Perth, July 1: Australia’s population reached 27.8 million at the end of 2025, yet only 18.25 million people are enrolled to vote, prompting questions about the gap between the nation’s population and electorate.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show Australia’s population grew by 412,500 people in the 12 months to December 2025, bringing the total population to 27.8 million.
At the same time, Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) data shows 18,251,479 Australians were enrolled to vote as at 31 March 2026.
According to the AEC, the estimated eligible population stood at 18,695,313 people, meaning 97.6 per cent of eligible Australians were enrolled to vote.
An estimated 443,834 eligible Australians remained unenrolled.
At first glance, the difference between Australia’s population and its electoral roll may appear significant, but government data shows the two figures measure very different groups of people.
Australia’s population includes children, temporary visa holders, permanent residents who are not citizens and other people who are not eligible to vote in federal elections.
Only Australian citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to enrol and vote.
Data from the Department of Home Affairs shows there were 2,928,819 temporary visa holders in Australia as at 30 April 2026.
These temporary residents are counted in various population measures but are not eligible to vote unless they become Australian citizens.
An AEC spokesperson told DailyStraits.com that enrolment rates typically fluctuate throughout the electoral cycle, with many newly eligible voters not taking action to enrol until an election is called.
The spokesperson said younger Australians who have recently turned 18 make up the largest group of new enrolments and often wait until an election deadline approaches before updating their details.
The commission noted that Australia’s enrolment rate has improved significantly over the past decade.
As at 31 March 2016, the national enrolment rate was 94 per cent, with more than 978,000 eligible Australians estimated to be unenrolled.
By comparison, the enrolment rate reached a record 98.2 per cent ahead of the 2025 federal election, reducing the number of eligible but unenrolled Australians to just over 333,000.
The AEC also pushed back against claims that growth in the electoral roll is driven solely by migration, noting that new migrants account for around 30 per cent of new enrolments, while most enrolment growth comes from young Australians turning 18 and enrolling for the first time.
Western Australia recorded one of the country’s lower enrolment rates at 94.6 per cent, with 1,905,896 enrolled voters and an estimated 109,164 eligible residents not enrolled.
The figures come amid ongoing public debate about population growth, migration and electoral participation, highlighting the distinction between Australia’s total resident population and the number of citizens eligible to vote.
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