Indian Population Becomes Australia’s Largest Foreign-Born Group
In a notable shift, the Indian-born population has become Australia’s largest group of foreign-born residents for the first time in years. According to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there are now about 971,020 Indian-born residents as of June 2025, surpassing the English-born population, which stands at approximately 970,950.
Over the past year, the number of Indian-born residents has risen significantly, growing from 916,330 in the previous year. In contrast, the English-born population saw a decline, down from 963,560.
Historically, since 1901, the English-born have been the largest group of foreign-born residents in Australia. The latest figures show that the Chinese-born population also remains prominent, with an estimated 731,540 individuals, making them the second-largest foreign-born group.
Following them, the New Zealand-born population is estimated at around 637,680, representing 2.3% of the total resident population. Other notable groups include those from the Philippines, Vietnam, South Africa, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.
Currently, foreign-born residents make up 32% of Australia’s total estimated population of 27.6 million, totaling around 8.8 million individuals. The ABS mentioned that the median age of overseas-born residents has changed over time, increasing to 45 years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to a median age of 35 for those born in Australia.
Globally, Australia ranks eighth for the proportion of foreign-born residents, with the United States leading the way, hosting 52.4 million foreign-born residents, which is about 15% of its total population.
