World Population Prospects - Population Division

World Population Prospects 2022

Data Sources

A description of the empirical data used and the methods applied in revising past estimates of population and components of demographic change (fertility, child, adult and overall mortality, international migration) is available here for each country or area for the period 1950 to 2021. For the countries with less than 1,000 inhabitants in 2021, only the data sources for total population are made available.

Select below a country or area to see the respective information, or download the whole set of metadata in PDF format for all countries or areas or a tabular version for each demographic component under Documentation.

Australia

Population: Total population and distribution by age and sex estimated to be consistent with the population by age and sex of the (a) 1954, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 censuses; (b) adjusted for under/over count; (c) official estimates through 2019; (d) International estimates used up to 2020; and with estimates of the subsequent trends in fertility, mortality and international migration. In addition, the (a) adjusted for age heaping; (b) adjusted for under enumeration of children under age 15; (c) only total population for 1947 Census have been considered.

Fertility: Total fertility rate and age pattern of fertility based on: (a) official estimates of age-specific fertility rates through 2017; (b) registered births classified by age of mother and the underlying female population by age through 2020; (c) adjusted for underregistration. In addition, the (a) indirect estimates obtained from the application of the reverse survival method to the 1954, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 censuses and 1957-2011 Education Stats; (b) cohort-completed fertility backdated by the mean age of childbearing from the 1976, 1981, 1986, 2006, 2011 censuses have been considered.

Child Mortality: Under-five mortality based on: (a) official estimates of infant and child mortality through 2017; (b) registered infant and child deaths through 2021.

Overall Mortality: Life expectancy at birth and age pattern of mortality based on: (a) official estimates through 2017; (b) registered deaths by age and sex available through 2021; (c) International estimates used up to 2021.

Migration: International migration based on: (a) official figures of net international migration flows, and assumed subsequent trends in international migration; (b) estimates of migrant flows, and assumed subsequent trends in international migration; (c) information on foreign-born populations from censuses and registers from major countries of destination; (d) estimates derived as the differences between overall population growth and natural increase; (e) UNHCR statistics on the number of refugees in the main countries of asylum.

Disclaimer: This web site contains data tables, figures, maps, analyses and technical notes from the current revision of the World Population Prospects. These documents do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.