AAUSTRALIA
FACTBOOK
Australia FactbookDraft

November 2026 Edition

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Australia Factbook · National chapter / AUS

People and Society

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2021 Factbook flag mirror; image identity has not been individually audited. Source.

Last updated: October 29, 2026

Sections in People and Society
  1. Population
  2. Nationality
  3. Ethnic groups
  4. Languages
  5. Religions
  6. Age structure
  7. Dependency ratios
  8. Median age
  9. Population growth rate
  10. Birth rate
  11. Death rate
  12. Net migration rate
  13. Population distribution
  14. Urbanization
  15. Major urban areas - population
  16. Sex ratio
  17. Mother's mean age at first birth
  18. Maternal mortality ratio
  19. Infant mortality rate
  20. Life expectancy at birth
  21. Total fertility rate
  22. Gross reproduction rate
  23. Drinking water source
  24. Health expenditure
  25. Physician density
  26. Hospital bed density
  27. Sanitation facility access
  28. Obesity - adult prevalence rate
  29. Alcohol consumption per capita
  30. Tobacco use
  31. Currently married women (ages 15-49)
  32. Education expenditure
  33. School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

People and Society

Population:24

Population: 27,614,411 people (2025)

total:26,768,598 (2024 est.)
male:13,305,110
female:13,463,488
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [24]

Nationality:26

noun:Australian(s)
adjective:Australian
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [26]

Ethnic groups:27

English 33%, Australian 29.9%, Irish 9.5%, Scottish 8.6%, Chinese 5.5%, Italian 4.4%, German 4%, Indian 3.1%, Australian Aboriginal 2.9%, Greek 1.7%, unspecified 4.7% (2021 est.)
note:data represent self-identified ancestry, with the option of reporting two ancestries
Source context

Reference period: 2021 est..

Original reference ↗

Source note [27]

Languages:28

English 72%, Mandarin 2.7%, Arabic 1.4%, Vietnamese 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, other 15.7%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)
note:data represent language spoken at home
Source context

Reference period: 2021 est..

Original reference ↗

Source note [28]

Religions:29

Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant 18.1% (Anglican 9.8%, Uniting Church 2.6%, Presbyterian and Reformed 1.6%, Baptist 1.4%, Pentecostal 1%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 3.5%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 2.7%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox 0.2%), other 2.1%, none 38.4%, unspecified 7.3% (2021 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2021 est..

Original reference ↗

Source note [29]

Age structure:30

0-14 years:18.3% (male 2,526,772/female 2,369,425)
15-64 years:64.7% (male 8,688,023/female 8,640,671)
65 years and over:17% (2024 est.) (male 2,090,315/female 2,453,392)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [30]

Dependency ratios:31

total dependency ratio:54.5 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio:28.3 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:26.2 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio:3.8 (2024 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [31]

Median age:32

total:38.1 years (2024 est.)
male:36.9 years
female:39.2 years
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [32]

Population growth rate:33

Population growth rate: 1.53 % annually (2025)

Source context

Reference period: 2024.

Original reference ↗

Source note [33]

Birth rate:35

Crude birth rate: 10.7 births per 1,000 people (2024)

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2024.

Original reference ↗

Source note [35]

Death rate:37

Crude death rate: 6.88 deaths per 1,000 people (2024)

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2024.

Original reference ↗

Source note [37]

Net migration rate:39

5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2024.

Original reference ↗

Source note [39]

Population distribution:40

population is primarily located on the periphery, with the highest concentration of people residing in the east and southeast; a secondary population center is located in and around Perth in the west; of the states and territories, New South Wales has, by far, the largest population; the interior, or "outback," has a very sparse population
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [40]

Urbanization:41

Urban population: 87.72 % of population (2025)

urban population:86.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:1.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note:data include Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [41]

Major urban areas - population:43

5.235 million Melbourne, 5.121 million Sydney, 2.505 million Brisbane, 2.118 million Perth, 1.367 million Adelaide, 472,000 CANBERRA (capital) (2023)
Source context

Reference period: 2023.

Original reference ↗

Source note [43]

Sex ratio:44

at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.85 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [44]

Mother's mean age at first birth:45

28.7 years (2019 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2019.

Original reference ↗

Source note [45]

Maternal mortality ratio:46

Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths per 100,000 live births (2023)

2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2023.

Original reference ↗

Source note [46]

Infant mortality rate:48

Infant mortality rate: 3.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)

total:2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male:3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female:2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [48]

Life expectancy at birth:50

Life expectancy at birth: 83.05 years (2024)

total population:83.5 years (2024 est.)
male:81.3 years
female:85.7 years
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [50]

Total fertility rate:52

Total fertility rate: 1.48 births per woman (2024)

1.73 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2024.

Original reference ↗

Source note [52]

Gross reproduction rate:54

Source context

Reference period: 2024.

Original reference ↗

Source note [54]

Drinking water source:55

At least basic drinking water services: 99.97 % of population (2024)

improved

urban:100% of population (2022 est.)
rural:100% of population (2022 est.)
total:100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved

urban:0% of population (2022 est.)
rural:0% of population (2022 est.)
total:0% of population (2022 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [55]

Health expenditure:57

Current health expenditure: 10.4 % of GDP (2023)

Health expenditure (as % of GDP):10.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget):20.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [57]

Physician density:59

Physicians: 4.09 per 1,000 people (2022)

4.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Source context

Reference period: 2022.

Original reference ↗

Source note [59]

Hospital bed density:61

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Source context

Reference period: 2016.

Original reference ↗

Source note [61]

Sanitation facility access:62

At least basic sanitation services: 100 % of population (2024)

improved

total:100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved

total:0% of population (2022 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [62]

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:64

Source context

Reference period: 2016.

Original reference ↗

Source note [64]

Alcohol consumption per capita:65

total:9.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer:3.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine:3.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits:1.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols:0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [65]

Tobacco use:66

total:11.4% (2025 est.)
male:13.6% (2025 est.)
female:9.2% (2025 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [66]

Currently married women (ages 15-49):67

Source context

Reference period: 2023.

Original reference ↗

Source note [67]

Education expenditure:68

Government education expenditure: 5.06 % of GDP (2022)

Education expenditure (% GDP):5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget):12.7% national budget (2022 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [68]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):70

total:21 years (2023 est.)
male:20 years (2023 est.)
female:21 years (2023 est.)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [70]

Historical observations

Notes & sources

  1. Population. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Different reference years; no numerical agreement is asserted. World Bank: 27,614,411 people (2025). Reference: 26,768,598 people (2024). Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  2. Population. Population: observation 2025; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Different reference years; no numerical agreement is asserted. World Bank: 27,614,411 people (2025). Reference: 26,768,598 people (2024). ↩
  3. Nationality. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  4. Ethnic groups. Reference edition; observation: 2021 est.. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  5. Languages. Reference edition; observation: 2021 est.. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  6. Religions. Reference edition; observation: 2021 est.. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  7. Age structure. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  8. Dependency ratios. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  9. Median age. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  10. Population growth rate. Reference edition; observation: 2024. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  11. Population growth rate. Population growth rate: observation 2025; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  12. Birth rate. Reference edition; observation: 2024. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  13. Crude birth rate. Crude birth rate: observation 2024; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  14. Death rate. Reference edition; observation: 2024. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  15. Crude death rate. Crude death rate: observation 2024; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  16. Net migration rate. Reference edition; observation: 2024. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  17. Population distribution. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  18. Urbanization. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  19. Urban population. Urban population: observation 2025; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  20. Major urban areas - population. Reference edition; observation: 2023. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  21. Sex ratio. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  22. Mother's mean age at first birth. Reference edition; observation: 2019. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  23. Maternal mortality ratio. Reference edition; observation: 2023. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  24. Maternal mortality ratio. Maternal mortality ratio: observation 2023; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  25. Infant mortality rate. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  26. Infant mortality rate. Infant mortality rate: observation 2024; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  27. Life expectancy at birth. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  28. Life expectancy at birth. Life expectancy at birth: observation 2024; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  29. Total fertility rate. Reference edition; observation: 2024. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  30. Total fertility rate. Total fertility rate: observation 2024; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  31. Gross reproduction rate. Reference edition; observation: 2024. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  32. Drinking water source. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  33. At least basic drinking water services. At least basic drinking water services: observation 2024; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. This separately sourced basic-service observation is shown alongside the reference edition’s improved/unimproved categories. It does not replace those category totals. ↩
  34. Health expenditure. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  35. Current health expenditure. Current health expenditure: observation 2023; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  36. Physician density. Reference edition; observation: 2022. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  37. Physicians. Physicians: observation 2022; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  38. Hospital bed density. Reference edition; observation: 2016. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  39. Sanitation facility access. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  40. At least basic sanitation services. At least basic sanitation services: observation 2024; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. This separately sourced basic-service observation is shown alongside the reference edition’s improved/unimproved categories. It does not replace those category totals. ↩
  41. Obesity - adult prevalence rate. Reference edition; observation: 2016. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  42. Alcohol consumption per capita. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  43. Tobacco use. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  44. Currently married women (ages 15-49). Reference edition; observation: 2023. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  45. Education expenditure. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  46. Government education expenditure. Government education expenditure: observation 2022; checked 2026-10-29; single source. World Bank World Development Indicators. Latest available World Bank series in 2020–2026; reference year is not retrieval year. May be modeled or revised; differing definitions and geography require review. No independent crosscheck; do not silently replace archived Factbook. ↩
  47. School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education). Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-04 09:22:13 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
← GeographyNotes & sourcesEnvironment →

Countries & territories

Same-year values. Equal values share a rank.

Sources & method

Ranks cover available countries and territories, using the same indicator, source unit and reference year. Unrounded source values determine ties. Coverage is not a sovereign-country or complete global ranking; national definitions may differ. Missing values and other years are excluded. The information icon preserves the original number, unit and evidence.

RankCountry or territoryValue
Source information
International organization

Source observations