Australia’s population has soared to 27 million according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
As per experts, this rise in population has been fuelled by record immigration and has reached the mark early – more than 30 years earlier than originally predicted.
Australia had its largest ever population increase in 2023, growing by more than 641,000 last year.
November 2023 data from ABS forecasts Australia’s population to reach up to 45.9 million people by 2071.
New South Wales (NSW) has remained the most popular Australian destination for overseas migrants, with Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia following to lure overseas immigrants.
McCrindle social researcher Geoff Brailey told The New Daily that this increased migration is largely driven by workers filling labour gaps and the return of international students.
Brailey said Australia will need another 1.5 million houses in the next six years to keep up with demand.
According to Sustainable Population Australia, “many Australians are concerned about Australia’s ongoing population growth” and argue that stabilizing the “population at the lowest, soonest achievable peak is the best outcome for the wellbeing of Australians.”
The failure to accurately forecast population growth has led to problems such as housing affordability, infrastructure congestion, environmental deterioration, climate impacts, and reduced quality of life.
ABS’ population projection is based on the estimated resident population and assumes growth since then of:
- One birth every 1 minutes and 42 seconds.
- One death every 2 minutes and 52 seconds.
- One person arriving to live in Australia every 0 minutes and 45 seconds.
- One Australian resident leaving to live overseas every 2 minutes and 43 seconds.
- An overall total population increase of one person every 0 minutes and 50 seconds.
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