300,000 more people living capital cities

Released
25/03/2020

The population living in Australia's capitals increased by 303,100 people during 2018-19, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"Capital city growth accounted for 79 per cent of Australia's total population increase in the year ending 30 June 2019," said ABS Director of Demography, Beidar Cho. "Just over 17 million people now live in the capitals."

Melbourne's population grew by 113,500 to reach 5 million residents during 2018-19. This was the largest growth for any capital city, and was followed by Sydney (up 87,100 people), Brisbane (52,600) and Perth (27,400).

Melbourne also had the highest growth rate (2.3 per cent), ahead of Brisbane (2.1 per cent) and Sydney (1.7 per cent).

Capital cityChange over 2018-19Population at 30 Jun 2019
NumberPer centNumber
Melbourne113,5002.35,078,200
Sydney87,1001.75,312,200
Brisbane52,6002.12,514,200
Perth27,4001.32,086,000
Adelaide13,9001.01,359,800
Canberra6,3001.5426,700
Hobart3,4001.5236,100
Darwin-1,100-0.8147,300
All capital cities303,1001.817,160,400


Today's data also reveals the growth hotspots within the capitals and the rest of the country.

Cranbourne East in Melbourne's outer south-east had the largest growth (up by 7,800 people) in Australia in 2018-19, while Mickleham - Yuroke in Melbourne's outer north had the highest growth rate (53 per cent).

State/TerritoryLargest growth 2018-19Highest growth rate 2018-19(a)
AreaNumberAreaPer cent
VictoriaCranbourne East7,800Mickleham - Yuroke52.5
New South WalesCobbitty - Leppington5,300Riverstone - Marsden Park19.8
QueenslandPimpama3,300Ripley26.6
Western AustraliaEllenbrook2,200Alkimos - Eglinton12.4
Australian Capital TerritoryMoncrieff1,100Moncrieff38.1
South AustraliaMount Barker850Munno Para West - Angle Vale5.8
Northern TerritoryPalmerston - South730Palmerston - South14.8
TasmaniaSorell - Richmond240Old Beach - Otago3.8

a. Excludes areas with less than 1,000 people at June 2018.
 

Statistics in this publication predate the 2019-20 Australian summer bushfires and COVID-19.

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