ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) — 2021 Census · 2024 Estimates
Australia Foreign-Born Population
Official ABS Data#1 of 20 countries at ~32%
Australia has the highest foreign-born share among 20 comparable Western countries at ~32% (ABS 2024), reflecting decades of a deliberate points-based immigration system.
Key figures (ABS 2024)
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-born population share | ~32% | ABS, 2021 Census / 2024 estimates |
| Total overseas-born residents | ~8.2 million | ABS 2024 |
| Top origin countries | England, India, China, New Zealand, Philippines | ABS 2021 Census |
| Annual permanent migration target (2024–25) | 185,000 | Australian Department of Home Affairs |
| Rank among 20 Western countries | 1st (highest) | Immigration Factbook cross-country comparison |
Context: why Australia's share is so high
- Points-based migration system: Australia has used a skills-based selection system since 1973, systematically prioritising labour market needs. This produces a large and economically active immigrant cohort.
- Geographic isolation: Unlike European countries, Australia receives very little spontaneous unauthorised migration. The overwhelming majority of immigrants are selected through formal channels.
- Historical settlement patterns: Post-WWII immigration programs from Europe, followed by the removal of the White Australia Policy in 1973, created successive waves of permanent settlement.
- Definition used: ABS uses "overseas-born" (place of birth), which includes naturalised citizens. This is comparable to the "foreign-born" measure used in Nordic and other European country pages on this site.
Comparison with other Western countries
Among the 20 Western countries tracked by Immigration Factbook, Australia's 32% foreign-born share is the highest, followed by New Zealand (~28.8%), Switzerland (~27.7%), and Canada (~23%). By comparison, France stands at ~11.3% foreign nationals and Germany at ~25.6% including migration background (a broader definition).
Direct comparison requires caution: countries use different definitions (foreign-born vs. foreign nationals vs. migration background). See the 20-country comparison matrix for definitions used per country.
Primary source
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (2024). Migration, Australia. abs.gov.au
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021). 2021 Census — Country of birth. abs.gov.au