Greater Melbourne: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Greater Melbourne: The median total income of residents of Greater Melbourne who had income was $59,784 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 11th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: Greater Melbourne, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Health in Greater Melbourne: 62,360 births were registered to mothers living in Greater Melbourne in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.40 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: Greater Melbourne, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Education in Greater Melbourne: 66.9% of residents of Greater Melbourne aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, joint 9th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: Greater Melbourne, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
- Poverty and living standards in Greater Melbourne: The median weekly rent paid by households in Greater Melbourne was $390 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), joint 15th highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: Greater Melbourne, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the population of Greater Melbourne?
Greater Melbourne had an estimated 5,435,590 residents on 30 June 2025 (ABS preliminary estimate), 2nd highest of 31 areas covered on this site. Boundary: Greater Melbourne, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyIs the population of Greater Melbourne growing?
The population of Greater Melbourne grew by 105,030 people (2.0%) in the year to 30 June 2025, from 5,330,560 to 5,435,590; Australia as a whole grew 1.5%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast has the population of Greater Melbourne grown in the last five years?
Between 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2025 the estimated population of Greater Melbourne rose 7.4%, from 5,061,107 to 5,435,590, compared with 7.7% for Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people moved to Greater Melbourne in 2024-25?
In the year to 30 June 2025 Greater Melbourne had net overseas migration of +81,168 people and net internal (within Australia) migration of -8,554 people.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the population density of Greater Melbourne?
Greater Melbourne covers 9,993 square kilometres, so its 2025 population works out at about 544 people per square kilometre.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median age in Greater Melbourne?
The median age of residents of Greater Melbourne was 36.6 years in 2024, below the national figure (38.3 years).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households are there in Greater Melbourne?
The 2021 Census counted 1,781,346 households in Greater Melbourne, with an average of 2.6 people per household.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Melbourne were born overseas?
At the 2021 Census 35.6% of residents of Greater Melbourne were born overseas, above the national figure (27.6%), and 34.1% spoke a language other than English at home, above the national figure (22.3%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWho runs Greater Melbourne?
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 Brisbane 2,833,524
- Greater Perth 2,452,765
- Greater Adelaide 1,491,015
- 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
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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