in 2022
- Labor force participation rate was 66.9% in March 2024
- Services sector accounts for 71.2% of GDP in 2023
- Industry sector 26.0% of GDP, agriculture 2.8% in 2023
- Current account balance was -3.6% of GDP in 2023
- Government budget balance was -4.2% of GDP in 2022
- Household saving rate averaged 4.3% in 2023
- Tourism contributed 8.0% to GDP pre-COVID, recovering to 6.5% in 2023
- Gold production was 314 tonnes in 2022-23
- Retail trade turnover increased 3.2% year-on-year in March 2024
- Construction work done reached 162 billion AUD in 2022-23
- Business investment was 24.5% of GDP in 2023
- Imports of goods and services 21.5% of GDP in 2023
Economy Interpretation
Australia is riding a lucrative but bumpy mining cart, enjoying enviable individual wealth despite sluggish growth and modest deficits, all while nervously eyeing the Chinese appetite for its dirt, gas, and rocks.
Environment
- Australia's forest cover is 134 million hectares or 17.4% of land area in 2020
- Annual deforestation rate 0.09% or 47,000 hectares from 2010-2020
- Protected areas cover 19.2% of terrestrial land
- Marine protected areas 33.7% of EEZ as of 2023
- CO2 emissions totaled 376 million metric tons in 2022, 0.7% of global total
- Renewable energy share in electricity generation 39.1% in 2023
- Solar PV capacity installed 25.2 GW as of 2023
- Wind power capacity 10.3 GW in 2023
- Biodiversity: over 1.8 million insect species estimated
- 1,788 threatened species listed nationally in 2023
- Great Barrier Reef bleaching events affected 91% of reefs in 2024 survey
- Annual bushfire area burned averaged 66,000 km² pre-2019, spiked to 180,000 km² in 2019-20
- Groundwater extraction 5,000 gigalitres annually
- Plastic waste generation 1.57 million tonnes in 2018-19
- Recycling rate for municipal waste 19.6% in 2016-17
- Water use total 15,400 gigalitres in 2019-20, agriculture 76%
- Endangered species include 93 mammals, 58 birds as of 2023
- Air quality PM2.5 annual mean 6.4 µg/m³ in 2022
- Sea level rise 3.4 mm per year 1993-2022
- Drought frequency increased, 57% of years 2001-2020 drought-affected
- Hydroelectricity generation 15.5% of renewables in 2023
- Bioenergy contributes 2.1% to electricity in 2023
- National carbon price introduced 2012, ended 2014, emissions trading scheme planned
- Kangaroo harvest sustainable at 5-7 million annually
- Coral cover Great Barrier Reef averaged 36% in 2022 surveys
Environment Interpretation
Australia presents a paradox of being both a steward and a stressor, where vast protected frontiers and a growing renewable grid are tempered by deforestation, devastating bushfires, and a Great Barrier Reef that's bleaching under the weight of our collective climate footprint.
Geography
- Australia's total land area is 7,688,287 square kilometers, making it the 6th largest country by area
- Coastline length measures 25,760 kilometers
- Highest point is Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 meters above sea level
- Lowest point is Lake Eyre at -15 meters below sea level
- Longest river is the Murray River at 2,508 kilometers
- Largest lake by area is Lake Eyre, covering up to 9,690 square kilometers when full
- Great Barrier Reef spans 2,300 kilometers along Queensland coast
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) stands 348 meters high and 9.4 kilometers circumference
- Australia has 10,000+ beaches along its coastline
- Arid and semi-arid lands cover 70% of the continent
- Eastern Highlands (Great Dividing Range) stretch 3,500 kilometers
- Western Plateau occupies 50% of landmass, mostly desert
- Australia lies between latitudes 10°S and 39°S, longitudes 113°E and 154°E
- Exclusive Economic Zone covers 8,148,250 square kilometers, 2nd largest globally
- Number of islands exceeds 8,000
- Largest island state Tasmania area 68,401 square kilometers
- Mean elevation is 330 meters above sea level
- Annual mean rainfall 535 mm nationally, varying from 250 mm inland to 3,000 mm tropics
- Sydney Harbour covers 55 square kilometers
- Melbourne's Yarra River length within city 242 kilometers total
- Perth located 19.1° south of equator
- Adelaide Plains span 40 km wide
- Darwin tropical location at 12.4°S latitude
Geography Interpretation
Australia is a sprawling, sunburnt continent of ironic extremes: a landmass so vast it claims the world's second-largest oceanic territory, yet its highest mountain is merely a respectable hill, its heart is a paradoxically ephemeral salt lake, and its defining majesty is not in its arid, empty interior but in the teeming, fragile reef and countless beaches fringing its spectacularly long and inviting coastline.
Government and Politics
- Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as head of state
- Parliament has 151 House Representatives, 76 Senators
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leads Labor government since May 2023
- Federal election voting compulsory, turnout 89.8% in 2022
- Six states and two mainland territories
- High Court has 7 justices
- Defence budget 52.6 billion AUD in 2023-24, 2.0% GDP
- Governor-General appointed by monarch on PM advice
- Bicameral parliament sessions 18 weeks annually average
- Labor Party holds 77 seats in House post-2022 election
- Coalition (Liberal-National) 58 seats in House 2022
- Greens hold 4 House seats, 11 Senate seats post-2022
- Indigenous voice referendum failed 60.1% No in 2023
- Federal budget revenue 628 billion AUD, expenditure 676 billion in 2023-24
- Corruption Perceptions Index score 75/100, rank 14th in 2023
- Press Freedom Index rank 27th globally in 2023
- Women in parliament 41% lower house, 47% senate 2023
- Constitution enacted 1901, 8 amendments since
- Australia Day celebrated 26 January
- ANZAC Day 25 April remembrance
- Political parties registered 28 federally in 2023
- Electoral enrollment 97.2% eligible population 2023
- Senate terms 6 years, half elected every 3 years
- Preferential voting system used federally
- Foreign aid 4.2 billion AUD in 2022-23, 0.21% GNI
- Nuclear non-proliferation signatory 1970
- AUKUS security pact signed 2021 with UK, US
- QUAD alliance with US, Japan, India since 2007
- Five Eyes intelligence alliance member
Government and Politics Interpretation
Australia operates as a modern Westminster democracy where high voter turnout and stable governance meet fierce debates over its future, all under the watchful eye of a distant monarch and a constellation of powerful global alliances.
Health and Education
- Australia's life expectancy at birth is 83.2 years overall, 81.2 males, 85.2 females (2020-22)
- Infant mortality rate 3.3 per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Obesity rate among adults 31.7% in 2022
- Cancer incidence 484 per 100,000 population in 2022
- Cardiovascular disease deaths 17% of total deaths in 2022
- Vaccination rate for children 92.1% at 12 months for DTP in 2023
- Hospitalisations total 11.5 million in 2022-23
- Medicare expenditure 32.3 billion AUD in 2022-23
- Adult literacy rate 99% for ages 15+
- PISA 2022 reading score 498, ranking 8th OECD
- Tertiary education attainment 52% ages 25-34 in 2023
- Student-teacher ratio primary 13.6:1 in 2022
- Government education expenditure 5.2% GDP in 2021
- Suicide rate 12.4 per 100,000 in 2022
- Mental health services users 2.1 million in 2022-23
- Youth unemployment with education gap 12.5% for no post-school qual
- Doctor ratio 4.2 per 1,000 population in 2022
- Nurse ratio 12.7 per 1,000 in 2022
- School enrollment secondary 99.9% ages 15-17 in 2023
- University enrollment 1.5 million students in 2023
- Indigenous life expectancy gap 8.1 years males, 7.1 females 2015-17
- Diabetes prevalence 5.3% adults in 2022
- Alcohol consumption 9.6 litres pure alcohol per capita 15+ in 2022
- Smoking rate daily 8.3% adults 18+ in 2022
- Government health expenditure 10.6% GDP in 2022
- COVID-19 vaccination 96.5% fully vaccinated 12+ as of 2023
- Early childhood education participation 95.2% for 4-5 year olds 2023
- PISA maths score 487 in 2022
- PISA science score 507 in 2022
Health and Education Interpretation
Australia presents a puzzling yet typical modern paradox: we're living longer and educating ourselves well enough to understand why we might not, thanks to persistent lifestyle illnesses and stark Indigenous health gaps that our otherwise robust healthcare system is constantly patching up.
Sources & References
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