Population of Melbourne Australia 2025 | Statistics & Facts

Population of Melbourne Australia 2025

Melbourne stands as Australia’s fastest-growing capital city and second-most populous metropolis, continuing its remarkable trajectory toward becoming the nation’s largest urban center. The latest official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms that Greater Melbourne’s population reached 5,350,705 people as of June 30, 2024, representing an exceptional 2.7% annual growth rate and an absolute increase of 142,600 people during the 2023-24 financial year. This growth surpasses all other Australian capitals in absolute terms, cementing Melbourne’s position as the demographic powerhouse driving national population expansion.

The population of Melbourne Australia 2025 reflects a dynamic, multicultural metropolis experiencing unprecedented growth fueled by international migration, natural increase, and urban transformation. As Victoria’s capital and economic heart, Greater Melbourne accounts for approximately 77% of the state’s total population, demonstrating extreme urban centralization. The city’s expansion has been driven predominantly by net overseas migration of 121,200 people, the largest of any Australian city, reflecting Melbourne’s global reputation for education, livability, and economic opportunity. Natural increase contributed an additional 29,000 people through births exceeding deaths, while the city experienced negative internal migration of -7,600 people, indicating some residents relocated to regional Victoria or other states despite the overwhelming inflow of international migrants. With a population density ranging from 500 to 539 people per square kilometer across the metropolitan area’s 9,992.5 square kilometers, Melbourne presents a fascinating contrast between high-density inner suburbs and sprawling outer growth corridors. The city’s median age of 36.6 years makes it younger than most Australian capitals except Darwin, reflecting its strong appeal to international students, young professionals, and families seeking opportunity in Australia’s cultural and sporting capital.

Interesting Facts About Population of Melbourne Australia 2025

Data Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Regional Population 2023-24; National State and Territory Population March 2025; Time Out Melbourne March 2025

These compelling statistics reveal Melbourne’s extraordinary demographic momentum, with the city adding approximately 140,000-145,000 residents annually in recent years—equivalent to establishing a new regional city every few years. The 2.7% growth rate during 2023-24 positions Melbourne alongside Brisbane as the fastest-growing major Australian capitals, and significantly ahead of Sydney’s 2.0% growth rate. This differential has profound implications for when Melbourne will overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous city, with current projections suggesting 2031-2032 as the crossover point. The massive net overseas migration of 121,200 people represents approximately 85% of Melbourne’s total growth, highlighting the city’s exceptional international appeal. This influx has been driven by Melbourne’s five major universities enrolling over 200,000 international students from 200+ countries, skilled migration programs targeting healthcare professionals, engineers, and IT specialists, and humanitarian resettlement making Melbourne home to significant refugee communities.

The negative internal migration of -7,600 people presents a nuanced reality—while Melbourne loses some residents to regional Victoria seeking lifestyle change and housing affordability, this minimal outflow is dwarfed by international arrivals. In fact, Melbourne’s internal migration deficit improved dramatically from the -8,000 to -10,000 people annually recorded in previous decades, suggesting the city’s economic resilience and livability improvements are retaining more residents. The median age of 36.6 years confirms Melbourne as one of Australia’s younger capitals, with only Darwin (33 years) having a younger population profile. This youthfulness reflects Melbourne’s magnetic draw for university students aged 18-25, young professionals in their 20s-30s attracted by career opportunities, and young families seeking quality schools and family-friendly suburbs. The dramatic 41.2% overseas-born population makes Melbourne one of the world’s most multicultural cities, ranking among the top 10 metropolitan areas globally for immigrant population. Major communities include those from India (5.1%), Mainland China (3.6%), England (2.7%), Vietnam (2.0%), and New Zealand (1.7%), creating vibrant ethnic neighborhoods, specialized retail precincts, and diverse culinary landscapes that define modern Melbourne. The historical growth from 1.33 million in 1950 to 5.35 million in 2024 represents a 300%+ increase, demonstrating Melbourne’s transformation from a provincial colonial city to a global metropolis over seven decades.

Current Population Growth Statistics Melbourne 2025

Data Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Regional Population 2023-24; Capital Cities Continue Strong Growth Media Release March 2025; National State and Territory Population

The current population growth statistics Melbourne 2025 showcase a metropolis experiencing explosive yet sustainable expansion that outpaces all other Australian capitals in absolute terms. The annual increase of 142,600 people during the 2023-24 financial year represents the largest numeric growth of any Australian city, surpassing Sydney’s 107,500 people, Perth’s 72,700 people, and Brisbane’s 72,900 people. While Melbourne’s 2.7% growth rate marks a deceleration from the record 3.3% growth in 2022-23, this moderation reflects national trends as post-pandemic migration normalizes rather than any fundamental weakening of Melbourne’s appeal. The city continues adding the equivalent of a Ballarat or Bendigo in population annually, requiring massive infrastructure investment, housing construction, and service provision to accommodate these newcomers.

The components driving Melbourne’s growth reveal the city’s transformation into Australia’s premier international gateway. Net overseas migration of 121,200 people during 2023-24 represents approximately 85% of total growth and 32% of Australia’s entire overseas migration gain. This extraordinary international appeal stems from multiple factors: Melbourne’s universities attract the largest international student cohort in Australia with over 200,000 enrolments from India, China, Nepal, Vietnam, and Malaysia; skilled migration programs target Melbourne’s growing technology sector, healthcare systems, and professional services; family reunion migration brings relatives of established migrant communities; and humanitarian programs resettle refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, and African nations. The Carlton suburb recorded Melbourne’s largest net overseas migration gain of 2,900 people, driven by its proximity to the University of Melbourne, while the Melbourne CBD-West area hosts 21,400 people, many in student accommodation and apartments targeting young professionals.

Natural increase of 29,000 people represented the second-largest growth component, with births exceeding deaths by this substantial margin. Melbourne’s relatively young median age of 36.6 years ensures a large proportion of women in peak childbearing ages, supporting approximately 70,000 annual births against roughly 40,000-41,000 deaths. The fertility rate stands at approximately 1.55-1.6 children per woman, below the replacement rate of 2.1 but sufficient to generate positive natural increase given the population size. Outer suburbs show dramatically higher birth rates, with Mickleham-Yuroke in Melbourne’s outer north recording the city’s largest natural increase of 870 people, while Tarneit-West-Mount Cottrell (32.5%), Cobblebank-Strathtulloh (32.4%), and Tarneit-North (32.1%) lead the nation with proportions of children aged 0-14 years, characteristic of new family-oriented estates.

The negative internal migration of -7,600 people during 2023-24 worsened slightly from the -6,678 people in 2022-23, but remains modest relative to historical levels when Melbourne lost tens of thousands annually to Sydney and Queensland. Recent census data revealed internal arrivals from other Australian regions but higher departures to regional Victoria seeking lifestyle change and housing affordability, Brisbane for subtropical climate and economic opportunity, and Perth for mining sector employment. However, Fraser Rise-Plumpton captured Melbourne’s largest net internal migration gain of 3,800 people, demonstrating that affordable outer suburbs attract relocating Australians even as inner Melbourne experiences small net losses. Regional Victoria grew by 19,800 people at a 1.2% rate, significantly slower than Greater Melbourne’s 2.7%, continuing the century-long urbanization trend concentrating Victoria’s population in the capital.

Population Projections Melbourne Australia 2025-2050

Data Source: Victoria in Future – Population Projections 2021-2056; Australian Bureau of Statistics Population Projections; Infrastructure Victoria Reports

The population projections Melbourne Australia 2025-2050 paint a picture of a metropolis destined to become Australia’s largest city within the current decade while continuing explosive growth through mid-century. Under the high growth scenario, Greater Melbourne is projected to reach 6.2-6.4 million people by 2031, 7.3-7.6 million by 2041, and an extraordinary 8.6-9.0 million by 2051. This would represent adding 3.4-3.8 million people over three decades—more than Adelaide’s entire current population. The medium growth scenario projects more conservative but still substantial increases to 7.9-8.3 million by 2051, adding 2.7-3.1 million people, while the low scenario forecasts 7.2-7.6 million, still representing phenomenal expansion. All scenarios agree on one historic milestone: Melbourne will overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous city sometime between 2031-2032, ending Sydney’s 240-year reign as the demographic leader since European settlement in 1788.

This overtake reflects differential growth rates sustained over decades. While Sydney adds 100,000-110,000 people annually, Melbourne consistently adds 140,000-150,000 people, creating a 30,000-40,000 person annual gap that progressively closes the 206,528 person difference recorded in June 2024. At current growth differentials, Melbourne requires approximately 6-7 years to surpass Sydney, aligning with the 2031-2032 projections. This historic shift carries profound implications for infrastructure investment, political representation, economic activity, and national identity, as the cultural and sporting capital also becomes the demographic capital. Melbourne’s ascendancy reflects its superior international appeal to migrants and students, younger demographic profile supporting higher birth rates, and aggressive urban development accommodating population growth through both sprawling outer suburbs and inner-city densification.

Growth rates show expected deceleration over time as the mathematical base effect creates slower percentage increases even with continued numeric gains. The high scenario peaks at approximately 100,000-120,000 people annually in the 2020s, then moderates to ~90,000 in the 2030s and ~85,000-90,000 by the 2040s. This reflects aging demographics reducing both births and migration of working-age people, infrastructure and housing supply constraints potentially limiting growth, environmental pressures including water supply and heat management, and potential policy interventions managing population size. The medium scenario shows similar patterns with annual gains of 80,000-100,000 in the 2020s, declining to 65,000-75,000 by the 2040s.

Spatially, projections identify dramatic variations across Greater Melbourne. The outer growth corridors in the north, west, and southeast will capture 70-80% of population increase, with municipalities like Wyndham, Melton, Hume, Whittlesea, and Casey projected to double or triple their populations by 2051. The west will become Melbourne’s most populous region, surpassing the east and north as affordable land enables massive residential estates. Inner suburbs show modest growth constrained by limited available land, though urban renewal precincts including Fishermans Bend, Arden, Macaulay, and E-Gate will add significant apartment-based populations. The CBD and inner ring may increase by 50,000-100,000 through high-rise residential development, while established middle suburbs experience minimal growth or slight declines as households age without sufficient infill development. These projections carry substantial uncertainty depending on immigration policy, economic conditions, climate change impacts, and infrastructure delivery, but provide essential guidance for planning Melbourne’s transformation from a 5+ million to a 7-9 million person metropolis by mid-century.

Age Distribution and Demographics Melbourne 2025

Data Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Regional Population by Age and Sex 2024; PopulationU Melbourne Statistics; Demographics of Melbourne Wikipedia

The age distribution and demographics Melbourne 2025 reveal a remarkably young, dynamic metropolitan population that distinguishes Melbourne from other Australian capitals and drives its economic vitality. Melbourne’s median age of 36.6 years positions it as Australia’s second-youngest capital city after Darwin (33 years), and significantly younger than Sydney (37 years), Adelaide (39.2 years), and Hobart (39.3 years). More dramatically, Melbourne is 6.6 years younger than regional Victoria’s median age of 43.2 years, reflecting the capital’s magnetic draw for young adults pursuing education, career advancement, and urban lifestyle amenities. This youthfulness translates into higher workforce participation, greater consumer spending, increased innovation and entrepreneurship, and sustained natural population increase through births.

The concentration of 20 to 44-year-olds comprising 39% of Greater Melbourne’s population compared to just 29% in regional Victoria demonstrates the city’s overwhelming appeal to working-age adults. Within this cohort, young professionals aged 25-35 represent an extraordinary 28% of Melbourne’s population, creating a unique demographic bulge that shapes the city’s character. This concentration reflects international students transitioning to permanent residency after completing degrees, skilled migrants arriving in peak working years, interstate migration of young Australians seeking career opportunities, and domestic migration from regional Victoria to Melbourne for employment. The suburbs with the youngest median ages include Clayton (North) – Notting Hill at 24.2 years (home to Monash University’s main campus), Carlton and Parkville both at 25.6 years (near University of Melbourne), and various inner suburbs hosting large student populations and young professionals in apartment developments.

The 0-14 years age group representing 18% of the population indicates a healthy presence of children and families, though this proportion varies dramatically by location. Outer growth suburbs show extraordinarily high child proportions: Tarneit-West-Mount Cottrell (32.5%), Cobblebank-Strathtulloh (32.4%), and Tarneit-North (32.1%) lead Australia in child concentration, characteristic of new housing estates attracting young families with multiple children. Conversely, inner-city areas like the CBD, Southbank, Docklands, and South Yarra show minimal child populations under 10%, dominated by childless singles, couples, and students in apartment towers. The 65+ years cohort comprising only 15% of Melbourne’s population is substantially lower than regional Victoria’s 20% and reflects two factors: young people migrate to Melbourne while retirees often move to coastal and regional areas, and Melbourne’s international migration brings predominantly working-age people rather than elderly.

The working-age population of 15-64 years accounting for 67.8% of residents provides a robust tax base, large labor force, and strong consumer market that drives economic growth. This proportion exceeds regional Victoria and most other Australian capitals, giving Melbourne a competitive advantage in attracting business investment. The gender distribution shows Melbourne at approximately 49% males and 51% females, with the sex ratio of 97.9 males per 100 females slightly higher than rest of Victoria (97.4). However, this varies dramatically by suburb: inner areas like Armadale (84.0 males per 100 females) and Fitzroy North (86.5) show female dominance reflecting longer female life expectancy among elderly populations, while suburbs with correctional facilities like Truganina-North (124.3 males per 100 females) show opposite patterns.

Melbourne’s aging trajectory shows gradual increases, with the proportion of residents over 65 rising from 13% in 2015 to 15% in 2024, and projected to reach 18-20% by 2040. This creates growing demand for aged care, healthcare services, retirement housing, and age-appropriate transport and infrastructure. However, Melbourne’s aging proceeds more slowly than Sydney, Adelaide, and regional areas due to sustained international migration of young people. The median age increased from 35.8 years in 2018 to 36.6 years in 2024, representing 0.8 years over six years—a modest pace suggesting Melbourne will maintain its youthful character through continued migration. Understanding these demographic dynamics is essential for businesses targeting Melbourne’s large young professional market, educators serving the massive student population, healthcare providers planning for aging demographics, and policymakers ensuring infrastructure meets the needs of Australia’s fastest-growing and soon-to-be-largest metropolis.

Fastest Growing Suburbs and Areas Melbourne 2025

Data Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Regional Population 2023-24; EverLend Fastest Growing Suburbs Report 2025; North Removals Growth Analysis 2025

The fastest growing suburbs and areas Melbourne 2025 showcase explosive outer suburban expansion concentrated overwhelmingly in the western and northern growth corridors where affordable land enables large-scale residential development. Fraser Rise-Plumpton stands as Melbourne’s fastest-growing area with an astonishing 26% annual growth rate, adding approximately 4,300 residents during 2023-24. This northwestern suburb’s meteoric rise stems from massive master-planned estates transforming former farmland into modern residential communities, median house prices around $700,000 sitting roughly $200,000 below Melbourne’s overall median, improving access via the Western Freeway and Calder Freeway, new schools including Springside West Secondary College serving 1,500+ students, and emerging retail hubs providing local amenities. Fraser Rise benefited from the largest net internal migration gain of 3,800 people, demonstrating its appeal to Australians relocating from other Melbourne suburbs and interstate.

Rockbank-Mount Cottrell ranks second with 15% growth and 4,100 new residents, driven by the transformative Woodlea master-planned community, one of Australia’s largest residential developments. The opening of Rockbank Train Station providing direct CBD access revolutionized connectivity, while major road upgrades including the Western Freeway duplication reduced commute times. Property prices remain affordable at approximately $560,000 median, attracting first-home buyers and young families priced out of inner suburbs where median prices exceed $1-1.2 million. Rockbank exemplifies the “new suburban dream” where families trade commute time for brand-new homes, generous block sizes, modern community facilities, and established infrastructure delivered upfront rather than decades after settlement.

Clyde North-South in Melbourne’s outer southeast recorded 19% growth with 3,900 new residents, representing the fastest expansion in the southern corridor. This area benefits from the completed Clyde Shopping Centre, numerous new schools, planned rail extensions that will dramatically improve transport, and proximity to employment hubs in Dandenong and Pakenham. Mickleham-Yuroke in the outer north added 3,400 people at 12-14% growth, recording Melbourne’s largest natural increase of 870 people—reflecting its extraordinarily young demographic with families having multiple children. This suburb benefits from proximity to Melbourne Airport offering employment opportunities, the Merrifield City development providing retail and services, and established schools supporting the booming family population.

The western suburbs dominate Melbourne’s growth landscape. Tarneit-North continues expanding at 15-20% with its direct rail connection to the CBD, multicultural population, excellent schools, and the Riverdale and other major estates. Cobblebank-Strathtulloh shows 18-22% growth and holds Australia’s second-highest child proportion at 32.4%, creating vibrant neighborhoods filled with young families. Truganina adds 2,500-3,000 people annually, benefiting from industrial employment in nearby Truganina Industrial Precinct and continued housing expansion. Wyndham Vale maintains 12-15% growth with affordable properties, freeway upgrades, and train line extensions improving connectivity. Melton South attracts first-home buyers with sub-$500,000 housing options, the most affordable in metropolitan Melbourne.

The growth pattern reveals Melbourne’s two-speed city phenomenon: buyers gravitate to either skyscraper inner-city apartments or affordable outer fringes, while middle-ring suburbs experience minimal growth or stagnation as high prices meet constrained land supply and restrictive heritage planning controls. Established eastern suburbs like Balwyn, Camberwell, and Kew show stable or slightly declining populations as aging residents downsize and young people cannot afford entry prices exceeding $1.5-2.5 million. Conversely, the outer suburbs are creating entirely new regional cities within commuting distance: Fraser Rise-Plumpton, Rockbank-Mount Cottrell, and Mickleham-Yuroke together added over 12,000 people in a single year—equivalent to establishing a substantial town. Government projections forecast some outer suburbs increasing 100-142% by 2036, with Munno Para West-Angle Vale (Adelaide) showing the development model that Melbourne’s growth areas are replicating.

The trade-offs are clear: outer suburb residents gain affordability, modern housing, generous block sizes, and established community facilities, but sacrifice commute times averaging 60-90 minutes to the CBD, reliance on car transportation with limited public transport, distance from cultural amenities and specialist services, and environmental concerns about urban sprawl and habitat loss. Yet for young families and first-home buyers, these compromises represent the only viable pathway to home ownership and the suburban lifestyle with backyards, multiple bedrooms, and safe neighborhoods for children. Understanding these spatial dynamics is crucial for investors targeting capital growth areas, businesses planning retail and service locations, infrastructure planners delivering schools and transport, and policymakers managing Melbourne’s transformation into a 7-9 million person metropolis extending 60-80 kilometers from the CBD.

Cultural Diversity and Migration Melbourne 2025

Data Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census 2021; Demographics of Melbourne Wikipedia; Community Profiles Greater Melbourne

The cultural diversity and migration Melbourne 2025 statistics reveal one of the world’s most multicultural metropolises, where 41.2% of residents were born outside Australia according to the 2021 Census—approximately 2.2 million people from 200+ countries and territories. This extraordinary diversity places Melbourne among the global top 10 cities for immigrant population, ahead of New York, London, and Toronto in foreign-born percentage. Melbourne is home to residents speaking 233+ languages and dialects and practicing 116 religious faiths, creating a cosmopolitan character evident in ethnic restaurants spanning every global cuisine, cultural festivals celebrating traditions from Diwali to Lunar New Year to Greek Easter, multilingual signage throughout suburbs, and religious diversity from temples and mosques to churches and gurdwaras. This multiculturalism represents Melbourne’s identity and competitive advantage, attracting international talent, fostering innovation through diverse perspectives, and creating global business connections.

India has emerged as Melbourne’s largest source of overseas-born residents at 5.1% or approximately 270,000+ people, experiencing explosive growth from 150,000 in 2016. This reflects the massive influx of Indian international students studying at Melbourne’s universities, skilled migration of IT professionals, engineers, healthcare workers, and accountants, family reunion programs bringing relatives, and business migration establishing enterprises. Indian communities concentrate in northern and western suburbs including Tarneit, Truganina, Point Cook, Craigieburn, Epping, and Wyndham Vale, establishing temples, specialized grocery stores, restaurants, and cultural organizations.

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.

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