This map shows population density across Australia

Publish date: 2024-07-17
Updated 2017-07-27T16:27:45Z

Courtesy of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), here's a great map showing population density across Australia in June 2016.

As you would expect, the highest population density is seen in Australia's capital cities, while other parts of the country are near-empty, reflecting Australia's unique geography.

According to the ABS, Australia's population density stood at 3.1 people per square kilometre (sq km) in June last year.

"Among the states and territories, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest population density, at 171 people per sq km, followed by Victoria (27), New South Wales (9.7), and Tasmania (7.6)," the ABS said.

"The remaining states and territories all had population densities below the Australian figure, with the Northern Territory having the lowest at just 0.2 people per sq km."

By individual region, the ABS said that inner-city Melbourne, at 17,500 people per sq km, had the highest population density of anywhere in Australia.

Sydney, Australia's largest city, unsurprisingly dominated the top 10 list nationally.

"Eight of the ten most densely-populated SA2s [statistical areas] in the country were in Sydney, including Potts Point-Woolloomooloo (15,800 people per sq km), Pyrmont-Ultimo (15,700) and Darlinghurst (14,200)," the ABS said.

This next table partially explains why Sydney and Melbourne are home to the highest population density in Australia.

Their population has grown the fastest over the past decade in numeric terms.

"Melbourne had the largest growth of all Greater Capital Cities in the ten years to 2016 (964,600), followed by Sydney (773,600), Brisbane (452,000) and Perth (445,100)," the ABS said.

"The combined population of Greater Capital Cities increased by 2.9 million people (22%) between 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2016, accounting for 77% of the country's total population growth."

The ABS has more here.

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