More than 100,000 Irish people are now living in Australia, new stats show

103,080 people who were born in Ireland were living in Australia as of June 2024, according to preliminary data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday, April 30.

The figure has nearly doubled from the 53,850 people who were born in Ireland and living in Australia in 1996.

The number of Irish people living in Australia is also nearly quadruple the number of people who were born in Northern Ireland, which as of June 2024, was 25,920.

Overall, the ABS found that as of June 30, 2024, Australia's estimated resident population was 27.2 million people, comprising 18.6 million people born in Australia and 8.6 million people born overseas. 

The proportion of Australia's population born outside Australia was 31.5%, ABS said.

England, India, China, and New Zealand were the countries of birth with the largest populations; those born in India recorded the largest increase since 2014.

In 2024, nearly every country from around the world was represented in the birthplaces of Australia's population.

Meanwhile, data is only available at the state and territory level for Australia's census years, most recently 2021.

Here is how many people born in Ireland and Northern Ireland who were living in each of Australia's states / territories as of 2021: 

• New South Wales: 28,580 people born in Ireland; 6,300 born in Northern Ireland
• Victoria: 18,460 people born in Ireland; 6,070 born in Northern Ireland
• Queensland: 13,460 people born in Ireland; 4,800 born in Northern Ireland
• South Australia:  3,500 born in Ireland; 2,030 born in Northern Ireland
• Western Australia: 19,910 born in Ireland; 4,700 born in Northern Ireland
• Tasmania: 810 born in Ireland; 380 born in Northern Ireland
• Northern Territory: 890 born in Ireland; 150 born in Northern Ireland
• Australian Capital Territory: 920 born in Ireland; 320 born in Northern Ireland.