Australian Population

Population growth today

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that on 28 January 2005 the population of Australia is projected to be 20,253,413. This an estimate based on the population on 30 June 2004 plus growth of one additional person every 2 minutes and 9 seconds.

The additional growth comes from

every 2 minutes and 5 seconds - one person is born

every 3 minutes and 54 seconds - one person dies

every 4 minutes and 8 seconds - a net gain of one international migrant

Origin of immigrants to Australia

Although Australia had its beginnings as a British penal colony, it was gradually phased out by 1868. The late 19th century saw hundreds of thousands of immigrants arrive from a variety of countries to make Australia their home.

Australia is a culturally diverse country. At the 1996 Census:

3.9 million people had been born overseas

3.8 million had one or both parents born overseas

2.6 million people spoke a language other than English at home

92 religious denominations

282 major languages (includes 170 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)

1963 - 67

1973 - 77

1983 - 87

1993 - 97

United Kingdom & Ireland

339,500

156,200

88,900

53,200

New Zealand

...

20,200

53,000

53,600

Viet Nam

...

40,100

21,000

Philippines

...

22,300

17,200

China

...

28,900

Hong Kong

...

19,500

South Africa

...

14,100

...

Poland

...

8,100

...

Yugoslavia

33,600

18,100

...

Greece

67,400

11,200

...

Lebanon

...

21,900

...

USA

...

10,900

...

Italy

61,300

...

Malta

19,400

...

Germany

17,700

...

Of all the world's countries, Australia is the fourth least densely settled with only 2.3 persons per km2. Most of the population ( 83% in 1996 ) live within 50 km of the coast.

Top 10 cities by population

1997

Sydney, NSW

3,934,700

Newcastle, NSW

468,900

Melbourne, VIC

3,321,700

Gold Coast-Tweed, NSW

367,700

Brisbane, QLD

1,548,300

Canberra, ACT

309,500

Perth, WA

1,319,000

Wollongong, NSW

258,100

Adelaide, SA

1,083,100

Hobart, TAS

195,500

Number of people living in each state

1976

1981

1986

1991

1996

%
Change

NSW

4,960,800

5,234,900

5,531,500

5,898,700

6,204,700

25.07%

VIC

3,811,400

3,946,900

4,160,900

4,420,400

4,560,200

19.65%

QLD

2,091,700

2,245,200

2,624,600

2,961,000

3,338,700

59.62%

1,274,600

1,318,800

1,382,600

1,446,600

1,474,300

15.67%

1,178,900

1,300,100

1,459,00

1,636,100

1,765,300

49.74%

TAS

412,400

427,200

446,500

466,800

474,400

15.03%

ACT

207,400

227,600

258,900

289,300

308,300

48.65%

98,300

122,600

154,400

165,500

181,800

84.94%

Note: This information is for entertainment purposes. We assume no liability resulting from any errors or omissions. Translation . . . we've done our best to bring you accurate information. For official facts and figures, please visit any of the many Australian government websites available such as the

Australian Bureau of Statistics.

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