Male population aged 18 and older in Australia - Data and Analysis (1971-2034)

IBISWorld forecasts the male population aged 18 and older to increase by 1.5% during 2026-27, to reach 11,055,237 people. Throughout the year, the demographic's population is expected to eclipse 11 million people for the first time. The male population aged 18 and over is projected to increase during the year, in line with growth in the total population aged 18 years and older. Targeted skilled visa quotas towards occupations in high demand will also push up the demographic's population. The Australian Government's 2026-27 Migration Program planning levels are set at 132,240 skilled worker visas available for migrant workers, many of which will be new migrants coming from offshore, pushing up the Australian resident population.Over the past five years, the male population aged 18 and older has grown consistently, following the long-term trend that has been universally maintained since the early 1970s. However, border restrictions in place over the three years through 2021-22 limited net migration, contributing to weaker growth rates in the male population aged 18 and over. Despite the limitations on migration, the demographic's population continued to creep upwards over the pandemic period. In 2022-23, as restrictions on net migration eased, the population of males aged over 18 increased by almost 300,000 people. The annual growth of 3.0% was the largest single-year increase on record. In the years since, the demographic's population has continued to expand at a strong rate, as strong international university student numbers and consistent positive net migration have pushed up the number of adult males in Australia. Simultaneously, more males are living longer at the back end of the spectrum, with males aged over 100 increasing from around 1,100 in 2020-21 to an expected figure above 2,200 in 2026-27. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts the male population aged 18 and older to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.1% over the five years through 2026-27. Over this period, the demographic's share of the population is expected to increase from 38.4% in 2021-22 to 39.1% in 2026-27.