Australia's fastest-growing places: ABS regional population update 2024-25

Melton in Victoria remains the fastest-growing LGA in the nation, with its population increasing by 12,673 people, or 5.8 per cent, in 2024–25. But the latest ABS local area population data also shows how broadly growth is being shared, with six of the 10 fastest-growing LGAs located in Western Australia.

The ABS has now released its annual population update for local areas at 30 June 2025, covering LGAs, SA2s and other areas built from them. This release also includes revised figures for 2024, along with minor revisions back to 2022, reflecting updated estimates of migration within Australia published after the previous annual update.

These revisions have changed the 2024, 2023 and 2022 population figures for states and territories, with corresponding changes for local government areas within each state. In Victoria, for example, most LGAs have been revised down, reflecting a state population for 2024 that was about 28,000 lower than previously estimated. In contrast, New South Wales and Western Australia were revised up. This is the largest revision we've seen outside a new Census for some time. It will be interesting to see whether revisions following the 2026 Census are smaller as a result.

Despite the downward revision, the City of Melton has held onto its title as the fastest-growing LGA in the country, adding 12,673 people, or 5.8 per cent, in 2024–25. On Melbourne's western fringe, Melton remains one of the few relatively affordable areas for first home buyers in any capital city.

The top 10 fastest-growing LGAs by percentage are:

Top 10 table (paste as a WordPress table block):

Source: ABS, Regional population, 2024-25

Of the top 10 growth areas, six are in Western Australia, the fastest-growing state, with two in Victoria, one in New South Wales and one in South Australia. Some of these areas are growing quickly from a relatively small base. Dandaragan Shire in coastal Western Australia, around Jurien Bay, added 154 people and still ranked seventh nationally by growth rate.

There are still far more growing areas than declining ones. Of the 549 LGAs and unincorporated areas nationwide, only 84 recorded a population decline in 2024–25, or about 15 per cent. The largest numerical decline was in Glenorchy City Council in Tasmania, down 237 people. The largest percentage decline among LGAs was Bourke in far north-western New South Wales, down 2.4 per cent, or 56 people. Unincorporated Victoria, which includes several ski resorts with small permanent populations as well as French Island, declined slightly more in percentage terms, falling by 28 people, or 3.0 per cent, though it is not technically an LGA.

Six LGAs recorded no population change at all between 2024 and 2025. Most were very small remote areas. The largest was Glenelg Shire in south-west Victoria, including Portland and surrounding areas, which remained steady at exactly 19,908 people.

Check the map to see how your LGA is changing.

State highlights

New South Wales

Camden has been the fastest-growing LGA in New South Wales for many years, but in 2024–25 it was overtaken by neighbouring Wollondilly. Growth around Wilton Junction helped push Wollondilly into first place in the state. Camden still grew strongly at 3.7 per cent, from a much larger population base.

Victoria

Melton holds the title of fastest-growing LGA in the nation, while Mitchell, including Beveridge and Wallan, is now the second-fastest growing in Victoria. Inner Melbourne, which surged after borders reopened following COVID, remains the fourth-fastest growing area in the state, with its population approaching 200,000.

Queensland

Queensland's largest LGAs don't often appear in the fastest-growing rankings because they are already so large. Brisbane added more people than any other LGA in the country, increasing by 21,464 residents, but that translated to growth of 1.6 per cent, close to the national average. Brisbane's population is now 1.375 million within a single LGA, roughly double that of the Gold Coast, the next largest. Ipswich recorded the fastest growth in Queensland at 3.5 per cent.

South Australia

It's been some time since South Australia featured in the national top 10 growth list, but Playford in Adelaide's outer north has joined the list this year. Like Melton in Victoria, it offers more affordable home ownership opportunities for first home buyers moving further out. Mount Barker, in the Adelaide Hills, was the state's second-fastest growing area at 3.2 per cent.

Western Australia

There is no shortage of growth areas in Western Australia, the nation's fastest-growing state, which grew by 2.2 per cent overall. Growth was driven by strong overseas migration, interstate migration and high natural increase, with births continuing to outnumber deaths. Six of the top 10 LGAs nationally were in Western Australia, with Kwinana and Serpentine-Jarrahdale, both on Perth's southern fringe, leading the state at 4.6 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively. At the same time, Western Australia also features several of the fastest-declining LGAs, mostly in wheatbelt areas such as Quairading, Kellerberrin, Cunderdin and Trayning.

Tasmania

Tasmania was the slowest-growing state, adding just 1,496 people, or 0.3 per cent. Glenorchy recorded the largest numerical decline, though not the fastest decline by percentage. The fastest growth was in Sorell, on Hobart's eastern fringe, which grew by 1.4 per cent. Tasmania continues to lose residents interstate, although this is partly offset by relatively strong overseas migration into major centres.

Territories

In the Northern Territory, the fastest growth was in the unincorporated areas, which include mining towns such as Nhulunbuy and Alyangula, growing by 2.8 per cent. The new LGA of Groote Archipelago was close behind at 2.2 per cent. This analysis excludes the Darwin Waterfront Authority, which is listed separately by the ABS but is not technically an LGA. The ACT does not have local government areas, but the territory as a whole grew by 1.3 per cent.

These figures are now reflected across the .id toolkit, including the community profile and economic profile. Updated population estimates are also available for LGAs and for suburbs and districts within the community profile.

As always, these figures may be revised again after the 2026 Census, with updated Census-based results expected from June 2027. The toolkit will continue to reflect the most current available population estimates.