Australia Population
East Asia & Pacific · 55th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
27,926,469
The population of Australia is about 27,926,469 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 27.9 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.34% of the world's people.
Australia is ranked 55th of 217 by population. The population is still growing, by about 0.86% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 32.9 million. That is 2.7 times its 1960 population of 10.3 million. It is sparsely populated, with only 3.6 people per square kilometre. 88% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
27.9 million
Yearly change
+0.86%
World rank
55th
Share of world
0.34%
Density
4/km²
Land area
7,688,287 km²
Life expectancy
83.1 yrs
Births per woman
1.48
GDP per capita
$65,130
GDP
$1.80T
Population of Australia, 1960–2050
Australia population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10,276,477 | — | 1 |
| 1970 | 12,507,000 | +1.99% | 2 |
| 1980 | 14,692,000 | +1.23% | 2 |
| 1990 | 17,065,128 | +1.49% | 2 |
| 2000 | 19,028,802 | +1.15% | 2 |
| 2010 | 22,031,750 | +1.57% | 3 |
| 2020 | 25,649,248 | +1.24% | 3 |
| 2024 | 27,194,286 | +2.00% | 4 |
| 2026proj. | 27,853,240 | +0.86% | 4 |
| 2030proj. | 28,761,368 | +0.77% | 4 |
| 2040proj. | 30,831,376 | +0.67% | 4 |
| 2050proj. | 32,948,596 | +0.64% | 4 |
Australia vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 6.4 times as many people as Australia. Bangladesh is 377.1 times more densely populated.
Australia population: questions and answers
What is the population of Australia in 2026?
About 27,853,240 (27.9 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Australia's population growing?
Yes, by about 0.86% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Australia?
About 4 people per km², with a land area of 7,688,287 km².
What will the population of Australia be in 2050?
About 32.9 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Australia?
Canberra.
What is the life expectancy in Australia?
83.1 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.