Canberra explained
Canberra's Population in 2026: Latest Figures & Growth
Canberra's population reached 487,202 at the end of 2025 and, growing about 1.3% a year, is on track to pass 490,000 during 2026. Here is what the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show, how the city compares, and where the numbers are heading.
487,202
+1.3%
~490,000+
35 years
How many people live in Canberra?
The most recent official count puts the Australian Capital Territory's estimated resident population at 487,202 people as at 31 December 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Because more than 99% of ACT residents live within the Canberra urban area, that territory figure is the number used whenever people ask how big Canberra is.
That makes Canberra the largest inland city in Australia and the eighth-largest city overall — comfortably bigger than Hobart or Darwin, and the only one of the country's major cities not built on the coast.
How fast is Canberra growing?
Canberra added about 6,033 residents over the year to December 2025, a growth rate of 1.3%. That is fractionally below the national rate of 1.5%, but growth has been consistent for a decade, underpinned by net overseas migration, a healthy birth rate and the stability of public-sector employment. On that trajectory the city is set to pass the 490,000 mark during 2026 and reach half a million residents within a few years.
Canberra's population over time
- 2006323,000
- 2011357,000
- 2016397,000
- 2021454,000
- Dec 2025487,202
Canberra population: your questions
What is the population of Canberra in 2026?
The ACT's estimated resident population was 487,202 at 31 December 2025, the most recent official ABS figure. Growing about 1.3% a year, Canberra is on track to pass 490,000 residents during 2026. Because more than 99% of ACT residents live in the Canberra urban area, the ACT figure is used as Canberra's population.
How fast is Canberra's population growing?
Canberra grew by roughly 6,000 people (1.3%) over the year to December 2025. That is a little below the national rate of 1.5%, but the ACT remains one of Australia's steadier-growing jurisdictions, driven by net overseas migration, a strong birth rate and public-sector employment.
Is Canberra bigger than Hobart or Darwin?
Yes. Canberra is Australia's largest inland city and is considerably bigger than both Hobart and Darwin, making it the eighth-largest city in the country and the largest that is not on the coast.
What is the difference between Canberra and the ACT population?
They are almost identical. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the administrative area, and the Canberra urban area contains virtually all of its residents, so the ACT's estimated resident population of 487,202 is used as Canberra's population.
How many people are projected to live in Canberra by 2030?
If current growth of around 1.3% a year continues, Canberra would reach roughly 510,000 to 520,000 residents by 2030. Longer-range ACT Government projections have the city approaching 600,000 in the 2040s.