Any reference to population refers to Estimated Resident Population (ERP).
Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to area refers to Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2).
Regional population
Latest release
Statistics about the population and components of change (births, deaths, migration) for Australia's capital cities and regions
Reference period
2022-23 financial year
Released
26/03/2024
Key statistics
- The capitals grew by 517,200 people (3.0%) in 2022-23.
- Capital city growth comprised overseas migration (454,900), natural increase (89,200) and internal migration (-26,900).
- Melbourne had the largest increase (167,500), Perth had the highest growth rate (3.6%).
- Regional Australia grew by 117,300 (1.4%).
Capital cities
Population change
- Melbourne had the largest growth (up by 167,500 people), followed by Sydney (146,700), Perth (81,300) and Brisbane (81,200).
- Perth had the highest growth rate (3.6%), followed by Melbourne (3.3%) and Brisbane (3.1%).
| ERP at 30 June 2023 | 2022-23 (no.) | 2022-23 (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 5,450,496 | 146,702 | 2.8 |
| Melbourne | 5,207,145 | 167,484 | 3.3 |
| Brisbane | 2,706,966 | 81,220 | 3.1 |
| Adelaide | 1,446,380 | 28,057 | 2.0 |
| Perth | 2,309,338 | 81,318 | 3.6 |
| Hobart | 253,654 | 1,165 | 0.5 |
| Darwin | 150,736 | 1,582 | 1.1 |
| Canberra | 466,566 | 9,651 | 2.1 |
| Total capital cities | 17,991,281 | 517,179 | 3.0 |
Components of population change
Population change at the regional level has three components: natural increase, internal migration and overseas migration.
- Natural increase was highest in Sydney followed by Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
- Brisbane and Perth were the only capitals to have net internal migration gains. Net internal migration loss was largest in Sydney and Melbourne.
- All capital cities experienced net overseas migration gain, which was largest in Sydney followed by Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
Regions
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (up by 4,300 people) in Melbourne's outer west
- Marsden Park - Shanes Park and Box Hill - Nelson (both 3,900) in Sydney's outer north-west
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Strathnairn (50%) in Canberra's outer north-west
- Taylor (46%) in Canberra's outer north
- Box Hill - Nelson (27%)
Outside of the capital cities:
- Caloundra West - Baringa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast had the largest growth (up by 1,700 people) and highest growth rate (9.8%)
| SA2 | SA4 | ERP at 30 June 2023 | 2022-23 (no.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockbank - Mount Cottrell | Melbourne - West | 27,259 | 4,299 |
| Marsden Park - Shanes Park | Sydney - Blacktown | 23,778 | 3,908 |
| Box Hill - Nelson | Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury | 18,386 | 3,854 |
| Schofields - East | Sydney - Blacktown | 33,165 | 3,483 |
| Fraser Rise - Plumpton | Melbourne - West | 16,420 | 3,429 |
| SA2(a) | SA4 | ERP at 30 June 2023 | 2022-23 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strathnairn | Australian Capital Territory | 1,576 | 50.4 |
| Taylor | Australian Capital Territory | 3,706 | 46.4 |
| Box Hill - Nelson | Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury | 18,386 | 26.5 |
| Fraser Rise - Plumpton | Melbourne - West | 16,420 | 26.4 |
| Denman Prospect | Australian Capital Territory | 4,191 | 20.2 |
- Excludes SA2s with less than 1,000 people at June 2022.
Centre of population
Population density
Population grid
New South Wales
Population change
Greater Sydney increased by 146,700 people (2.8%), the rest of the state increased by 28,900 (1.0%).
The areas with the largest growth were in Sydney's outer north-west:
- Marsden Park - Shanes Park and Box Hill - Nelson, both up by 3,900 people
- Schofields - East (up by 3,500 people)
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Box Hill - Nelson (27%)
- Marsden Park - Shanes Park (20%)
- Ultimo (19%) in inner Sydney
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (156,600 people) and natural increase (28,500) were positive contributors to Greater Sydney's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-38,400).
- Schofields - East had the largest natural increase (500 people).
- Box Hill - Nelson had the largest net internal migration gain (3,300).
- Sydney (South) - Haymarket in the city centre had the largest net overseas migration gain (2,700).
Centre of population
Population density
Victoria
Population change
Greater Melbourne increased by 167,500 people (3.3%), the rest of the state increased by 17,300 (1.1%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (up by 4,300 people) and Fraser Rise - Plumpton (3,400), both in Melbourne's outer west
- Mickleham - Yuroke (also 3,400) in Melbourne's outer north
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Fraser Rise - Plumpton (26%)
- Tarneit - North (19%) in Melbourne's outer west
- Clayton (North) - Notting Hill (also 19%) in Melbourne's south-east
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (146,800 people) and natural increase (27,400) were positive contributors to Greater Melbourne's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-6,700).
- Mickleham - Yuroke had the largest natural increase (720 people).
- Rockbank - Mount Cottrell had the largest net internal migration gain (3,400).
- Carlton, in inner Melbourne, had the largest net overseas migration gain (3,700).
Centre of population
Population density
Queensland
Population change
Greater Brisbane increased by 81,200 people (3.1%), the rest of the state increased by 58,300 (2.2%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Boronia Heights - Park Ridge and Chambers Flat - Logan Reserve (both up by 2,000) in Logan
- Ripley (also up by 2,000) in Ipswich
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Chambers Flat - Logan Reserve (18%)
- Pallara - Willawong (14%) in Brisbane's south
- Greenbank - North Maclean (13%) in Logan
Components of population change
Net overseas migration (51,800 people) was the largest contributor to Greater Brisbane's population increase, followed by net internal migration (15,300) and natural increase (14,100).
- Redbank Plains in Ipswich had the largest natural increase (430 people).
- Chambers Flat - Logan Reserve had the largest net internal migration gain (1,700).
- Brisbane City had the largest net overseas migration gain (1,500).
Centre of population
Population density
South Australia
Population change
Greater Adelaide increased by 28,100 people (2.0%), the rest of the state increased by 3,000 (0.7%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Munno Para West - Angle Vale (up by 1,800 people) in Adelaide's outer north
- the city centre of Adelaide (1,400)
- Mount Barker (1,000) in the Adelaide Hills
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Munno Para West - Angle Vale (10%)
- the city centre of Adelaide (7.5%)
- Virginia - Waterloo Corner (also 7.5%) in Adelaide's outer north
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (26,500 people) and natural increase (3,400) were positive contributors to Greater Adelaide's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-1,800).
- Munno Para West - Angle Vale had the largest natural increase (320 people) and largest net internal migration gain (1,400).
- The city centre of Adelaide had the largest net overseas migration gain (1,700).
Centre of population
Population density
Western Australia
Population change
Greater Perth increased by 81,300 people (3.6%), the rest of the state increased by 8,100 (1.4%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Alkimos - Eglinton (up by 1,800 people) in Perth's outer north-west
- Byford (1,600) in Perth's outer south-east
- Brabham - Henley Brook (1,500) in Perth's outer north-east
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Brabham - Henley Brook (12%)
- Alkimos - Eglinton (11%)
- Casuarina - Wandi (9.8%) in Perth's south
Components of population change
Net overseas migration (59,300 people) was the largest contributor to Greater Perth's population increase, followed by natural increase (11,300) and net internal migration (10,700).
- Byford had the largest natural increase (330 people).
- Alkimos - Eglinton had the largest net internal migration gain (1,100).
- Bentley - Wilson - St James, to the south-east of Perth's city centre, had the largest net overseas migration gain (1,700).
Centre of population
Population density
Tasmania
Population change
Greater Hobart increased by 1,200 people (0.5%), the rest of the state increased by 940 (0.3%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Rokeby (up by 320 people) on the eastern shore of the River Derwent in Hobart
- Kingston - Huntingfield (160) in Hobart's south
- Sorell - Richmond (150) in Hobart's north-east
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Rokeby (3.8%)
- Austins Ferry - Granton (2.9%) in Hobart's north-west
- Risdon Vale (2.8%) in Hobart's north
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (2,800 people) and natural increase (350) were positive contributors to Greater Hobart's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-2,000).
- Rokeby had the largest natural increase (90 people) and the largest net internal migration gain (210).
- Sandy Bay, to the south of Hobart's city centre, had the largest net overseas migration gain (490).
Centre of population
Population density
Northern Territory
Population change
Greater Darwin increased by 1,600 people (1.1%), the rest of the territory increased by 720 (0.7%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Palmerston - South (up by 550 people)
- Lyons (180) on the northern fringe of Darwin
- Berrimah (170), to the east of Darwin City
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Berrimah (8.5%)
- Palmerston - South (7.2%)
- Mount Johns (3.1%) in Alice Springs
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (2,600 people) and natural increase (1,400) were positive contributors to Greater Darwin's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-2,400).
- Palmerston - South had the largest natural increase (160 people) and the largest net internal migration gain (310).
- Darwin City had the largest net overseas migration gain (370).
Centre of population
Population density
Australian Capital Territory
Population change
The number of people living in the Australian Capital Territory increased by 9,700 (2.1%).
The areas with the largest growth were:
- Taylor (up by 1,200 people) in Canberra's outer north
- Denman Prospect (700) in Canberra's outer west
- Strathnairn (530) in Canberra's outer north-west
The areas with the highest growth rates were:
- Strathnairn (50%)
- Taylor (46%)
- Denman Prospect (20%)
Components of population change
While net overseas migration (8,500) and natural increase (2,700 people) were positive contributors to Canberra's population increase, net internal migration was negative (-1,600).
- Ngunnawal in Canberra's north had the largest natural increase (140 people).
- Taylor had the largest net internal migration gain (1,100).
- Belconnen town centre in Canberra's north-west had the largest net overseas migration gain (420).
Centre of population
Population density
Interactive maps
On each map an area can be selected to view the underlying data. All data can be found in the Data downloads section of this publication.
Population grid
Population change
Geographic areas
Data downloads
Data cubes
Data files
Population estimates and components by SA2, 2022 to 2023
Population estimates and components by LGA, 2022 to 2023
Population estimates by SA2 and above, 2001 to 2023
Population estimates by LGA, Significant Urban Area, Remoteness Area and electoral division, 2001 to 2023
Population components by SA2 and above, 2021-22 to 2022-23
Population components by LGA, 2021-22 to 2022-23
GeoPackages
Data files
Population estimates by SA2, 2001 to 2023, GDA2020, in GeoPackage
Population estimates by LGA, 2001 to 2023, GDA2020, in GeoPackage
Population estimates by SA2, 2001 to 2023, GDA94, in GeoPackage
Population estimates by LGA, 2001 to 2023, GDA94, in GeoPackage
Population grid files
Data files
Australian population grid 2023 in ESRI Grid format
Australian population grid 2023 in GeoTIFF format
Australian population grid 2023 in JPG format
Data Explorer datasets
Caution: Data Explorer can be problematic when trying to view and manipulate large datasets, such as SA2-based or LGA geographies released in this product. Please use the Excel data cubes provided above for these datasets.
Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.
Population estimates and components by SA2 and above, 2022 to 2023
Population estimates and components by LGA, 2022 to 2023
Population estimates by SA2 and above, 2001 to 2023
Population estimates by LGA, 2001 to 2023
Regional internal migration estimates by region of arrival and departure, SA4 and above, 2021-22 to 2022-23
For information on Data Explorer and how it works, see the Data Explorer user guide.
Post-release changes
05/04/24 - Table 5 in the 'Population estimates and components by LGA, 2022 to 2023' data cube has been updated. Rows 32 and 35 were previously hidden and the totals in this table have been amended.
Previous catalogue number
This release previously used catalogue number 3218.0.