Australia’s population reaches 27.9 million — 68% live in the capital cities

Australia’s population has reached 27.92 million, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates.

At 31 March 2026, the population was 27,921,150, up 392,700 people, or 1.4 per cent, over the previous year.

New South Wales remains comfortably the largest state, with 8.67 million people, followed by Victoria at 7.15 million and Queensland at 5.74 million. Western Australia has passed 3.09 million, while South Australia has 1.92 million.

All states and territories recorded population growth over the year. Western Australia grew fastest, at 2.1 per cent, while Tasmania recorded the slowest growth at 0.6 per cent.

Migration remains the main driver of national growth. Net overseas migration added 292,100 people during the year, equivalent to around 74 per cent of total population growth. Natural increase — births minus deaths — contributed another 100,600 people.

But where do Australians actually live?

The latest ABS population estimates that allow a clean capital-city versus regional comparison are for 30 June 2025. At that point, Australia had 18.75 million people living within the eight Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, representing 67.9 per cent of the national population.

The remaining 8.86 million people — 32.1 per cent — lived outside the capital-city areas.

The ABS definition is important. Greater Capital City Statistical Areas measure the broader functional area of each capital, including some surrounding towns and rural areas whose residents regularly work, shop or socialise within the city.

So Australia remains a highly metropolitan country: roughly two Australians in every three live within a capital-city region, while about one in three live elsewhere.