The overseas-born population in Australia grew by 155,000 people in 2022, increasing to 29.5 per cent of the nation’s total population, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Jenny Dobak, ABS head of migration statistics, said; “On 30 June 2022, Australian residents born overseas made up 7.7 million of Australia’s estimated population of 26 million people. This was an increase of 2.1 per cent from 2021.”
“Western Australia had the highest proportion born overseas at 34% while Tasmania had the lowest at 16%, in 2021.”
“Those born in England, India, China and New Zealand were the largest groups of people born overseas nationally, together making up over one third of all migrants living in Australia in 2022.”
“People born in England continued to be the largest migrant group at 961,000, followed by people born in India, at 754,000.”
| 2012 (‘000) | 2017 (‘000) | 2022 (‘000) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1,004.52 | 999.23 | 961.37 |
| India | 355.38 | 538.32 | 753.52 |
| China(c) | 406.39 | 604.18 | 597.44 |
| New Zealand | 569.63 | 572.25 | 586.02 |
| Philippines | 206.11 | 265.30 | 320.30 |
| Vietnam | 212.14 | 251.94 | 281.81 |
| South Africa | 167.63 | 185.60 | 206.73 |
| Malaysia | 136.57 | 165.02 | 176.21 |
| Italy | 200.35 | 190.81 | 161.56 |
| Nepal | 30.73 | 73.92 | 151.14 |
a. Top 10 countries of birth for overseas-born residents in Australia as at 30 June 2022.
b. Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
c. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
The number of people born in England has been steadily declining since reaching a peak of more than a million in 2013.
Meanwhile, the number of people born in India (754,000) and New Zealand (586,000) has reached new highs since their previous respective peaks in 2020 and 2013.
The fastest-growing migrant group in the last decade was people born in India, which grew by 398,000 since 2012. People born in China followed (191,000), with those born in Nepal making the third-fastest growing birthplace group (120,000).
The median age of the Australian-born population continued to increase, reaching 35 years in 2022, whereas for the overseas-born population it was 45 years. However, this varied considerably depending on the country of birth.
“In 2022, of the top 10 countries of birth of the overseas-born population, the migrant group with the oldest median age was from Italy at 73 years, and the group with the youngest median age came from Nepal, at 29 years. This reflects the changing source countries of Australia’s migrants over many decades,” Ms Dobak said.
| Median age(c) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country of birth(b) | 2002 | 2012 | 2022 | |
| England | 52 | 53 | 59 | |
| India | 40 | 32 | 36 | |
| China(d) | 41 | 35 | 40 | |
| New Zealand | 38 | 39 | 46 | |
| Philippines | 39 | 39 | 41 | |
| Vietnam | 38 | 44 | 48 | |
| South Africa | 37 | 40 | 46 | |
| Malaysia | 40 | 39 | 43 | |
| Italy | 63 | 69 | 73 | |
| Nepal | 28 | 28 | 29 | |
| All overseas-born | 46 | 45 | 45 | |
| Australia-born (e) | 32 | 33 | 35 | |
| Total population | 36 | 37 | 38 |
- Population estimates for 2022 are preliminary. See Revision status in the methodology page.
- Top 10 countries of birth for overseas-born residents in Australia as at 30 June 2022.
- Median age is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.
- Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
- 2022 includes Norfolk Island.
