Overview of Australia’s Population (March 2025)

Australia’s population continues to grow steadily, with New South Wales and Victoria leading in total population. However, the drivers of growth vary — migration plays a much larger role than natural increase in recent years.

What Drives Population Growth?

Population growth in Australia is largely shaped by net migration, especially after 2021 when international borders reopened. While natural increase (births minus deaths) remains stable, migration has become the dominant contributor.

Natural Increase by State

Although migration drives growth, natural increase still contributes modestly — particularly in New South Wales and Victoria. Smaller states show limited growth from births exceeding deaths.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2025). National, state and territory population statistics, March 2025. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population