“The most recent data from the ABS confirms that the avalanche of migration crushing our economy and society continues unabated, with the increase in Australia’s overseas-born population since 2000 now greater than the increase from Federation to the year 2000,” said Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director at the Institute of Public Affairs.
Today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) updated its Population by Country of Birth database, with the reference period June 2025. IPA analysis of the data shows the following.
- First-generation migrants totalled 8.83 million people in June 2025, the highest in recorded history, making up 32 per cent of Australia’s resident population.
- 25 years prior, the overseas-born population was 4.39 million, or 23 per cent of the resident population at the time.
- Australia’s overseas-born population has more than doubled since 2000.
- The increase in Australia’s overseas-born population since 2000 has been greater than the increase in Australia’s overseas-born population between 1901 and the year 2000.
- The most common country of origin for first generation migrants living in Australia is now India (971,020), with Indian-born migrants being the fastest-growing cohort, increasing from 90,680 in 2000 to 971,020 in 2025.
“Not only is the overseas-born population at record highs, it is set to only increase further, with net overseas migration forecast to eventually settle at around 225,000 per year according to government budget documents,” said Mr Wild.
“You can hardly blame immigrants for wanting to come to Australia, which is the greatest nation on earth, but the scale of the intake compromises the nation’s ability to absorb the intake while also maintaining the values which make the Australian way of life the envy of the world.”
Recent IPA research on the attitudes of Australians towards immigration found
- 79 per cent of Australians want an annual migration intake of 100,000 or fewer (compared with average annual net overseas migration under the Albanese government of 424,000.) This includes 75 per cent of first-generation migrants; 74 per cent of non-citizens; and 72 per cent of those aged 18-24.
- 60 per cent of Australians say there are too many migrants in Australia, while only 17 per cent think there are too few. This includes 59 per cent of first-generation migrants.
- 54 per cent of Australians say they no longer recognise the country they grew up in.
“Dramatically cutting immigration is the only way to unify our nation, with Australians of all backgrounds backing a reduction to the rate of migration,” said Mr Wild.
“Australia’s political establishment has failed our nation with years of unrestrained mass migration without providing adequate infrastructure, and without enforcing a meaningful values test on migrants who come here.”
Related IPA research can be found here.
Chart: Components of Australia’s population
Table: Top ten first-generation migrant countries of birth in 2000 and 2025 (Source: ABS, IPA)
