Air passengers in Australia
Australia: Air passengers was 68.96 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Australia, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Australia recorded 68.96 million for air passengers in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.7% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Australia peaked at 76.85 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.32 million, in 1970.
That places Australia 17th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.32 million | — |
| 1971 | 7.33 million | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 7.80 million | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 9.38 million | +20.4% |
| 1974 | 10.66 million | +13.6% |
| 1975 | 11.06 million | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 10.86 million | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 11.31 million | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 12.12 million | +7.2% |
| 1979 | 13.02 million | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 13.65 million | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 13.22 million | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 13.19 million | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 12.60 million | -4.4% |
| 1984 | 13.24 million | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 14.41 million | +8.9% |
| 1986 | 15.50 million | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 16.88 million | +8.9% |
| 1988 | 18.82 million | +11.5% |
| 1989 | 15.11 million | -19.7% |
| 1990 | 17.55 million | +16.1% |
| 1991 | 21.86 million | +24.5% |
| 1992 | 23.89 million | +9.3% |
| 1993 | 26.93 million | +12.7% |
| 1994 | 26.89 million | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 28.83 million | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 30.08 million | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 30.95 million | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 30.19 million | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 31.58 million | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 32.58 million | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 33.48 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 39.02 million | +16.6% |
| 2003 | 41.39 million | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 41.60 million | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 44.66 million | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 46.95 million | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 48.73 million | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 51.49 million | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 50.03 million | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 60.64 million | +21.2% |
| 2011 | 63.36 million | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 66.36 million | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 68.20 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 68.12 million | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 69.78 million | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 72.45 million | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 74.26 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 75.67 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 76.85 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 23.35 million | -69.6% |
| 2021 | 24.57 million | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 55.74 million | +126.8% |
| 2023 | 68.96 million | +23.7% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 68.96 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 7.5× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Australia's 68.96 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 33.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +126.8% | 24.57 million | 55.74 million |
| 2020 | -69.6% | 76.85 million | 23.35 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.09 million | 7.32 million | 13.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.66 million | 12.60 million | 18.82 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.87 million | 17.55 million | 31.58 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.99 million | 32.58 million | 51.49 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.57 million | 60.64 million | 76.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.15 million | 23.35 million | 68.96 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Australia?
- Air passengers in Australia was 68.96 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 76.85 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.32 million in 1970.
- How does Australia rank for air passengers?
- Australia ranks 17th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.