The British population in Australia in 2026 is about 971,000 England-born residents (3.5% of Australians) and more than 1.1 million UK-born residents in total, making Britons Australia’s largest or second-largest migrant community depending on how it is counted. India overtook England as the top single country of birth in June 2025, 971,020 to 970,950. Meanwhile 54,989 UK citizens held Working Holiday visas on December 31, 2025, and the UK received 10,205 permanent places and 11,588 skilled temporary visas in 2024-25.
British Population in Australia 2026 – Introduction
The British population in Australia in 2026 is one of the oldest and largest migrant groups in the country, and it is changing shape. England was Australia’s top overseas country of birth for roughly 125 years. In the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimate released on April 29, 2026, India edged ahead for the first time, while the England-born population rose for the second year in a row.
This report uses UK-born, which covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, because no official count of people who are “British” exists. It covers population, geography, visas, jobs and migration trends. Population figures are ABS estimates as at June 30, 2025 unless stated, visa data come from the Department of Home Affairs, and figures run through October 30, 2026.
Interesting Facts About the British Population in Australia 2026
BRITISH IN AUSTRALIA, KEY NUMBERS (1 block = 25,000 people or visas)
England-born, June 2025 (thousands) | █████████████████████▌ 970,950
UK-born total, 2021 Census (thousands) | ██████████████████████████ ~1,108,000
UK Working Holiday visa holders, Dec 2025 | ██ 54,989
UK permanent places, 2024-25 | ▌ 10,205
UK skilled temporary visas, 2024-25 | ▌ 11,588
| Fact | Confirmed Data |
|---|---|
| England-born residents, June 30, 2025 | 970,950, or 3.5% of Australia’s 27.6 million people |
| India-born residents, June 30, 2025 | 971,020, ahead of England for the first time |
| UK-born residents, 2021 Census | About 1.11 million (calculated from the four nations plus other territories) |
| UK-born residents, June 2024 (Home Affairs) | More than 1.1 million, 4.2% of the population |
| England-born change since 2015 | Down about 35,600 (-3.5%) from 1,006,540 |
| Median age of UK-born residents | 59.7 years, 21.4 years above the general population |
| UK Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa holders, Dec 31, 2025 | 54,989, 30.7% of all holders |
| UK permanent migration places, 2024-25 | 10,205 |
| UK Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) visas, 2024-25 | 11,588 |
| People of English ancestry, 2021 Census | 8.4 million, 33% of Australians |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s population by country of birth (April 29, 2026); ABS 2021 Census; Department of Home Affairs country profile, United Kingdom (updated October 8, 2026); Home Affairs Working Holiday Maker report, December 31, 2025.
Britons remain a very large part of Australia’s population, but the headline has changed. The England-born population of 970,950 is now slightly below the India-born population of 971,020, ending a lead England had held for roughly 125 years. The UK-born total, which includes Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, was still larger than any other single country-of-birth group in the latest Home Affairs profile.
Flows are rising even though the long-run stock has shrunk. UK-born residents have a median age near 60, while temporary visas have grown strongly since 2021-22. The England-born estimate rose by about 7,300 between June 2024 and June 2025.
British-Born Population in Australia: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
ENGLAND-BORN POPULATION IN AUSTRALIA (THOUSANDS)
2015 (ABS estimate) | ████████████████████████████████████████ 1,006,540
2021 Census | █████████████████████████████████████ 927,490
2024 (ABS estimate) | ██████████████████████████████████████▌ 963,650
2025 (ABS estimate) | ██████████████████████████████████████▌ 970,950
| Born in | 2021 Census | Share of UK-born |
|---|---|---|
| England | 927,490 | 83.7% |
| Scotland | 118,496 | 10.7% |
| Wales | 29,250 | 2.6% |
| Northern Ireland | 22,995 | 2.1% |
| Other UK territories (including Channel Islands and Isle of Man) | 10,185 | 0.9% |
| Total UK-born (calculated) | About 1,108,416 | 100% |
Source: ABS 2021 Census, as compiled by SBS Cultural Atlas; Home Affairs country profile, United Kingdom.
England accounts for more than four in five UK-born Australians, with Scotland a distant second at 118,496. The 2021 Census recorded 927,490 England-born people, about 3.6% of the 25.4 million counted. The ABS estimated Scotland-born residents at 124,880 in June 2024.
The long-run trend is a modest decline. The England-born estimate fell from 1,006,540 in 2015 to 970,950 in 2025, and the UK-born population was down 5.5% (67,380) between June 2014 and June 2024. Since the pandemic, the England-born estimate has recovered slightly, rising in both 2024 and 2025.
England vs India: The 2025 Change in Australia’s Largest Migrant Group
ENGLAND-BORN VS INDIA-BORN IN AUSTRALIA (THOUSANDS)
England, 2015 | ████████████████████████████████████████ 1,006,540
India, 2015 | █████████████████▌ 449,040
England, 2025 | ██████████████████████████████████████▌ 970,950
India, 2025 | ██████████████████████████████████████▌ 971,020
| Country of birth | 2015 | Share, 2015 | 2025 | Share, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1,006,540 | 4.2% | 970,950 | 3.5% |
| India | 449,040 | 1.9% | 971,020 | 3.5% |
| China | 508,870 | 2.1% | 731,540 | 2.6% |
| New Zealand | Not shown | Not shown | 637,680 | 2.3% |
| Philippines | Not shown | Not shown | 412,530 | 1.5% |
Source: ABS, Australia’s population by country of birth, June 2025 (released April 29, 2026).
India overtook England by just 70 people, and the ABS describes the two populations as both about 971,000. England-born numbers fell about 3.5% over the decade while India-born numbers more than doubled, up 522,000. England’s share of Australians dropped from 4.2% to 3.5%.
The ranking applies to a single country of birth. Counting all four UK nations together, UK-born residents were still the largest group in the Home Affairs profile for June 2024, at over 1.1 million, or 13.4% of the overseas-born population. Overall, 8.8 million Australians, 32%, were born overseas in 2025.
Where British-Born Australians Live: State Distribution and Demographics
SHARE OF UK-BORN VS ALL AUSTRALIANS, 2021 CENSUS (%)
WA, UK-born | █████████████████████ 21%
WA, all persons | ██████████ 10%
NSW, UK-born | █████████████████████████ 25%
NSW, all persons | ████████████████████████████████ 32%
SA, UK-born | ██████████ 10%
SA, all persons | ███████ 7%
| State or territory | UK-born share | All persons share |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 25% | 32% |
| Victoria | 19% | 26% |
| Queensland | 20% | 20% |
| Western Australia | 21% | 10% |
| South Australia | 10% | 7% |
| Tasmania | 2% | 2% |
| Northern Territory | 1% | 1% |
| ACT | 1% | 2% |
Source: Home Affairs country profile, United Kingdom, citing ABS 2021 Census.
British-born residents are concentrated in Western Australia and South Australia far more than the general population. WA holds 21% of UK-born residents against 10% of all Australians, and SA holds 10% against 7%. New South Wales and Victoria hold smaller shares of UK-born people than of the population overall.
Demographics also differ. UK-born residents have a median age of 59.7 years, and 50.9% are men. In the 2021 Census, 74.5% of UK-born Australians were citizens, and only 55.7% of England-born people aged 15 and over were in the labour force, compared with 61.1% of all Australians, a gap linked to age.
British Visa Numbers in Australia: Working Holiday Visas
UK WORKING HOLIDAY MAKER VISA GRANTS PER YEAR
2021-22 | ██████████ 20,090
2022-23 | ███████████████████ 38,177
2023-24 | ███████████████████████▌ 47,238
2024-25 | ███████████████████████████████████████▌ 79,412
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| UK Working Holiday visa holders in Australia, Dec 31, 2025 | 54,989, up 19.2% from 46,129 |
| UK share of all subclass 417 holders | 30.7% of 179,386 |
| UK subclass 417 grants, July to Dec 2025 | 42,759, down 10.8% from 47,960 |
| UK first-visa grants, July to Dec 2025 | 20,702, down 16.2% |
| UK second-visa grants, July to Dec 2025 | 12,501, down 32.8% |
| UK third-visa grants, July to Dec 2025 | 9,555, up 105.5% |
| UK share of all third-visa grants | 52.0% |
| UK Working Holiday applications lodged, July to Dec 2025 | 43,908, down 8.9% |
| Age limit for UK applicants | 18 to 35 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Working Holiday Maker visa program report, December 31, 2025; Home Affairs country profile, United Kingdom.
British people are the largest group on Australia’s Working Holiday visa. The UK received 79,412 Working Holiday Maker visas in 2024-25, nearly four times the 20,090 granted in 2021-22. Since July 1, 2023, UK passport holders can apply up to age 35, and since July 1, 2024 they no longer need specified work to qualify for second and third visas, under the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.
Grants are shifting between visa stages. In the six months to December 2025, UK first and second visa grants fell, while third visa grants roughly doubled to 9,555, because many Britons who arrived under the new rules are now reaching their third year. Overall UK grants were down 10.8%, yet the stock of UK holders in Australia rose 19.2% to 54,989.
UK Permanent Migration to Australia: Skill and Partner Visas
UK PERMANENT PLACES BY CATEGORY, 2024-25
Employer Sponsored | ███████████████████████ 4,650
Partner | █████████ 1,852
State/Territory Nominated | ████████ 1,602
Skilled Independent | █████▌ 1,084
Regional | ██▌ 521
Global Talent | ▌ 124
| Category | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Sponsored | 2,967 | 4,324 | 4,500 | 4,650 |
| Skilled Independent | 134 | 1,076 | 1,257 | 1,084 |
| State/Territory Nominated | 740 | 1,703 | 1,163 | 1,602 |
| Regional | 583 | 1,141 | 729 | 521 |
| Global Talent (Independent) | 588 | 268 | 152 | 124 |
| Partner | 4,027 | 2,535 | 1,835 | 1,852 |
| All other categories | 395 | 359 | 267 | 354 |
| Total places granted | 9,584 | 11,439 | 9,916 | 10,205 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Country profile, United Kingdom (updated October 8, 2026).
UK permanent migration has been steady near 10,000 places a year, with the mix moving toward skills. Employer Sponsored places rose 57% from 2,967 in 2021-22 to 4,650 in 2024-25, and about 78% of UK permanent places in 2024-25 were in skill categories. Partner places fell 54% over the same period, from 4,027 to 1,852.
The UK ranks high among source countries. In 2024-25 it ranked second for Employer Sponsored places, fourth in the total Skill stream, and seventh for Family and Child stream places. The permanent total of 10,205 was 10.8% below the 2022-23 peak of 11,439.
British Workers in Australia: Skilled Visas and Main Jobs
UK TEMPORARY SKILLED VISAS, TOP OCCUPATIONS, 2024-25 (1 block = 50 visas)
GPs and resident medical officers | █████████████████████▌ 1,086
Human resource professionals | ██████▌ 332
Advertising and marketing | ██████ 302
Management and organisation analysts | ███▌ 191
Advertising, PR and sales managers | ███ 170
| Temporary skilled visas (2024-25) | Migrants | Skill stream permanent (2024-25) | Migrants |
|---|---|---|---|
| General practitioners and resident medical officers | 1,086 | Registered nurses | 365 |
| Human resource professionals | 332 | Police | 306 |
| Advertising and marketing professionals | 302 | Carpenters and joiners | 193 |
| Management and organisation analysts | 191 | Electricians | 148 |
| Advertising, PR and sales managers | 170 | General practitioners and resident medical officers | 147 |
| ICT sales professionals | 150 | Secondary school teachers | 105 |
| Mechanical engineering draftspersons and technicians | 147 | Human resource professionals | 99 |
| Accountants | 136 | Other medical practitioners | 99 |
| Civil engineering professionals | 132 | Advertising and marketing professionals | 94 |
| Cafe and restaurant managers | 125 | Plumbers | 84 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Country profile, United Kingdom. Occupation data cover primary applicants only.
Health professions dominate British skilled migration. General practitioners and resident medical officers were the top occupation for UK Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) visas, at 1,086 in 2024-25, up from 629 in 2021-22. Registered nurses led the permanent Skill stream with 365 places, and police were second with 306.
Trades and corporate roles follow. Carpenters, electricians and plumbers appear in the permanent list, and human resources, marketing and management analysts appear in the temporary list. Total UK Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) visa grants rose 77% from 6,552 in 2021-22 to 11,588 in 2024-25, and 40% of 2024-25 primary grants went to New South Wales.
Migration Trends: UK Visitors, Skilled Visas and the Overall Mix
UK TEMPORARY SKILLED (TSS) VISA GRANTS
2021-22 | ████████████████ 6,552
2022-23 | █████████████████████████▌ 10,209
2023-24 | ███████████████████████████▌ 11,062
2024-25 | ████████████████████████████▌ 11,588
| Temporary visa category | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor | 160,841 | 460,157 | 479,042 | 530,543 |
| Student | 2,488 | 3,006 | 2,437 | 2,514 |
| Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) | 6,552 | 10,209 | 11,062 | 11,588 |
| Working Holiday Maker | 20,090 | 38,177 | 47,238 | 79,412 |
| Other temporary visa grants | 9,780 | 19,610 | 17,203 | 12,722 |
| Total temporary visa grants | 199,751 | 531,159 | 556,982 | 636,779 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Country profile, United Kingdom (updated October 8, 2026).
Temporary visas are where British migration is growing. Total UK temporary grants rose from 199,751 in 2021-22 to 636,779 in 2024-25, led by visitors (530,543) and Working Holiday Makers (79,412). UK students are a very small group, at 2,514, ranking about 29th among source countries.
The pattern points to young, mobile arrivals alongside a steady skilled stream. Working Holiday grants rose 68% in 2024-25 alone, and early 2025-26 data show UK lodgements and grants easing, down 8.9% and 10.8% in the first half of the program year. These are provisional figures, and the program year is not yet complete.
Frequently Asked Questions About the British Population in Australia 2026
How many British people live in Australia?
About 970,950 people born in England in June 2025, and more than 1.1 million born in the UK as a whole. The 2021 Census counted about 1.11 million UK-born residents.
Is England still Australia’s biggest source of migrants?
No. India narrowly overtook England as the top single country of birth in June 2025, 971,020 to 970,950. UK-born residents combined were still larger than India-born residents in 2024.
What percentage of Australians were born in England?
3.5% in June 2025, down from 4.2% in 2015.
Is the British-born population growing or shrinking?
It has shrunk over the long run, down about 3.5% since 2015, but England-born numbers rose in 2024 and 2025, by about 7,300 in the latest year.
How many Britons are on Working Holiday visas in Australia?
54,989 UK citizens held Working Holiday (subclass 417) visas on December 31, 2025, 30.7% of all holders.
How old can UK citizens be for an Australian Working Holiday visa?
18 to 35, since July 1, 2023, and UK passport holders can apply for up to three visas without specified work since July 1, 2024.
How many UK citizens get permanent visas for Australia?
10,205 permanent places in 2024-25, including 4,650 Employer Sponsored and 1,852 Partner places.
What jobs do British migrants do in Australia?
The top skilled-visa occupations are general practitioners (1,086 in 2024-25), human resources, marketing and management analysts. Registered nurses lead the permanent Skill stream with 365 places.
Where do most British-born Australians live?
New South Wales (25%), Western Australia (21%) and Queensland (20%) in the 2021 Census, with Western Australia far above its 10% share of all Australians.
How old is the UK-born population in Australia?
The median age is 59.7 years, about 21 years older than the general population.
How many people have English ancestry in Australia?
About 8.4 million, 33% of Australians, in the 2021 Census.
How many Britons visit Australia?
The UK received 530,543 visitor visa grants in 2024-25, ranking third among source countries.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.