Australia’s population story is one of strong growth. Each state and city and region has its own population story and these have varied over time. In general, growth has been strongest in Australia’s cities, although some regional areas have also grown strongly.

Population growth has shaped the Australia we know today – an Australia that is the envy of the developed world with strong economic growth and a cohesive society. Australians are proud of their country and migrants generally integrate well into their new communities. Unemployment is low, crime rates continue to fall, more Australians are participating in education, and health outcomes have been continuously improving. All these indicators point to a country with strong living standards for its people.

Better population planning will help overcome capacity constraints and congestion pressures in Australia’s biggest cities. This will be a key focus of the government going forward with major investment in infrastructure right across Australia. Reforms to housing and a continued focus on key services such as health and education will maintain a high quality of life for Australians.