Table of Contents
On Tuesday 7th August, Australia’s population hit 25 million according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Population Clock. While it is impossible to know exactly who the 25 millionth resident is, this person is more likely to be a migrant than a newborn thanks to the diversity in Australia.
The Population Clock provides a live projection of Australia’s population, based on the estimated resident population of December 31 2017, and a set of key assumptions consistent with figures released in Australian Demographic Statistics, December Quarter 2017.
Based on the projected number of births, deaths, arrivals and departures, the population clock assumes a growth rate is 1 person per 83 seconds. It is estimated that the
25 millionth resident arrived in Australia just after 11:00PM on Tuesday 7th August.
Projected Growth
Having reached the 25 million milestone, Australia’s population has doubled since 1970. If growth remains steady, it is expected to reach 26 million by late 2020, and 40 million by 2050.
While Australia’s population growth is high, it is worth noting that Australia is far from being one of the most populated countries. The country’s population density is 3.1 people per square kilometers, raking the 13th lowest internationally. Estimates by the The United Nations Population Division rank Australia as the 54th most populated country, with Australian residents accounting for only 0.32% of the global population.
Cultural Diversity in Australia
Results of the latest census also revealed the increasingly diverse population of Australia. One in four Australians are born overseas, an increase of 1% since the 2011 census. So now, Australia is more diverse than ever.
Author and political commentator George Megalogenis says that the milestone person is most likely to be a young Chinese woman – either a student or a migrant worker.
“The two biggest migrant groups in Australia are Chinese and Indians (Indians in Australia) since the turn of the 21st century,” he said, speaking to ABC World.
In 2017, overseas migration (arrivals minus departures) accounted for 62% of population growth (births minus deaths). International students make up the largest group of arrivals, among which China is the most common country of birth. They contribute in diversity in Australia.
Chinese-born Australians are the largest group of migrants, accounting for 16% of new arrivals in Australia, and 2.2% of the total population. According to Megalogenis, the Chinese-born Australian population is overwhelmingly female and has one of the greatest genders skews towards women compared with other migrant groups.
While Australia has a high median age, Australia’s age profile is younger than that of comparable countries. This has been attributed to Australia’s strong skills-based migration program and healthy fertility rate.
