Australia's 10 Most Populous Cities (2021 Census)

Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census Significant Urban Area (SUA) populations:

1. Sydney (NSW): 5,312,000
2. Melbourne (VIC): 5,153,618
3. Brisbane (QLD): 2,576,204
4. Perth (WA): 2,091,072
5. Adelaide (SA): 1,348,596
6. Gold Coast–Tweed Heads (QLD/NSW): 679,126
7. Canberra–Queanbeyan (ACT/NSW): 486,150
8. Newcastle–Maitland (NSW): 339,546
9. Wollongong (NSW): 308,514
10. Geelong (VIC): 268,214

Notes

• SUA = contiguous urban development (crosses state lines for Gold Coast/Canberra).
• Melbourne growing faster than Sydney; projected to overtake ~2030.
• Next tier: Sunshine Coast (380K), Hobart (250K), Townsville (180K), Cairns (160K), Darwin (150K), Toowoomba (140K), Ballarat (110K), Bendigo (100K).

Australia is one of the world's most urbanized nations (~86% in cities >20K).