Urban area over the long-term in Australia
Australia: Urban area over the long-term was 20,727 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
20,727 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
6th
of 202 countries
All-time high
20,727 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0048 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Australia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Australia is 20,727 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Australia peaked at 20,727 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0048 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Australia ranks 6th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Australia, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0048 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | +200.2% |
| 1200 | 0.0436 km² per grid cell | +200.3% |
| 1300 | 0.131 km² per grid cell | +200.4% |
| 1400 | 0.3936 km² per grid cell | +200.6% |
| 1500 | 1.18 km² per grid cell | +200.8% |
| 1600 | 3.57 km² per grid cell | +201.3% |
| 1700 | 10.57 km² per grid cell | +196.2% |
| 1710 | 12.33 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1720 | 14.38 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1730 | 16.78 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1740 | 19.58 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1750 | 22.84 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1760 | 26.65 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1770 | 31.1 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1780 | 36.34 km² per grid cell | +16.8% |
| 1790 | 42.59 km² per grid cell | +17.2% |
| 1800 | 47.18 km² per grid cell | +10.8% |
| 1810 | 52.43 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1820 | 60.64 km² per grid cell | +15.7% |
| 1830 | 75 km² per grid cell | +23.7% |
| 1840 | 108.96 km² per grid cell | +45.3% |
| 1850 | 218.19 km² per grid cell | +100.2% |
| 1860 | 498.17 km² per grid cell | +128.3% |
| 1870 | 840.17 km² per grid cell | +68.7% |
| 1880 | 1,253 km² per grid cell | +49.2% |
| 1890 | 1,993 km² per grid cell | +59.0% |
| 1900 | 2,708 km² per grid cell | +35.9% |
| 1910 | 3,464 km² per grid cell | +27.9% |
| 1920 | 4,200 km² per grid cell | +21.2% |
| 1930 | 4,532 km² per grid cell | +7.9% |
| 1940 | 4,533 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 4,663 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1951 | 4,711 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1952 | 4,763 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 4,817 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 4,877 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 4,940 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 5,008 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 5,084 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 5,167 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 5,260 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 5,362 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 5,475 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 5,597 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 5,732 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 5,873 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 6,022 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 6,179 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 6,341 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 6,501 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 6,657 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 6,807 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 6,949 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 7,063 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 7,174 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 7,290 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 7,414 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 7,549 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 7,681 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 7,822 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 7,966 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 8,108 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 8,253 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 8,397 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 8,549 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 8,706 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 8,871 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 9,050 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 9,244 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 9,443 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 9,641 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 9,830 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 10,018 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 10,216 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 10,414 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 10,612 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 10,812 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 11,022 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 11,243 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 11,469 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 11,702 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 11,945 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 12,198 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 12,461 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 12,722 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 12,994 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 13,263 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 13,617 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 13,979 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 14,343 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 14,710 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 15,079 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 15,445 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 15,830 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 16,221 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 16,609 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 17,000 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 17,403 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 17,749 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 18,092 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 18,444 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 18,790 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 19,177 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 19,562 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 19,949 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 20,338 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 20,727 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 20,727 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 20.6× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 20,727 km² per grid cell is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 954.94 km² per grid cell, 21.7× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | +201.3% | 1.18 km² per grid cell | 3.57 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +200.8% | 0.3936 km² per grid cell | 1.18 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +200.6% | 0.131 km² per grid cell | 0.3936 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +200.4% | 0.0436 km² per grid cell | 0.131 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +200.3% | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 0.0436 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +200.2% | 0.0048 km² per grid cell | 0.0145 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0048 km² per grid cell | 0.0048 km² per grid cell | 0.0048 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 0.0145 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0436 km² per grid cell | 0.0436 km² per grid cell | 0.0436 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.131 km² per grid cell | 0.131 km² per grid cell | 0.131 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.3936 km² per grid cell | 0.3936 km² per grid cell | 0.3936 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.18 km² per grid cell | 1.18 km² per grid cell | 1.18 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 3.57 km² per grid cell | 3.57 km² per grid cell | 3.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 10.57 km² per grid cell | 10.57 km² per grid cell | 10.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 12.33 km² per grid cell | 12.33 km² per grid cell | 12.33 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 14.38 km² per grid cell | 14.38 km² per grid cell | 14.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 16.78 km² per grid cell | 16.78 km² per grid cell | 16.78 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 19.58 km² per grid cell | 19.58 km² per grid cell | 19.58 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 22.84 km² per grid cell | 22.84 km² per grid cell | 22.84 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 26.65 km² per grid cell | 26.65 km² per grid cell | 26.65 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 31.1 km² per grid cell | 31.1 km² per grid cell | 31.1 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 36.34 km² per grid cell | 36.34 km² per grid cell | 36.34 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 42.59 km² per grid cell | 42.59 km² per grid cell | 42.59 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 47.18 km² per grid cell | 47.18 km² per grid cell | 47.18 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 52.43 km² per grid cell | 52.43 km² per grid cell | 52.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 60.64 km² per grid cell | 60.64 km² per grid cell | 60.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 75 km² per grid cell | 75 km² per grid cell | 75 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 108.96 km² per grid cell | 108.96 km² per grid cell | 108.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 218.19 km² per grid cell | 218.19 km² per grid cell | 218.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 498.17 km² per grid cell | 498.17 km² per grid cell | 498.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 840.17 km² per grid cell | 840.17 km² per grid cell | 840.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 1,253 km² per grid cell | 1,253 km² per grid cell | 1,253 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 1,993 km² per grid cell | 1,993 km² per grid cell | 1,993 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 2,708 km² per grid cell | 2,708 km² per grid cell | 2,708 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 3,464 km² per grid cell | 3,464 km² per grid cell | 3,464 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 4,200 km² per grid cell | 4,200 km² per grid cell | 4,200 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 4,532 km² per grid cell | 4,532 km² per grid cell | 4,532 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 4,533 km² per grid cell | 4,533 km² per grid cell | 4,533 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 4,929 km² per grid cell | 4,663 km² per grid cell | 5,260 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 5,974 km² per grid cell | 5,362 km² per grid cell | 6,657 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 7,372 km² per grid cell | 6,807 km² per grid cell | 7,966 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,826 km² per grid cell | 8,108 km² per grid cell | 9,641 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,734 km² per grid cell | 9,830 km² per grid cell | 11,702 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,223 km² per grid cell | 11,945 km² per grid cell | 14,710 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 16,787 km² per grid cell | 15,079 km² per grid cell | 18,444 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,757 km² per grid cell | 18,790 km² per grid cell | 20,727 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Australia?
- Urban area over the long-term in Australia was 20,727 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 20,727 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0048 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Australia rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Australia ranks 6th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.