Canberra is the state capital city of Australia Capital Territory and also the capital city of Australia. Canberra has population of around 440,000 which account for 1.64% of Australia population. The population is comprised of approximately 50.5% females and 49.5% males. The city is inland between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, nestled between Australia’s highest alpine mountains and the South East Coast of New South Wales.
Based on our research, Canberra population will reach 448,829 by the end of June of 2024. We use end of June each year due to ABS always follow Australia financial year when pushed the data. The calculation is based on the average growth rate of 1.79% over last 12 years since 2011. We believe using the recent years’ figures (see the table in next section) will make the estimation more accurate.
Population Growth of Canberra
Looking back last twelve years of Canberra’s population, the growth rate is fairly consistent ranging from 0.50% to 4.06%, adding around 1,888 to 14,480 people each year to the overall population. The reasons contribute to the population growth is interstate migration. It doesn’t look like a lot of people, but the growth rate in percentage wise is pretty much in line with the Australia population growth.
Year | Population | Growth Rate |
2011 | 356,585 | n/a |
2012 | 371,065 | 4.06% |
2013 | 379,600 | 2.30% |
2014 | 381,488 | 0.50% |
2015 | 390,706 | 2.42% |
2016 | 395,785 | 1.30% |
2017 | 398,566 | 0.70% |
2018 | 403,057 | 1.13% |
2019 | 410,199 | 1.77% |
2020 | 420,087 | 2.41% |
2021 | 426,845 | 1.61% |
2022 | 433,750 | 1.62% |
2023 | 440,940 | 1.66% |
Demography of Canberra
According to census, the top five ancestries for people in the Canberra are: Australian, English, Irish, Scottish and German. The top five languages (other than English) spoken in the Canberra are: Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Italian and Spanish. The top six countries of birth for people in the Canberra are: Australia, England, China, India, New Zealand and Vietnam.
The religious makeup of Canberra is 28.0% No religion, 26.6% Catholic, 15.1% Anglican, 7.5% Religious affiliation not stated, 3.3% Uniting Church, 2.5% Buddhism, 2.4% Presbyterian and Reformed, 2.2% Eastern Orthodox, 2.1% Christian, 2.0% Islam.
Population Density of Canberra
Canberra’s population density is 173.3 people per square kilometer, which is ranking the 5th most populated city in Australia capital cities. Canberra’s population density is still pretty low compared with the rest of developed cities in the world.
Position | City | Population Density |
1 | Melbourne | 453/km2 |
2 | Adelaide | 404.205/km2 |
3 | Sydney | 400/km2 |
4 | Perth | 317.736/km2 |
5 | Canberra | 173.3/km² |
6 | Brisbane | 145/km2 |
7 | Hobart | 124.8/km2 |
8 | Darwin | 44.976/km2 |
Occupations and Industries
In Canberra, the main occupations of people living in Canberra are 28.7% Professionals, 19.3% Clerical & administrative workers, 15.6% Managers, 10.5% Technicians & trades workers, 9.3% Community & personal service workers, 6.9% Sales workers, 5.0% Labourers, 2.7% Machinery operators & drivers, 2.0% Occupation inadequately described/ Not stated.
The main industries people from Canberra work in are 32.3% Public administration and safety, 9.5% Professional, scientific and technical services, 9.1% Health care and social assistance, 8.4% Education and training, 7.8% Retail trade, 6.4% Construction, 5.7% Accommodation and food services, 3.2% Other services, 2.4% Administrative and support services.
Facts About Canberra
- Canberra is Australia’s largest inland city and also her capital. It is located about 170 miles south-west of Sydney and 410 miles north-east of Melbourne.
- The city has been home to the countries Executive, Judiciary and Legislature arms of government for 100 years.
- Canberra has a higher percentage of volunteers than other Australian cities.
- Canberra has the highest percentage of early adopters of technology and the greatest NBN take-up in Australia.
- Canberra has a higher percentage of volunteers than other Australian cities.
- In the language of the Ngunnawal people, Canberra supposedly means either “meeting place” or “women’s breasts.”
- Canberra covers an area of 814.2 square kilometres, and is located near the Brindabella Ranges.
- Canberra is a planned city and the inner-city area was originally designed by Walter Burley Griffin, a major 20th-century American architect.
References
The following links provide data for this topic:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: www.abs.gov.au
- ACT Government: www.act.gov.au
- National Capital Authority: www.nationalcapital.gov.au
- Canberra History: www.canberrahistory.org.au