Australia's population by country of birth, Jun 2024

The data presented in this release are population counts as at 30 June for the years specified. Most data in this release have been rounded. As a result, sums of components may not add to totals.

Australia's population by country of birth

As at 30 June 2024, Australia's estimated resident population was 27.2 million people, comprising 18.6 million people born in Australia and 8.6 million people born overseas.

Australia's overseas-born population increased by 396,000 people in 2024.
The proportion of Australia's population born overseas increased to 31.5% in 2024, up from 30.7% in 2023.

Proportion of Australia's population born overseas(a)(b)
Year	Proportion of overseas-born (%)	Number of Australian-born (M)	Number of overseas-born (M)
1891	32.4	1.80	0.86
1892	31.3	1.89	0.86
1893	30.2	1.98	0.86
1894	29.1	2.08	0.86
1895	28.1	2.18	0.86
1896	27.1	2.29	0.86
1897	26.2	2.40	0.86
1898	25.2	2.52	0.86
1899	24.3	2.65	0.86
1900	23.5	2.78	0.86
1901	22.7	2.92	0.86
1902	22.0	2.99	0.85
1903	21.4	3.06	0.84
1904	20.8	3.13	0.83
1905	20.2	3.21	0.82
1906	19.6	3.28	0.81
1907	19.1	3.36	0.80
1908	18.6	3.44	0.79
1909	18.0	3.53	0.78
1910	17.5	3.61	0.77
1911	17.0	3.70	0.76
1912	16.9	3.78	0.77
1913	16.7	3.86	0.77
1914	16.5	3.95	0.78
1915	16.4	4.03	0.79
1916	16.2	4.12	0.80
1917	16.0	4.21	0.81
1918	15.9	4.31	0.81
1919	15.7	4.40	0.82
1920	15.6	4.50	0.83
1921	15.4	4.60	0.84
1922	15.3	4.68	0.84
1923	15.1	4.77	0.85
1924	15.0	4.86	0.85
1925	14.8	4.95	0.86
1926	14.6	5.04	0.87
1927	14.5	5.13	0.87
1928	14.3	5.23	0.88
1929	14.2	5.32	0.88
1930	14.1	5.42	0.89
1931	13.9	5.52	0.89
1932	13.8	5.62	0.90
1933	13.6	5.73	0.90
1934	13.3	5.80	0.89
1935	13.0	5.87	0.88
1936	12.7	5.95	0.87
1937	12.4	6.02	0.85
1938	12.1	6.10	0.84
1939	11.8	6.18	0.83
1940	11.6	6.26	0.82
1941	11.3	6.34	0.81
1942	11.0	6.42	0.80
1943	10.8	6.50	0.79
1944	10.5	6.58	0.78
1945	10.3	6.66	0.77
1946	10.1	6.75	0.75
1947	9.8	6.84	0.74
1948	10.4	6.95	0.80
1949	10.9	7.07	0.87
1950	11.5	7.19	0.94
1951	12.2	7.32	1.02
1952	12.9	7.44	1.10
1953	13.6	7.57	1.19
1954	14.3	7.70	1.29
1955	14.7	7.84	1.35
1956	15.0	7.98	1.41
1957	15.4	8.13	1.48
1958	15.8	8.27	1.55
1959	16.1	8.42	1.62
1960	16.5	8.57	1.70
1961	16.9	8.73	1.78
1962	17.2	8.86	1.84
1963	17.5	9.00	1.91
1964	17.8	9.14	1.98
1965	18.1	9.28	2.06
1966	18.4	9.42	2.13
1967	18.8	9.57	2.21
1968	19.1	9.72	2.30
1969	19.5	9.87	2.39
1970	19.9	10.02	2.48
1971	20.2	10.18	2.58
1972	20.2	10.30	2.60
1973	20.1	10.43	2.62
1974	20.0	10.56	2.64
1975	20.0	10.69	2.67
1976	19.9	10.83	2.69
1977	20.0	10.96	2.75
1978	20.2	11.10	2.80
1979	20.3	11.24	2.86
1980	20.4	11.39	2.93
1981	20.6	11.53	2.99
1982	20.6	11.68	3.04
1983	20.7	11.83	3.09
1984	20.8	11.98	3.14
1985	20.8	12.14	3.19
1986	20.9	12.30	3.25
1987	21.2	12.43	3.34
1988	21.5	12.57	3.45
1989	21.8	12.72	3.55
1990	22.1	12.86	3.66
1991	22.5	13.00	3.77
1992	23.1	13.45	4.03
1993	23.0	13.58	4.05
1994	23.0	13.72	4.09
1995	23.1	13.85	4.15
1996	23.3	13.98	4.24
1997	23.3	14.13	4.29
1998	23.2	14.30	4.31
1999	23.1	14.47	4.35
2000	23.0	14.64	4.39
2001	23.1	14.82	4.45
2002	23.3	14.94	4.55
2003	23.6	15.07	4.66
2004	23.8	15.18	4.75
2005	24.2	15.30	4.88
2006	24.6	15.42	5.03
2007	25.1	15.59	5.23
2008	25.8	15.77	5.48
2009	26.4	15.96	5.73
2010	26.7	16.15	5.88
2011	26.9	16.32	6.02
2012	27.3	16.52	6.21
2013	27.7	16.72	6.41
2014	28.0	16.91	6.57
2015	28.3	17.09	6.73
2016	28.6	17.28	6.91
2017	29.0	17.45	7.14
2018	29.4	17.62	7.35
2019	29.8	17.79	7.55
2020	29.9	17.98	7.67
2021	29.3	18.16	7.53
2022	29.5	18.33	7.68
2023	30.7	18.47	8.18
2024	31.5	18.62	8.58

Proportion of Australia's population born overseas(a)(b)

["Year","Proportion of overseas-born (%)","Number of Australian-born","Number of overseas-born"]

[["1891","1892","1893","1894","1895","1896","1897","1898","1899","1900","1901","1902","1903","1904","1905","1906","1907","1908","1909","1910","1911","1912","1913","1914","1915","1916","1917","1918","1919","1920","1921","1922","1923","1924","1925","1926","1927","1928","1929","1930","1931","1932","1933","1934","1935","1936","1937","1938","1939","1940","1941","1942","1943","1944","1945","1946","1947","1948","1949","1950","1951","1952","1953","1954","1955","1956","1957","1958","1959","1960","1961","1962","1963","1964","1965","1966","1967","1968","1969","1970","1971","1972","1973","1974","1975","1976","1977","1978","1979","1980","1981","1982","1983","1984","1985","1986","1987","1988","1989","1990","1991","1992","1993","1994","1995","1996","1997","1998","1999","2000","2001","2002","2003","2004","2005","2006","2007","2008","2009","2010","2011","2012","2013","2014","2015","2016","2017","2018","2019","2020","2021","2022","2023","2024"],[[32.399999999999999],[31.300000000000001],[30.199999999999999],[29.100000000000001],[28.100000000000001],[27.100000000000001],[26.199999999999999],[25.199999999999999],[24.300000000000001],[23.5],[22.699999999999999],[22],[21.399999999999999],[20.800000000000001],[20.199999999999999],[19.600000000000001],[19.100000000000001],[18.600000000000001],[18],[17.5],[17],[16.899999999999999],[16.699999999999999],[16.5],[16.399999999999999],[16.199999999999999],[16],[15.9],[15.699999999999999],[15.6],[15.4],[15.300000000000001],[15.1],[15],[14.800000000000001],[14.6],[14.5],[14.300000000000001],[14.199999999999999],[14.1],[13.9],[13.800000000000001],[13.6],[13.300000000000001],[13],[12.699999999999999],[12.4],[12.1],[11.800000000000001],[11.6],[11.300000000000001],[11],[10.800000000000001],[10.5],[10.300000000000001],[10.1],[9.8000000000000007],[10.4],[10.9],[11.5],[12.199999999999999],[12.9],[13.6],[14.300000000000001],[14.699999999999999],[15],[15.4],[15.800000000000001],[16.100000000000001],[16.5],[16.899999999999999],[17.199999999999999],[17.5],[17.800000000000001],[18.100000000000001],[18.399999999999999],[18.800000000000001],[19.100000000000001],[19.5],[19.899999999999999],[20.199999999999999],[20.199999999999999],[20.100000000000001],[20],[20],[19.899999999999999],[20],[20.199999999999999],[20.300000000000001],[20.399999999999999],[20.600000000000001],[20.600000000000001],[20.699999999999999],[20.800000000000001],[20.800000000000001],[20.899999999999999],[21.199999999999999],[21.5],[21.800000000000001],[22.100000000000001],[22.5],[23.100000000000001],[23],[23],[23.100000000000001],[23.300000000000001],[23.300000000000001],[23.199999999999999],[23.100000000000001],[23],[23.100000000000001],[23.300000000000001],[23.600000000000001],[23.800000000000001],[24.199999999999999],[24.600000000000001],[25.100000000000001],[25.800000000000001],[26.399999999999999],[26.699999999999999],[26.899999999999999],[27.300000000000001],[27.699999999999999],[28],[28.300000000000001],[28.600000000000001],[29],[29.399999999999999],[29.800000000000001],[29.899999999999999],[29.300000000000001],[29.5],[30.699999999999999],[31.5]],[[1.8],[1.8899999999999999],[1.98],[2.0800000000000001],[2.1800000000000002],[2.29],[2.3999999999999999],[2.52],[2.6499999999999999],[2.7799999999999998],[2.9199999999999999],[2.9900000000000002],[3.0600000000000001],[3.1299999999999999],[3.21],[3.2799999999999998],[3.3599999999999999],[3.4399999999999999],[3.5299999999999998],[3.6099999999999999],[3.7000000000000002],[3.7799999999999998],[3.8599999999999999],[3.9500000000000002],[4.0300000000000002],[4.1200000000000001],[4.21],[4.3099999999999996],[4.4000000000000004],[4.5],[4.5999999999999996],[4.6799999999999997],[4.7699999999999996],[4.8600000000000003],[4.9500000000000002],[5.04],[5.1299999999999999],[5.2300000000000004],[5.3200000000000003],[5.4199999999999999],[5.5199999999999996],[5.6200000000000001],[5.7300000000000004],[5.7999999999999998],[5.8700000000000001],[5.9500000000000002],[6.0199999999999996],[6.0999999999999996],[6.1799999999999997],[6.2599999999999998],[6.3399999999999999],[6.4199999999999999],[6.5],[6.5800000000000001],[6.6600000000000001],[6.75],[6.8399999999999999],[6.9500000000000002],[7.0700000000000003],[7.1900000000000004],[7.3200000000000003],[7.4400000000000004],[7.5700000000000003],[7.7000000000000002],[7.8399999999999999],[7.9800000000000004],[8.1300000000000008],[8.2699999999999996],[8.4199999999999999],[8.5700000000000003],[8.7300000000000004],[8.8599999999999994],[9],[9.1400000000000006],[9.2799999999999994],[9.4199999999999999],[9.5700000000000003],[9.7200000000000006],[9.8699999999999992],[10.02],[10.18],[10.300000000000001],[10.43],[10.56],[10.69],[10.83],[10.960000000000001],[11.1],[11.24],[11.390000000000001],[11.529999999999999],[11.68],[11.83],[11.98],[12.140000000000001],[12.300000000000001],[12.43],[12.57],[12.720000000000001],[12.859999999999999],[13],[13.449999999999999],[13.58],[13.720000000000001],[13.85],[13.98],[14.130000000000001],[14.300000000000001],[14.470000000000001],[14.640000000000001],[14.82],[14.94],[15.07],[15.18],[15.300000000000001],[15.42],[15.59],[15.77],[15.960000000000001],[16.149999999999999],[16.32],[16.52],[16.719999999999999],[16.91],[17.09],[17.280000000000001],[17.449999999999999],[17.620000000000001],[17.789999999999999],[17.98],[18.16],[18.329999999999998],[18.469999999999999],[18.620000000000001]],[[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.85999999999999999],[0.84999999999999998],[0.83999999999999997],[0.82999999999999996],[0.81999999999999995],[0.81000000000000005],[0.80000000000000004],[0.79000000000000004],[0.78000000000000003],[0.77000000000000002],[0.76000000000000001],[0.77000000000000002],[0.77000000000000002],[0.78000000000000003],[0.79000000000000004],[0.80000000000000004],[0.81000000000000005],[0.81000000000000005],[0.81999999999999995],[0.82999999999999996],[0.83999999999999997],[0.83999999999999997],[0.84999999999999998],[0.84999999999999998],[0.85999999999999999],[0.87],[0.87],[0.88],[0.88],[0.89000000000000001],[0.89000000000000001],[0.90000000000000002],[0.90000000000000002],[0.89000000000000001],[0.88],[0.87],[0.84999999999999998],[0.83999999999999997],[0.82999999999999996],[0.81999999999999995],[0.81000000000000005],[0.80000000000000004],[0.79000000000000004],[0.78000000000000003],[0.77000000000000002],[0.75],[0.73999999999999999],[0.80000000000000004],[0.87],[0.93999999999999995],[1.02],[1.1000000000000001],[1.1899999999999999],[1.29],[1.3500000000000001],[1.4099999999999999],[1.48],[1.55],[1.6200000000000001],[1.7],[1.78],[1.8400000000000001],[1.9099999999999999],[1.98],[2.0600000000000001],[2.1299999999999999],[2.21],[2.2999999999999998],[2.3900000000000001],[2.48],[2.5800000000000001],[2.6000000000000001],[2.6200000000000001],[2.6400000000000001],[2.6699999999999999],[2.6899999999999999],[2.75],[2.7999999999999998],[2.8599999999999999],[2.9300000000000002],[2.9900000000000002],[3.04],[3.0899999999999999],[3.1400000000000001],[3.1899999999999999],[3.25],[3.3399999999999999],[3.4500000000000002],[3.5499999999999998],[3.6600000000000001],[3.77],[4.0300000000000002],[4.0499999999999998],[4.0899999999999999],[4.1500000000000004],[4.2400000000000002],[4.29],[4.3099999999999996],[4.3499999999999996],[4.3899999999999997],[4.4500000000000002],[4.5499999999999998],[4.6600000000000001],[4.75],[4.8799999999999999],[5.0300000000000002],[5.2300000000000004],[5.4800000000000004],[5.7300000000000004],[5.8799999999999999],[6.0199999999999996],[6.21],[6.4100000000000001],[6.5700000000000003],[6.7300000000000004],[6.9100000000000001],[7.1399999999999997],[7.3499999999999996],[7.5499999999999998],[7.6699999999999999],[7.5300000000000002],[7.6799999999999997],[8.1799999999999997],[8.5800000000000001]]]

[]

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Prior to 1992 based on Census counts. Data for 1992 to 2024 uses estimated resident population.
Population estimates for 2024 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.

Source prior to 1992: Historical population publication

Generally, more people migrate to Australia, than migrate away, with this net flow of migrants contributing to the growth of Australia’s population. On average, the overseas-born population has been growing at a faster rate than the Australian-born population, since the beginning of post-World War II migration. Over the past 20 years, the proportion of Australia’s population born overseas has increased from 23.8% in 2004, to 31.5% in 2024.

According to the earliest population records that contain country of birth, in 1891, 32% of the population was born overseas. This reflects high levels of immigration in the late 19th century. The proportion fell to a low of 10% in 1947 due to decreased migration during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. The proportion then rose rapidly as a result of high levels of post-war migration. From 1954 to 2020, there was a more steady increase in Australia's overseas-born population.

In 2021, the proportion of Australia's population born overseas declined. This is attributed to the COVID-19 travel restrictions and the resulting impact on overseas migration both to and from Australia. These travel restrictions were removed in 2022, and there was a subsequent increase in overseas migration into and out of Australia, notably by people born overseas migrating to Australia. The proportion of people born overseas had increased to 31.5% by 30 June 2024, up from 30.7% in 2023 and 29.5% in 2022. In 2023, this percentage exceeded 30% for this first time since 1893.

Countries where Australia's population was born

Over time, waves of migrants from different countries have arrived in Australia, influencing the diversity of Australia's population. In 2024, nearly every country from around the world was represented in the birthplaces of Australia's population.

As at 30 June 2024, the 4 most common countries of birth made up over one third of Australians who were born overseas.

Those born in England (964,000) continued to be the largest group born overseas. This is the first time in more than 10 years that this population has had an annual increase. It had been steadily decreasing from a peak of just over 1 million in 2013.
Those born in India (916,000) made up the second largest group, with a continued increase recorded over the last 3 years.
The third largest group was those born in China (700,000). After decreasing in 2020 and 2021, the Chinese-born population has now surpassed its previous peak of 661,000 in 2019.
Those born in New Zealand (618,000) were the fourth largest population, increasing from 598,000 people in 2023.

Australia’s estimated resident population at 30 June 2024 included 18.6 million people born in Australia; an increase of 146,000 since June 2023. This change was comprised of 167,000 people being added to the population from natural increase (births minus Australian-born deaths) and 21,000 being subtracted due to net overseas migration (Australian-born arrivals minus Australian-born departures).

Estimated resident population by country of birth(a)(b)
Country of birth(b)	2014	2014	2024	2024
Country of birth(b)	'000	%(c)	'000	%(c)
England	1010.97	4.3	963.56	3.5
India	411.24	1.8	916.33	3.4
China(d)	466.51	2.0	700.12	2.6
New Zealand	583.66	2.5	617.96	2.3
Philippines	230.19	1.0	394.38	1.5
Vietnam	228.53	1.0	318.76	1.2
South Africa	174.93	0.7	224.16	0.8
Nepal	42.90	0.2	197.80	0.7
Malaysia	139.39	0.6	183.49	0.7
Sri Lanka	115.06	0.5	172.80	0.6
Total overseas-born	6570.23	28.0	8576.68	31.5
Australian-born	16905.45	72.0	18617.69	68.5
Total population	23475.69	100	27194.37	100

Population estimates for 2024 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Top 10 countries of birth for Australia’s estimated resident population as at 30 June 2024 (excludes Australia).
Proportion of Australia’s total population.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

Estimated resident population by country of birth(a)(b)
	2014 ('000)	2019 ('000)	2024 ('000)
England	1,010.97	988.89	963.56
India	411.24	665.40	916.33
China(c)	466.51	661.46	700.12
New Zealand	583.66	582.85	617.96
Philippines	230.19	294.16	394.38
Vietnam	228.53	268.07	318.76
South Africa	174.93	195.14	224.16
Nepal	42.90	119.06	197.80
Malaysia	139.39	177.51	183.49
Sri Lanka	115.06	137.48	172.80

Estimated resident population by country of birth(a)(b)

["","2014","2019","2024"]

[["England","India","China(c)","New Zealand","Philippines","Vietnam","South Africa","Nepal","Malaysia","Sri Lanka"],[[1010.97],[411.24000000000001],[466.50999999999999],[583.65999999999997],[230.19],[228.53],[174.93000000000001],[42.899999999999999],[139.38999999999999],[115.06]],[[988.88999999999999],[665.39999999999998],[661.46000000000004],[582.85000000000002],[294.16000000000003],[268.06999999999999],[195.13999999999999],[119.06],[177.50999999999999],[137.47999999999999]],[[963.55999999999995],[916.33000000000004],[700.12],[617.96000000000004],[394.38],[318.75999999999999],[224.16],[197.80000000000001],[183.49000000000001],[172.80000000000001]]]

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Population estimates for 2024 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Top 10 countries of birth for Australia’s estimated resident population as at 30 June 2024 (excludes Australia).
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

The countries of birth (excluding Australia) with the largest increases in Australia’s population between 2014 and 2024 were:

India, with an increase of 505,000 people
China, with 234,000
The Philippines, with 164,000
Nepal, with 155,000.

Estimated resident population by countries of birth with largest increases since 2014(a)(b)
	2014 ('000)	2019 ('000)	2024 ('000)
India	411.24	665.40	916.33
China(c)	466.51	661.46	700.12
Philippines	230.19	294.16	394.38
Nepal	42.90	119.06	197.80
Vietnam	228.53	268.07	318.76
Pakistan	54.40	91.65	134.72
Sri Lanka	115.06	137.48	172.80
Thailand	61.76	86.07	114.28
Colombia	17.96	35.53	70.01
South Africa	174.93	195.14	224.16

Estimated resident population by countries of birth with largest increases since 2014(a)(b)

["","2014","2019","2024"]

[["India","China(c)","Philippines","Nepal","Vietnam","Pakistan","Sri Lanka","Thailand","Colombia","South Africa"],[[411.24000000000001],[466.50999999999999],[230.19],[42.899999999999999],[228.53],[54.399999999999999],[115.06],[61.759999999999998],[17.960000000000001],[174.93000000000001]],[[665.39999999999998],[661.46000000000004],[294.16000000000003],[119.06],[268.06999999999999],[91.650000000000006],[137.47999999999999],[86.069999999999993],[35.530000000000001],[195.13999999999999]],[[916.33000000000004],[700.12],[394.38],[197.80000000000001],[318.75999999999999],[134.72],[172.80000000000001],[114.28],[70.010000000000005],[224.16]]]

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Population estimates for 2024 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Top 10 countries of birth with the largest increase in population from 30 June 2014 to 30 June 2024 (excludes Australia).
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

The top 4 countries of birth with the largest decreases in Australia’s population between 2014 and 2024 were all European countries. The largest decreases occurred for people born in:

England (population decreased by 47,000 people)
Italy (44,000)
Greece (28,000)
Germany (18,000).

In 2024, these countries of birth all had a median age of 60 or over, reflecting high levels of migration from these countries in the years following World War II. Italy has now dropped out of Australia’s top 10 countries of birth for the first time since 1901.

State and territory

Australia's population by country of birth is measured at 30 June each year. Data is only available at the state and territory level for census years, most recently 2021.

The proportion of Australia's population born overseas nationally was 29.3% as at 30 June 2021. However, this varied across the country.

In 2021, Western Australia had the highest proportion of people born overseas at 34.1% and Tasmania had the lowest at 16.3%.

Overview

Estimated resident population by state and territory - proportion born overseas(a)(b)(c)
	2001 (%)	2006 (%)	2011 (%)	2016 (%)	2021 (%)
WA	28.6	29.9	33.4	35.0	34.1
Vic	24.5	26.3	28.7	30.7	31.7
NSW	24.8	26.5	28.3	30.1	31.0
ACT	22.9	23.6	26.1	28.2	29.8
SA	21.2	21.9	23.7	24.5	25.1
Qld	18.0	19.7	22.5	23.5	24.2
NT	16.1	15.7	18.9	22.6	23.9
Tas	10.8	11.5	12.5	13.1	16.3

Estimated resident population by state and territory - proportion born overseas(a)(b)(c)

["","2001","2006","2011","2016","2021"]

[["WA","Vic","NSW","ACT","SA","Qld","NT","Tas"],[[28.600000000000001],[24.5],[24.800000000000001],[22.899999999999999],[21.199999999999999],[18],[16.100000000000001],[10.800000000000001]],[[29.899999999999999],[26.300000000000001],[26.5],[23.600000000000001],[21.899999999999999],[19.699999999999999],[15.699999999999999],[11.5]],[[33.399999999999999],[28.699999999999999],[28.300000000000001],[26.100000000000001],[23.699999999999999],[22.5],[18.899999999999999],[12.5]],[[35],[30.699999999999999],[30.100000000000001],[28.199999999999999],[24.5],[23.5],[22.600000000000001],[13.1]],[[34.100000000000001],[31.699999999999999],[31],[29.800000000000001],[25.100000000000001],[24.199999999999999],[23.899999999999999],[16.300000000000001]]]

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Country of birth is available at the state and territory level for census years only.
Proportion of each state or territory's total population that was born overseas.
States and territories sorted from largest to smallest proportion as at 30 June 2021.

The proportion of the population born overseas increased for most states and territories between 2016 and 2021.

Tasmania had the largest increase over the five-year period, growing from 13.1% to 16.3%.
Western Australia was the only state or territory to record a decrease over this time, from 35.0% down to 34.1%.

Estimated resident population by country of birth - state and territory - 2021(a)
	Overseas-born		Australian-born		Total
	'000	%(b)	'000	%(b)	'000
NSW	2,510.26	31.0	5,586.80	69.0	8,097.06
Vic	2,072.57	31.7	4,475.25	68.3	6,547.82
Qld	1,263.64	24.2	3,952.17	75.8	5,215.81
SA	452.41	25.1	1,350.19	74.9	1,802.60
WA	938.90	34.1	1,810.47	65.9	2,749.37
Tas	92.32	16.3	474.92	83.7	567.24
NT	59.24	23.9	188.91	76.1	248.15
ACT	134.90	29.8	317.61	70.2	452.51
Aust(c)	7,525.87	29.3	18,159.54	70.7	25,685.41

Country of birth is available at the state and territory level for census years only.
Proportion of each state or territory's total population.
Includes Other Territories. See Classifications on the methodology page.

As at 30 June 2021, the countries of birth with the largest populations in Australia were England, India, China and New Zealand. At the state and territory level, the top countries of birth varied.

Estimated resident population - top country of birth for each state and territory - 2021(a)
	Country of birth	'000	%(b)
NSW	China(c)	261.33	3.2
Vic	India	272.25	4.2
Qld	New Zealand	229.92	4.4
SA	England	98.77	5.5
WA	England	211.73	7.7
Tas	England	20.42	3.6
NT	Philippines	7.32	3.0
ACT	India	17.51	3.9
Aust(d)	England	973.95	3.8

Country of birth is available at the state and territory level for census years only.
Proportion of each state or territory's total population.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
Includes Other Territories. See Classifications on the methodology page.

New South Wales

Estimated resident population – NSW – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
China(b)	92.42	190.00	261.33
England	248.44	248.60	240.53
India	39.26	109.10	219.23
New Zealand	117.96	128.83	128.46
Philippines	57.85	79.38	110.85
Vietnam	67.08	80.64	103.71
Nepal	1.64	17.31	69.22
Lebanon	59.81	66.45	68.78
Iraq	18.08	33.58	59.93
Korea, South	28.12	47.72	55.16

Victoria

Estimated resident population – Vic – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
India	31.14	126.82	272.25
China(b)	38.86	112.75	182.14
England	180.31	184.62	181.44
New Zealand	60.61	89.27	108.64
Vietnam	59.49	76.23	99.35
Sri Lanka	29.86	50.45	72.10
Philippines	24.46	42.34	71.25
Italy	94.71	82.67	66.05
Malaysia	26.93	45.69	65.36
Greece	63.01	60.12	50.38

Queensland

Estimated resident population – Qld – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
New Zealand	137.05	215.62	229.92
England	158.16	194.84	201.75
India	7.24	34.93	76.87
China(b)	9.44	33.22	60.35
Philippines	16.56	33.10	54.35
South Africa	15.38	39.35	53.30
Vietnam	12.06	18.34	26.35
Scotland	22.45	25.48	24.52
USA	11.07	18.43	22.90
Germany	20.56	24.58	22.28

South Australia

Estimated resident population – SA – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
England	112.42	108.36	98.77
India	3.75	21.02	47.19
China(b)	3.82	19.34	27.47
Vietnam	10.89	13.41	18.15
Italy	25.83	22.06	17.00
Philippines	4.87	9.79	16.19
New Zealand	11.80	14.05	14.63
Scotland	15.72	14.29	12.18
Germany	13.76	12.84	9.93
Malaysia	4.50	8.04	9.51

Western Australia

Estimated resident population – WA – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
England	186.55	213.39	211.73
New Zealand	49.68	80.97	85.59
India	13.55	34.64	66.55
South Africa	16.99	39.80	49.30
Philippines	5.97	19.88	40.47
Malaysia	19.39	29.43	34.80
China(b)	5.71	20.52	31.22
Scotland	25.60	29.57	28.84
Vietnam	10.78	14.59	19.92
Ireland	9.72	17.05	19.91

Tasmania

Estimated resident population – Tas – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
England	19.85	20.93	20.42
China(b)	0.50	2.33	7.44
India	0.59	1.66	6.53
Nepal	0.02	0.33	6.48
New Zealand	4.01	5.46	6.06
Philippines	0.86	1.41	2.59
Scotland	2.85	2.86	2.48
USA	1.10	1.72	2.34
Netherlands	2.95	2.77	2.29
South Africa	1.09	1.69	2.27

Northern Territory

Estimated resident population – NT – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
Philippines	2.13	4.43	7.32
India	0.59	2.39	5.86
England	6.62	6.35	5.79
New Zealand	4.11	4.84	4.84
Nepal	0.01	0.42	3.46
China(b)	0.41	1.13	1.98
Indonesia	0.95	1.27	1.69
Vietnam	0.66	0.82	1.59
USA	1.50	1.38	1.50
Sri Lanka	0.35	0.58	1.49

Australian Capital Territory

Estimated resident population – ACT – top 10 countries of birth(a)
	2001 ('000)	2011 ('000)	2021 ('000)
India	1.93	6.50	17.51
England	15.24	13.79	13.41
China(b)	2.20	8.03	12.72
Nepal	0.06	0.31	5.69
New Zealand	4.36	4.79	5.46
Philippines	1.55	2.67	5.16
Vietnam	2.35	3.26	4.24
USA	2.17	2.76	3.67
Sri Lanka	1.66	2.58	3.41
Pakistan	0.33	1.24	3.05

Age and sex

The age structures of the population born in Australia and those born overseas are different, with the population born overseas tending to be older. This structure is influenced by many factors including that most people migrate to Australia as adults, and that when migrants have their children in Australia their children are included in the proportion born in Australia.

As at 30 June 2024, the age groups with the largest populations for:

People born in Australia, were 5-9 and 10-14 year olds (both at 5.4% of the total population)
People born overseas were 35-39 year olds (3.2%) and 30-34 year olds (3.1%).

Ten years earlier, in 2014, the most highly populated age group for:

People born in Australia was 0-4 year olds (6.3% of the total population)
People born overseas was 30-34 year olds (2.7%).

Estimated resident population - proportion of Australia's population born in Australia and overseas by age and sex(a)(b)
Age group (years)	Aust-born males (%)	OS-born males (%)	Aust-born females (%)	OS-born females (%)
0 - 4	2.7	0.1	2.6	0.1
5 - 9	2.8	0.3	2.6	0.3
10 - 14	2.8	0.4	2.6	0.4
15 - 19	2.6	0.6	2.4	0.5
20 - 24	2.3	1.1	2.2	1
25 - 29	2.3	1.4	2.2	1.5
30 - 34	2.2	1.5	2.2	1.6
35 - 39	2.1	1.5	2	1.6
40 - 44	1.9	1.4	1.9	1.5
45 - 49	1.8	1.1	1.9	1.2
50 - 54	2.1	1	2.1	1.1
55 - 59	1.8	1	1.8	1
60 - 64	1.8	0.9	1.9	1
65 - 69	1.6	0.8	1.7	0.9
70 - 74	1.3	0.7	1.5	0.8
75 - 79	1	0.7	1.2	0.7
80 - 84	0.6	0.4	0.8	0.5
85 - 89	0.3	0.2	0.5	0.3
90 - 94	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.1
95 - 99	0	0	0.1	0
100 +	0	0	0	0

Estimated resident population - proportion of Australia's population born in Australia and overseas by age and sex(a)(b)

["Age group (years)","Aust-born males","OS-born males","Aust-born females","OS-born females"]

[["0 - 4","5 - 9","10 - 14","15 - 19","20 - 24","25 - 29","30 - 34","35 - 39","40 - 44","45 - 49","50 - 54","55 - 59","60 - 64","65 - 69","70 - 74","75 - 79","80 - 84","85 - 89","90 - 94","95 - 99","100 +"],[[2.7000000000000002],[2.7999999999999998],[2.7999999999999998],[2.6000000000000001],[2.2999999999999998],[2.2999999999999998],[2.2000000000000002],[2.1000000000000001],[1.8999999999999999],[1.8],[2.1000000000000001],[1.8],[1.8],[1.6000000000000001],[1.3],[1],[0.59999999999999998],[0.29999999999999999],[0.10000000000000001],[0],[0]],[[0.10000000000000001],[0.29999999999999999],[0.40000000000000002],[0.59999999999999998],[1.1000000000000001],[1.3999999999999999],[1.5],[1.5],[1.3999999999999999],[1.1000000000000001],[1],[1],[0.90000000000000002],[0.80000000000000004],[0.69999999999999996],[0.69999999999999996],[0.40000000000000002],[0.20000000000000001],[0.10000000000000001],[0],[0]],[[2.6000000000000001],[2.6000000000000001],[2.6000000000000001],[2.3999999999999999],[2.2000000000000002],[2.2000000000000002],[2.2000000000000002],[2],[1.8999999999999999],[1.8999999999999999],[2.1000000000000001],[1.8],[1.8999999999999999],[1.7],[1.5],[1.2],[0.80000000000000004],[0.5],[0.20000000000000001],[0.10000000000000001],[0]],[[0.10000000000000001],[0.29999999999999999],[0.40000000000000002],[0.5],[1],[1.5],[1.6000000000000001],[1.6000000000000001],[1.5],[1.2],[1.1000000000000001],[1],[1],[0.90000000000000002],[0.80000000000000004],[0.69999999999999996],[0.5],[0.29999999999999999],[0.10000000000000001],[0],[0]]]

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Population estimates for 2024 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Australian-born and overseas-born persons as a proportion of Australia's total population as at 30 June 2024.

Median age and sex ratio

Median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger, and provides an indication of the overall age of the population. Comparing median age over time can identify whether a population is ageing and how fast the change is occurring.

The median age for the Australian-born population has gradually been increasing over time, from 32 years in 2004 to 35 years as at 30 June 2024.

In contrast, the median age of those born overseas has fluctuated over time, peaking at a median of 46 years in 2002 and decreasing to 44 years in 2019. In 2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the decrease in younger people (such as international students) migrating to Australia, the median age of the overseas-born population increased to 45 years. In 2024 it decreased to 43 years, after the re-opening of international borders in 2022 and the associated increase in migrant arrivals.

Migrant populations from many countries that were part of the post-World War II migration streams have a high median age, with fewer people now migrating from these countries. At 30 June 2024, Australians born in Greece had a median age of 76 years and those born in Italy had a median age of 74 years. In contrast, the more recently arrived Nepalese-born population had a median age of 29 years in 2024.

Estimated resident population by country of birth - median age and sex ratio(a)(b)
Country of birth(b)		Median age(c)			Sex ratio(d)
Country of birth(b)	2004	2014	2024	2004	2014	2024
England	53	54	60	102	104	103
India	38	33	36	121	121	117
China(e)	40	35	40	86	81	81
New Zealand	39	40	46	105	105	103
Philippines	40	39	40	55	65	70
Vietnam	39	44	47	93	84	78
South Africa	37	41	46	99	99	98
Nepal	29	28	29	182	129	119
Malaysia	39	39	43	87	88	87
Sri Lanka	43	41	41	104	107	107
Total overseas-born	46	44	43	99	97	96
Australian-born	32	34	35	99	99	100
Total	36	37	38	99	99	99

Population estimates for 2024 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
Top 10 countries of birth for Australia’s estimated resident population as at 30 June 2024 (excludes Australia).
Median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.
Sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females.
Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

As at 30 June 2024 (for countries of birth with a resident population of at least 1000), the group with the:

highest median age was from Latvia, at 80 years
lowest median age was Qatar, at 14 years
highest sex ratio was Vanuatu, with 260 males per 100 females
lowest sex ratio was Thailand, with 43 males per 100 females.

International comparisons

In 2024, the United Nations estimated there were 304 million people worldwide residing outside their country of birth, making up 3.7% of the global population.

The USA had more international migrants in its population than any other country, with 52.4 million. This group made up 15.2% of its total population.

Germany was the second highest with 16.8 million people born in a different country (19.8% of its population), followed by Saudi Arabia with 13.7 million (40.3% of its population).

Australia ranked eighth with 8.6 million people (31.5% of its population in 2024).

Migrant populations around the world(a) - count and proportion born overseas
Country of residence(a)	2015	2015	2024	2024
Country of residence(a)	Million	%	Million	%
USA	47.94	14.7	52.38	15.2
Germany	12.65	15.4	16.75	19.8
Saudi Arabia	13.25	44.2	13.68	40.3
United Kingdom(b)	9.07	13.9	11.85	17.1
France	7.98	12.3	9.19	13.8
Spain(c)	5.89	12.6	8.87	18.5
Canada	8.05	22.4	8.81	22.2
Australia(d)	6.73	28.3	8.58	31.5
United Arab Emirates	6.86	79.1	8.16	74.0
Russian Federation	9.10	6.3	7.61	5.3
Türkiye	3.75	4.7	7.08	8.1
Italy	5.51	9.1	6.55	11.0
Jordan	4.39	46	5.28	45.7
Ukraine	4.92	10.7	5.06	13.4
India	5.25	0.4	4.80	0.3
Pakistan	3.51	1.6	4.18	1.7
Iran	2.73	3.3	3.84	4.2
Malaysia	3.51	11.2	3.81	10.7
Japan	2.58	2.0	3.41	2.8
Kuwait	2.61	68.1	3.32	67.3
World	250.04	3.3	304.02	3.7

Top 20 countries based on 2024 data, with highest number of people born outside their country of residence.
Excludes Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
Includes Ceuta and Melilla.
Data is sourced from the ABS.

Source: United Nations Population Division International Migration Stock 2024

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Data files

1. Estimated resident population by country of birth - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2024
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2. Estimated resident population by country of birth, state/territory - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2021 - census years
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3. Estimated resident population by country of birth, median age - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2024
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4. Estimated resident population by country of birth, sex ratio - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2024
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Data Explorer datasets

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Two datasets are available for Australia’s Population by Country of Birth in Data Explorer.

1. Estimated resident population, country of birth, age and sex — as at 30 June annually — 1996 onwards
2. Estimated resident population, country of birth, state/territory, age and sex — as at 30 June Census years only — 1996 onwards

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Australia's population by country of birth

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