The number of residents in Australia born in Ireland has now surpassed 100,000, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
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As of June, there were 103,080 individuals born in Ireland living in Australia, a significant increase from 94,540 just a year prior. This growth reflects an increase of over 8,500 people. Remarkably, the Irish-born population in Australia has nearly doubled in the last two decades, showcasing a remarkable growth rate of 87% since 2004, when only 55,020 were residing there.
Interestingly, while the Irish-born figures saw a decline to 85,660 in 2022, they rebounded impressively by nearly 9,000 in 2023. In contrast, the rise in residents from Northern Ireland has been much more modest. In 2024, 25,920 individuals born in Northern Ireland were living in Australia, reflecting an increase of just 860 on the previous year. Over the past 20 years, this figure has grown by a comparatively modest 14.9%.
This notable increase in the Irish population stands in stark contrast to trends observed among many other European Union nations. For instance, the number of individuals from Italy living in Australia has declined from just under 223,000 in 2004 to approximately 156,000 last year. To add to this, Italy has, for the first time since 1901, dropped out of Australia’s top 10 countries of birth.
As of 2024, it is estimated that 31.5% of Australia’s resident population was born overseas, up from 30.7% in 2023. In total, out of 27.2 million residents in Australia, 8.6 million were born abroad. The countries with the largest expatriate communities include England, India, China, and New Zealand. The ABS noted that, fascinatingly, almost every country in the world is represented within Australia’s overseas-born population.
For a deeper dive into the dynamics of Australia’s overseas-born population, consider exploring this insightful graphic: 9 facts about Australia’s overseas-born population.
— Australian Bureau of Statistics (@ABSStats) April 30, 2025
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International—Monitoring.
