March 27, 2025 / Population & Demography

Publication Summary

  • Australia’s population grew by 2.0 per cent in 2023–24, but this picture varies widely at the regional level.
  • Capital city population growth fell to 2.4 per cent (428,000 people) in 2023–24, down from 3.0 per cent in the previous year (Chart 1). Nonetheless, growth remains above the pre-pandemic decade average of 1.8 per cent.
  • Perth (3.1 per cent), Melbourne (2.7 per cent) and Brisbane (2.7 per cent) were the fastest growing capital cities in 2023–24, while Hobart (0.4 per cent) and Darwin (0.9 per cent) were the only capital cities with a growth rate below 1 per cent.
  • Softening capital city growth reflects the slowing net inflow of overseas migrants to capital cities (373,000 in 2023–24, down from 461,000 in 2022–23).
  • Around 86 per cent of national net overseas migration (NOM) went to capital cities in 2023–24, similar to the previous year and the three years prior to the pandemic.
    • Sydney and Melbourne received the majority of national NOM in 2023–24 (56 per cent). A further 22 per cent of NOM went to Brisbane and Perth.
    • The inner city (SA4s) of these four cities accounted for around 15 per cent of national NOM, despite having just 5.9 per cent of the national population.
  • The net internal migration outflow from capital cities to regional areas increased to 35,000 in 2023–24. Outside of the pandemic affected years (when the net outflow reached 49,000 in 2020–21), this is the largest outflow since the beginning of the sub-state internal migration data in 2000–01.
  • Combined regional area growth remained near decade highs (1.3 per cent or 114,000 people).1 Falling net overseas migration was partly offset by the increased internal migration. However, net overseas migration remained the primary driver of regional growth (68,000).
  • At the SA3 level, many regional areas are experiencing natural decrease (more deaths than births), reflecting their older age structure.2 In most cases this is offset by net internal and overseas migration. However, some regions are experiencing population decline, reflecting net internal migration outflows.