March 31, 2026 Population & Demography
Publication Summary
- Australia’s population grew by 1.5 per cent in 2024–25, slightly below the pre-pandemic average of 1.6 per cent, but this picture varied at the regional level.
- Capital city combined population growth fell to 1.8 per cent (325,000 people) in 2024–25 in line with the growth rate observed prior to the pandemic.
- This was down from 2.3 per cent in the previous year, reflecting the slowing net inflow of overseas migrants to capital cities (258,000 in 2024–25, down from 368,000 in 2023–24). Darwin was the only capital that grew faster (1.7 per cent) than the previous year (1.5 per cent).
- Perth (2.4 per cent) was the fastest growing capital city in 2024–25, while Hobart (0.2 per cent) was the only capital city with a growth rate below 1 per cent.
- Around 85 per cent of net overseas migration (NOM) went to capital cities in 2024–25, similar to the previous year and the three years prior to the pandemic.
- Net internal migration outflow from capital cities to rest-of-state areas was approximately 30,000 in 2024–25, lower than the 2023-24 high of 34,000.
- Combined rest-of-state areas growth aligned with the pre-pandemic trend (1.1 per cent or 95,000 people), slightly lower than 2023-24 (1.3 per cent).
- Although net overseas migration had fallen compared to 2023-24 levels, it remained the primary driver of rest-of-state growth (47,000).
- Many rest-of-state areas experienced natural decrease (more deaths than births), due to their older age structure.3 In most cases this was offset by net internal and overseas migration (e.g. Mid North Coast of New South Wales and Wide Bay of Queensland). However, some regions (such as Launceston) experienced population decline that primarily reflected net internal migration outflows.