Economy dashboard · Population
As at 13 October 2026 · official data unless labelled
How fast is the population growing, and why?
Australia's population was 27.92 million at the end of the March quarter 2026, up 392,800 (1.43%) in a year. Net overseas migration supplied 74% of that growth and natural increase (births less deaths) the rest.
Where the growth comes from
The twelve months to March 2026Growth by year
Natural increase and net overseas migration, calendar yearsNatural increase Net overseas migration Net outflow (more left than arrived)
While the border was closed (March 2020 to February 2022), net overseas migration was −5,000 in 2020 and +9,300 in 2021, against +234,420 a year on average in 2015–19.
Who arrives and who leaves, by visa
Overseas migrants, the twelve months to March 2026 (people arriving or leaving for 12 of the next 16 months)Students
Other temporary visas
Permanent visas
New Zealand citizens
Australian citizens
Who is leaving
Overseas migrant departures (leaving for 12 of the next 16 months), the twelve months to March 2026Australian citizens leaving and returning
79,890 citizens left and 66,060 came back: a net loss of 13,830. Citizens were 30% of all departures, against 23% in 2019.
All departures by group: 265,410 people
Temporary visa holders leaving at the end of a course or job are counted here, as are permanent residents and New Zealand citizens. Where emigrating Australians go is not published in the ABS data API.
Where residents were born
Top overseas countries of birth, 30 June 20258.83 million residents (32%) were born overseas, up from 29.9% five years earlier.
Births and deaths
Calendar years: what natural increase is made ofVisitors
Short-term visitor arrivals (staying less than a year), the twelve months to August 2026, against a year earlier and the same months of 2019, before the border closures
Why they come
Arrivals by main reason for the tripTrend lines: calendar-year arrivals for each reason, last 20 years.
Where they come from
Top countries of residenceAustralians travelling abroad
Short-term trips by Australian residents (away less than a year), counted on their return, the twelve months to August 2026, against a year earlier and the same months of 2019, before the border closures
Why they go
Trips by main reasonTrend lines: calendar-year trips for each reason (reasons are published from July 2007).
Where they go
Top destinationsThe dashboard readings
Each against its benchmarkAll figures are official ABS counts from the ABS Data API: population and components of change (ERP_COMP_Q), residents by country of birth (ERP_COB), migrant arrivals and departures by visa (OMAD_VISA) and short-term visitor arrivals (OAD_REASON, OAD_COUNTRY). Twelve-month figures sum the published quarters or months. Overseas migrants are people arriving or leaving for at least 12 of the next 16 months; visitors stay less than a year.
On target or better than usualWorse than usualOutside the target bandA level, neither better nor worseBars show how far each reading sits from its benchmark: left of centre below it, right above it.