Australia’s population boom hit a major milestone in March, making Australia home to more than 27 million residents. That said, this growth does not occur without the tide of current demographic challenges and historical shifts that forge the nation’s identity. The recent population boom marked an important chapter in Australia’s demographic history. Yet, this trip has led us to many successes and struggles throughout the process.
Australia’s growth rate has been hugely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic — most obviously by a dramatic drop in overseas migration. Prior to the pandemic, Australia’s demographic landscape was, and continues to be, greatly influenced by immigration. This trend plummeted during the pandemic. As the nation moves towards post-pandemic recovery, attention swings back to the role that migration will play in restoring our socio-economic wellbeing.
Western Australia emerged as the fastest-growing state, boasting a growth rate of 3.1%, closely followed by Victoria at 2.7% and Queensland at 2.5%. These figures show case by case regional disparities and the continuing trend of where Australians are opting to settle down and commute from.
Historical Context of Population Growth
Before European colonization this number reduced to approximately 800,000 Indigenous Australians. The first peoples of Australia established communities that were approximately 1,000-strong, showcasing a rich cultural heritage long before external influences altered the demographic landscape.
The trajectory of that growth saw notable changes across the year. In the early 20th century, Australia was grappling with relatively high maternal mortality. Approximately 600 per 100,000 women died from birth-related complications and maternal mortality. Fast forward to 2021, and this cost had drastically dropped to less than six per 100,000 women.
Infant mortality rates, too, have made astonishing gains. By 2022, the number of infant deaths in Australia was just 3.2 for every 1,000 babies. Each of these strides is a testament to the progressive work in healthcare and social welfare that has succeeded in improving our population’s health.
Considerations of population have been a staple of the Australian national discourse since our Federation in 1901. In the 1920s, declining fertility rates caught the attention of government officials, leading to various inquiries and reports aimed at understanding and responding to demographic challenges.
Trends in Fertility and Immigration
This year, Australia’s fertility rate has fallen to an all-time low of 1.5 babies per woman. This is in sharp contrast to the post-war average fertility rate of three births per women in the year 1946. It birth rate reached a high of 3.6 in 1961. It had risen to just under four births per woman and then slowly fell to about three births per woman by baby boom’s end.
Even as demographic experts begin to project what our new reality looks like, worry and speculation grow about the consequences of a falling fertility rate. By 2054, it is expected that there will be more deaths than births inside Australia. As a result, immigration is projected to be a key factor in maintaining population growth and ensuring economic prosperity.
For decades now, at moments of global crisis, Australia has declined the opportunity to welcome displaced people. Notably, over 170,000 individuals from European refugee camps found refuge in Australia during the final years of World War II. These types of instances are a testament to our country’s dedication to humanitarianism, as well as the great demographic tapestry it has woven.
The Need for Strategic Planning
The 2010 national population inquiry aimed to address population distribution across Australia but faced mixed results in influencing long-term infrastructure development. To meet our new and shifting demographic realities, experts are calling for bold strategies that proactively shape anticipated growth to ensure we’re well-equipped for the decades ahead.
The 1975 Borrie Report recommended that Australia start preparing for demographic change. So, it argued, rather than attempt to directly govern these shifts, focus on responding to them. This viewpoint is more important than ever as policymakers continue to steer through the difficult politics of immigration, declining fertility rates, and where people call home.
Sir Joseph Cook’s assertion that “we must either people this continent or perish” encapsulates the ongoing discourse surrounding population growth in Australia. With the nation considering its course in a new demographic era, the call for action remains in the air and still needs response.
