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Population in Australia compared to China: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Australia was 27,196,812 in 2024 vs 1,408,975,000 people in China in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Australia's population is 27,799,169 people compared to 1,402,578,808 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 50.5 times bigger than Australia's.
  • Australia is ranked the 55th most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
  • The countries together account for 17.3% of the world: 0.34% for Australia vs 16.9% for China.
  • For the last 10 years, Australia has had an average growth rate of +1.49% per year vs +0.3% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Australia has increased from 20.5M people to 27.8M (35.9% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (6.98% growth).

Australia vs China: population by year and forecast

Australia
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Australia China
2100 44,031,396 633,320,628
2099 43,809,392 643,959,697
2098 43,581,416 654,691,595
2097 43,339,542 665,517,335
2096 43,103,046 676,438,150
2095 42,875,281 687,457,915
2094 42,654,231 698,589,897
2093 42,420,140 709,852,629
2092 42,183,554 721,251,520
2091 41,942,760 732,791,748
2090 41,703,255 744,501,355
2089 41,471,675 756,404,299
2088 41,232,214 768,478,316
2087 41,005,392 780,707,622
2086 40,785,916 793,081,006
2085 40,573,592 805,608,315
2084 40,363,192 818,268,277
2083 40,140,606 830,972,107
2082 39,925,452 843,721,746
2081 39,703,018 856,534,631
2080 39,490,533 869,351,919
2079 39,277,415 882,146,959
2078 39,063,163 894,889,246
2077 38,847,269 907,592,919
2076 38,637,253 920,280,380
2075 38,425,571 932,956,157
2074 38,212,169 945,631,173
2073 38,002,408 958,352,980
2072 37,795,438 971,115,895
2071 37,589,598 983,938,054
2070 37,376,868 996,853,418
2069 37,159,014 1,009,905,851
2068 36,939,616 1,023,081,790
2067 36,721,604 1,036,420,010
2066 36,504,952 1,049,887,382
2065 36,297,175 1,063,477,623
2064 36,095,981 1,077,206,695
2063 35,883,588 1,090,982,303
2062 35,673,924 1,104,833,556
2061 35,465,080 1,118,682,849
2060 35,260,552 1,132,504,136
2059 35,055,719 1,146,199,736
2058 34,839,385 1,159,714,746
2057 34,630,577 1,172,963,523
2056 34,422,531 1,185,938,083
2055 34,208,970 1,198,550,408
2054 33,996,776 1,210,749,681
2053 33,788,097 1,222,500,569
2052 33,580,016 1,233,808,926
2051 33,366,925 1,244,584,333
2050 33,152,099 1,254,824,040
2049 32,937,633 1,264,598,914
2048 32,711,001 1,273,885,471
2047 32,496,856 1,282,701,271
2046 32,269,549 1,291,133,690
2045 32,047,969 1,299,154,327
2044 31,829,535 1,306,805,350
2043 31,610,306 1,314,176,710
2042 31,387,780 1,321,319,298
2041 31,168,179 1,328,219,755
2040 30,952,283 1,334,857,481
2039 30,740,454 1,341,265,381
2038 30,521,772 1,347,407,165
2037 30,307,856 1,353,377,505
2036 30,085,861 1,359,133,287
2035 29,862,898 1,364,651,508
2034 29,641,453 1,369,940,557
2033 29,418,053 1,375,003,005
2032 29,191,922 1,379,784,204
2031 28,959,421 1,384,301,522
2030 28,722,798 1,388,520,533
2029 28,484,745 1,392,490,007
2028 28,236,324 1,396,163,778
2027 27,984,287 1,399,515,824
2026 27,730,530 1,402,578,808
2025 27,466,430 1,405,826,385
2024 27,196,812 1,408,975,000
2023 26,659,922 1,410,710,000
2022 26,018,721 1,412,175,000
2021 25,685,412 1,412,360,000
2020 25,649,248 1,411,100,000
2019 25,334,826 1,407,745,000
2018 24,963,258 1,402,760,000
2017 24,592,588 1,396,215,000
2016 24,190,907 1,387,790,000
2015 23,815,995 1,379,860,000
2014 23,475,686 1,371,860,000
2013 23,128,129 1,363,240,000
2012 22,733,465 1,354,190,000
2011 22,340,024 1,345,035,000
2010 22,031,750 1,337,705,000
2009 21,691,653 1,331,260,000
2008 21,249,199 1,324,655,000
2007 20,827,622 1,317,885,000
2006 20,450,966 1,311,020,000
2005 20,176,844 1,303,720,000
2004 19,932,722 1,296,075,000
2003 19,720,737 1,288,400,000
2002 19,495,210 1,280,400,000
2001 19,274,701 1,271,850,000
2000 19,028,802 1,262,645,000
1999 18,812,264 1,252,735,000
1998 18,607,584 1,241,935,000
1997 18,423,037 1,230,075,000
1996 18,224,767 1,217,550,000
1995 18,004,882 1,204,855,000
1994 17,805,468 1,191,835,000
1993 17,634,808 1,178,440,000
1992 17,478,635 1,164,970,000
1991 17,284,036 1,150,780,000
1990 17,065,128 1,135,185,000
1989 16,814,416 1,118,650,000
1988 16,532,164 1,101,630,000
1987 16,263,874 1,084,035,000
1986 16,018,350 1,066,790,000
1985 15,788,312 1,051,040,000
1984 15,579,391 1,036,825,000
1983 15,393,472 1,023,310,000
1982 15,184,247 1,008,630,000
1981 14,923,260 993,885,000
1980 14,692,000 981,235,000
1979 14,514,000 969,005,000
1978 14,358,000 956,165,000
1977 14,192,000 943,455,000
1976 14,033,000 930,685,000
1975 13,893,000 916,395,000
1974 13,723,000 900,350,000
1973 13,380,000 881,940,000
1972 13,177,000 862,030,000
1971 12,937,000 841,105,000
1970 12,507,000 818,315,000
1969 12,263,000 796,025,000
1968 12,009,000 774,510,000
1967 11,799,000 754,550,000
1966 11,651,000 735,400,000
1965 11,388,000 715,185,000
1964 11,167,000 698,355,000
1963 10,950,000 682,335,000
1962 10,742,000 665,770,000
1961 10,483,000 660,330,000
1960 10,276,477 667,070,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/china | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Australia increased by 3,739,941 people (a 18.3% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Australia gained 3,608,262 people (a 14.9% growth), while China's population increased by 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth).

Australia was ranked 54th most populous country in 2006 and is 55th in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Australia's population will grow by 19.3% to 33,152,099 people with a rank change from 55th to 59th. The population of China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd.

Australia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 44M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Australia
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Australia China
2100 0.51% -1.65%
2099 0.52% -1.64%
2098 0.56% -1.63%
2097 0.55% -1.61%
2096 0.53% -1.6%
2095 0.52% -1.59%
2094 0.55% -1.59%
2093 0.56% -1.58%
2092 0.57% -1.57%
2091 0.57% -1.57%
2090 0.56% -1.57%
2089 0.58% -1.57%
2088 0.55% -1.57%
2087 0.54% -1.56%
2086 0.52% -1.56%
2085 0.52% -1.55%
2084 0.55% -1.53%
2083 0.54% -1.51%
2082 0.56% -1.5%
2081 0.54% -1.47%
2080 0.54% -1.45%
2079 0.55% -1.42%
2078 0.56% -1.4%
2077 0.54% -1.38%
2076 0.55% -1.36%
2075 0.56% -1.34%
2074 0.55% -1.33%
2073 0.55% -1.31%
2072 0.55% -1.3%
2071 0.57% -1.3%
2070 0.59% -1.29%
2069 0.59% -1.29%
2068 0.59% -1.29%
2067 0.59% -1.28%
2066 0.57% -1.28%
2065 0.56% -1.27%
2064 0.59% -1.26%
2063 0.59% -1.25%
2062 0.59% -1.24%
2061 0.58% -1.22%
2060 0.58% -1.19%
2059 0.62% -1.17%
2058 0.6% -1.13%
2057 0.6% -1.09%
2056 0.62% -1.05%
2055 0.62% -1.01%
2054 0.62% -0.96%
2053 0.62% -0.92%
2052 0.64% -0.87%
2051 0.65% -0.82%
2050 0.65% -0.77%
2049 0.69% -0.73%
2048 0.66% -0.69%
2047 0.7% -0.65%
2046 0.69% -0.62%
2045 0.69% -0.59%
2044 0.69% -0.56%
2043 0.71% -0.54%
2042 0.7% -0.52%
2041 0.7% -0.5%
2040 0.69% -0.48%
2039 0.72% -0.46%
2038 0.71% -0.44%
2037 0.74% -0.42%
2036 0.75% -0.4%
2035 0.75% -0.39%
2034 0.76% -0.37%
2033 0.77% -0.35%
2032 0.8% -0.33%
2031 0.82% -0.3%
2030 0.84% -0.29%
2029 0.88% -0.26%
2028 0.9% -0.24%
2027 0.92% -0.22%
2026 0.96% -0.23%
2025 0.99% -0.22%
2024 2.01% -0.12%
2023 2.46% -0.1%
2022 1.3% -0.01%
2021 0.14% 0.09%
2020 1.24% 0.24%
2019 1.49% 0.36%
2018 1.51% 0.47%
2017 1.66% 0.61%
2016 1.57% 0.57%
2015 1.45% 0.58%
2014 1.5% 0.63%
2013 1.74% 0.67%
2012 1.76% 0.68%
2011 1.4% 0.55%
2010 1.57% 0.48%
2009 2.08% 0.5%
2008 2.02% 0.51%
2007 1.84% 0.52%
2006 1.36% 0.56%
2005 1.22% 0.59%
2004 1.07% 0.6%
2003 1.16% 0.62%
2002 1.14% 0.67%
2001 1.29% 0.73%
2000 1.15% 0.79%
1999 1.1% 0.87%
1998 1% 0.96%
1997 1.09% 1.03%
1996 1.22% 1.05%
1995 1.12% 1.09%
1994 0.97% 1.14%
1993 0.89% 1.16%
1992 1.13% 1.23%
1991 1.28% 1.37%
1990 1.49% 1.48%
1989 1.71% 1.54%
1988 1.65% 1.62%
1987 1.53% 1.62%
1986 1.46% 1.5%
1985 1.34% 1.37%
1984 1.21% 1.32%
1983 1.38% 1.46%
1982 1.75% 1.48%
1981 1.57% 1.29%
1980 1.23% 1.26%
1979 1.09% 1.34%
1978 1.17% 1.35%
1977 1.13% 1.37%
1976 1.01% 1.56%
1975 1.24% 1.78%
1974 2.56% 2.09%
1973 1.54% 2.31%
1972 1.86% 2.49%
1971 3.44% 2.78%
1970 1.99% 2.8%
1969 2.12% 2.78%
1968 1.78% 2.65%
1967 1.27% 2.6%
1966 2.31% 2.83%
1965 1.98% 2.41%
1964 1.98% 2.35%
1963 1.94% 2.49%
1962 2.47% 0.82%
1961 2.01% -1.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/china | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Australia grew by 2.01%, while China's population declined by 0.12%.

Live population counters

Australia China
Current population
27799169
1402578808
Population rank 55/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.34% 16.9%
One net population change
58.7 seconds
18.2 seconds
One birth every
1.83 minutes
3.5 seconds
One death every
2.86 minutes
2.84 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,471 -4,753
Annual growth/decline +536,890 -1,735,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.01% -0.12%
Population growth rate rank 51/197 173/197
One migration net change every
3.84 minutes
1.97 minutes
Annual migration change +137,109 -268,126
Net migration rank 11/196 189/196
Foreign-born residents 8,111,404 1,638,718
Foreign-born residents rank 9/195 43/195
Foreign-born share of population 30.4% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 18/195 192/195

Natural population change vs migration

Australia
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Australia China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 137,109 - -268,126
2024 - 138,510 - -318,992
2023 103,974 140,232 -2,087,851 -567,724
2022 111,881 140,972 -847,305 -293,846
2021 138,701 116,768 480,203 -379,749
2020 133,376 44,447 2,046,095 -91,577
2019 136,808 207,142 4,673,713 -656,091
2018 157,269 226,412 5,302,433 -198,206
2017 150,015 255,023 7,790,880 -94,625
2016 152,403 254,648 9,062,269 -153,056
2015 150,041 212,350 6,788,911 -646,941
2014 154,940 200,177 9,205,180 -371,108
2013 159,584 215,823 8,043,116 -188,951
2012 161,408 235,776 10,075,174 -58,864
2011 156,380 197,657 8,245,065 -416,189
2010 158,628 166,752 6,407,607 -184,144
2009 160,518 235,628 6,483,236 -177,135
2008 155,119 275,773 6,729,247 -764,370
2007 154,124 249,873 6,813,465 -1,042,019
2006 132,931 191,985 6,922,185 -759,559
2005 129,132 131,371 7,678,911 -103,701
2004 115,610 110,072 7,607,960 -770,977
2003 118,325 104,437 7,743,284 -613,223
2002 116,971 108,852 8,258,580 -761,291
2001 117,575 117,552 8,839,358 -176,419
2000 119,882 111,186 9,570,849 -62,622
1999 118,517 92,900 10,247,372 -96,102
1998 120,949 81,310 11,351,286 -40,472
1997 121,592 67,661 12,374,554 -279,251
1996 125,751 82,965 12,686,872 -250,750
1995 131,436 80,456 12,711,220 -365,986
1994 131,761 51,941 13,360,470 -723,641
1993 137,551 23,833 13,493,138 -373,316
1992 139,829 40,767 13,548,601 -142,985
1991 138,273 68,847 14,937,124 -544,650
1990 143,347 100,093 16,335,313 -11,187
1989 127,789 144,042 16,824,495 -313,476
1988 127,298 153,330 17,328,640 -282,194
1987 128,484 136,421 18,005,821 -169,170
1986 123,342 113,061 16,609,920 -79,190
1985 143,674 98,327 14,987,830 -60,929
1984 123,077 79,617 13,561,671 -51,961
1983 130,844 73,251 13,599,789 -43,756
1982 126,030 111,722 15,815,318 -36,181
1981 125,356 121,921 14,461,027 -28,016
1980 117,536 89,189 11,647,260 -20,129
1979 116,112 52,137 11,250,148 -13,704
1978 116,299 45,832 11,473,980 -9,916
1977 117,793 44,946 11,378,068 -15,323
1976 115,070 32,792 11,782,472 -55,109
1975 123,648 25,336 14,378,237 -115,173
1974 128,996 56,167 15,738,118 -175,239
1973 136,476 62,928 18,423,727 -214,997
1972 155,488 54,895 19,102,585 -215,650
1971 165,593 223,991 19,622,980 -180,153
1970 145,081 256,295 21,137,076 -126,510
1969 143,477 108,770 20,760,332 -72,836
1968 132,099 100,963 21,206,083 -37,290
1967 126,249 80,904 19,263,662 1,246,654
1966 126,996 110,864 19,282,187 4,165
1965 122,990 118,891 20,296,950 -130,900
1964 128,420 91,588 19,302,532 -1,250,441
1963 140,161 73,237 22,742,225 -31,383
1962 143,943 58,315 17,969,132 -31,305
1961 150,955 64,495 2,496,047 -25,578
1960 141,816 85,707 -3,048,510 -16,927

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/china | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Australia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,389,408 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,798,171 people). In China 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people).

As of 2024, 8,111,404 residents or 30.4% of the population were not native-born in Australia, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.

Biggest cities by population

Australia
City Population
Sydney 5.45M
Melbourne 5.35M
Brisbane 2.71M
Perth 2.14M
Adelaide 1.39M
Gold Coast 608K
Canberra 381K
Sunshine Coast 284K
Wollongong 262K
Ipswich 233K
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/china | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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