Greater Adelaide: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Greater Adelaide: The median total income of residents of Greater Adelaide who had income was $57,401 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 12th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: Greater Adelaide, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Health in Greater Adelaide: 14,914 births were registered to mothers living in Greater Adelaide in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.47 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: Greater Adelaide, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Education in Greater Adelaide: 59.2% of residents of Greater Adelaide aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 15th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: Greater Adelaide, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Poverty and living standards in Greater Adelaide: The median weekly rent paid by households in Greater Adelaide was $320 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), 6th lowest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: Greater Adelaide, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the population of Greater Adelaide?
Greater Adelaide had an estimated 1,491,015 residents on 30 June 2025 (ABS preliminary estimate), 5th highest of 31 areas covered on this site. Boundary: Greater Adelaide, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyIs the population of Greater Adelaide growing?
The population of Greater Adelaide grew by 18,647 people (1.3%) in the year to 30 June 2025, from 1,472,368 to 1,491,015; Australia as a whole grew 1.5%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast has the population of Greater Adelaide grown in the last five years?
Between 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2025 the estimated population of Greater Adelaide rose 7.1%, from 1,392,755 to 1,491,015, compared with 7.7% for Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people moved to Greater Adelaide in 2024-25?
In the year to 30 June 2025 Greater Adelaide had net overseas migration of +17,824 people and net internal (within Australia) migration of -2,425 people.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the population density of Greater Adelaide?
Greater Adelaide covers 3,260 square kilometres, so its 2025 population works out at about 457 people per square kilometre.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median age in Greater Adelaide?
The median age of residents of Greater Adelaide was 39.2 years in 2024, above the national figure (38.3 years).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households are there in Greater Adelaide?
The 2021 Census counted 536,048 households in Greater Adelaide, with an average of 2.5 people per household.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Adelaide were born overseas?
At the 2021 Census 27.5% of residents of Greater Adelaide were born overseas, below the national figure (27.6%), and 21.3% spoke a language other than English at home, below the national figure (22.3%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWho runs Greater Adelaide?
In Australia, cities and towns are run by local governments: Councillors elected (methods vary by state; voting compulsory in some states); mayors directly elected in some places and chosen by councillors in others. Local roads, planning approvals, waste, libraries, parks, rates (property tax).
How local power works in Australia
Cities of a similar size in Australia
- Greater Sydney 5,638,830
- Greater Melbourne 5,435,590
- Greater Brisbane 2,833,524
- Greater Perth 2,452,765
- Brisbane 1,375,301
- Gold Coast-Tweed Heads 761,634
- Gold Coast 691,230
- Newcastle-Maitland 541,634
- Canberra-Queanbeyan 521,049
- Canberra 484,630
- Sunshine Coast 381,957
- Central Coast 357,816
- Greater Wollongong 322,343
- Geelong 295,052
- Greater Hobart 255,250
- Sydney 241,797
Up a level: all cities in Australia · Australia · government and power
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Regional population 2024-25: estimated resident population by Greater Capital City Statistical Area, 2001 to 2025 (data cube 32180DS0003, Table 4), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f35d0ca0caaf…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Australia (ASGS Edition 3), all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bf78744b9729…)
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