Invest
Melbourne closes in on Sydney’s population growth
Melbourne is hot on the heels of Sydney’s population growth, as it inches closer to taking over as the country’s biggest city since Sydney established itself as the most populous back in the early 1990s.
Melbourne closes in on Sydney’s population growth
Melbourne is hot on the heels of Sydney’s population growth, as it inches closer to taking over as the country’s biggest city since Sydney established itself as the most populous back in the early 1990s.
According to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Sydney’s population stood at 5.37 million on 30 June 2020, up 1.1 per cent from a year earlier, and just 207,995 above Melbourne’s 5.16 million figure.
Surprisingly, and despite a growing sea-change/tree-change trend, Melbourne had the largest population increase, growing by more than 80,000 people.
Although Melbourne’s toughest and longest lockdown kicked in after the ABS figures were compiled, the city is well and truly closing in on Sydney, which took over as the country’s biggest city in 1902.
But the latter months of COVID are expected to put Sydney at a slight advantage, as a number of Melburnians are tipped to have packed their bags in protest against the state government in the September quarter.
As for Australia’s other capital cities, it was Brisbane and Perth that saw the highest growth rates in the year to June 2020.
Brisbane's population grew by 1.9 per cent during 2019-20, while Perth added 1.8 per cent.
In fact, only Darwin experienced a decrease in population during 2019-20, with 180 fewer people calling the Northern Territory capital home at 30 June 2020 compared to the previous year.
|
|
2019-20 (no.) |
2019-20 (%) |
|
|
Sydney |
5,367,206 |
57,107 |
1.1 |
|
Melbourne |
5,159,211 |
80,088 |
1.6 |
|
Brisbane |
2,560,720 |
46,914 |
1.9 |
|
Adelaide |
1,376,601 |
16,127 |
1.2 |
|
Perth |
2,125,114 |
37,559 |
1.8 |
|
Hobart |
238,834 |
2,610 |
1.1 |
|
Darwin |
147,231 |
-184 |
-0.1 |
|
Canberra |
431,380 |
5,095 |
1.2 |
|
Total capital cities |
17,406,297 |
245,316 |
1.4 |
ABS data also reveals the population growth hotspots within the capitals and the rest of the country.
Mickleham - Yuroke in Melbourne’s outer north had the highest growth rate (33 per cent) in Australia in 2019-20, while Riverstone - Marsden Park in Sydney's outer north-west had the largest growth (up by 8,900 people).
|
State/Territory |
Largest growth 2019-20 |
Highest growth rate 2019-20(a) |
||
|
Area |
Number |
Area |
Per cent |
|
|
Victoria |
Cranbourne East |
6,300 |
Mickleham - Yuroke |
32.8 |
|
New South Wales |
Riverstone - Marsden Park |
8,900 |
Riverstone - Marsden Park |
27.8 |
|
Queensland |
Pimpama |
2,700 |
Ripley |
20.3 |
|
Northern Territory |
Palmerston - South |
830 |
Palmerston - South |
14.6 |
|
Australian Capital Territory |
Throsby |
550 |
Moncrieff |
14.3 |
|
Western Australia |
Ellenbrook |
2,400 |
Alkimos - Eglinton |
10.2 |
|
South Australia |
Munno Para West - Angle Vale |
970 |
Munno Para West - Angle Vale |
6.6 |
|
Tasmania |
Newnham - Mayfield |
290 |
Rokeby |
4.0 |
RELATED ARTICLES
Economy
RBA's hawkish stance reflects inflation concerns, State Street economist comments
In a recent statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has signaled a hawkish stance on interest rates, drawing insights from financial experts about the implications for Australia's economic ...Read more
Economy
Navigating the inflation maze: How CFOs can outsmart economic hurdles in Australia
Fresh inflation data have cooled expectations of near-term rate cuts in Australia, intensifying pressure on margins, capital allocation and demand. Rather than wait for monetary relief that may not ...Read more
Economy
Inflation concerns rise as Australia's CPI climbs to 3.8% in October
Australia's latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures have sent ripples through the economy, with headline inflation accelerating to 3.8% year-on-year in October, up from 3.6% in September. The data, ...Read more
Economy
October CPI results pose challenges for RBA’s monetary policy stance
In a surprising turn of events, the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) data has raised eyebrows among economists and market strategists, revealing stronger-than-expected inflationary pressures in ...Read more
Economy
Global deal activity declines by 6% amid economic uncertainty, reports GlobalData
In a year characterised by economic turbulence and evolving market conditions, global deal activity has witnessed a notable downturn during the first ten months of 2025. According to GlobalData, a ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s softening labour market puts another RBA cut in play — here’s what business should do now
A four-year high in unemployment has revived expectations the Reserve Bank could deliver another rate cut as soon as November. With quarterly GDP growth running at 0.6 per cent and annual growth at ...Read more
Economy
Rising CPI reinforces RBA’s stance as rate cut expectations remain: State Street
State Street Global Advisors says the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is likely to hold its current policy outlook following the release of September quarter inflation data, which showed an unexpected ...Read more
Economy
NSW SES boosts tsunami preparedness ahead of World Tsunami Awareness Day
As World Tsunami Awareness Day approaches on 5 November, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is ramping up efforts to enhance tsunami preparedness along the east coastRead more
Economy
RBA's hawkish stance reflects inflation concerns, State Street economist comments
In a recent statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has signaled a hawkish stance on interest rates, drawing insights from financial experts about the implications for Australia's economic ...Read more
Economy
Navigating the inflation maze: How CFOs can outsmart economic hurdles in Australia
Fresh inflation data have cooled expectations of near-term rate cuts in Australia, intensifying pressure on margins, capital allocation and demand. Rather than wait for monetary relief that may not ...Read more
Economy
Inflation concerns rise as Australia's CPI climbs to 3.8% in October
Australia's latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures have sent ripples through the economy, with headline inflation accelerating to 3.8% year-on-year in October, up from 3.6% in September. The data, ...Read more
Economy
October CPI results pose challenges for RBA’s monetary policy stance
In a surprising turn of events, the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) data has raised eyebrows among economists and market strategists, revealing stronger-than-expected inflationary pressures in ...Read more
Economy
Global deal activity declines by 6% amid economic uncertainty, reports GlobalData
In a year characterised by economic turbulence and evolving market conditions, global deal activity has witnessed a notable downturn during the first ten months of 2025. According to GlobalData, a ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s softening labour market puts another RBA cut in play — here’s what business should do now
A four-year high in unemployment has revived expectations the Reserve Bank could deliver another rate cut as soon as November. With quarterly GDP growth running at 0.6 per cent and annual growth at ...Read more
Economy
Rising CPI reinforces RBA’s stance as rate cut expectations remain: State Street
State Street Global Advisors says the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is likely to hold its current policy outlook following the release of September quarter inflation data, which showed an unexpected ...Read more
Economy
NSW SES boosts tsunami preparedness ahead of World Tsunami Awareness Day
As World Tsunami Awareness Day approaches on 5 November, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is ramping up efforts to enhance tsunami preparedness along the east coastRead more
