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This list of Australian cities by population provides rankings of Australian cities according to various systems defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Firstly, they are ranked by Greater Capital City Statistical Area (for capital cities) and Significant Urban Area (for other cities). They are also ranked by Urban Centre and by Local Government Area (known internationally as 'city proper').
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Greater Capital City Statistical Areas/Significant Urban Areas by population
Each capital city forms its own Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), which according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) represents a broad socioeconomic definition of each of the eight state and territory capital cities. These correspond to the more common and international usage of metropolitan areas. Significant Urban Areas are similarly defined but include population centres which are not capital cities. In Australia the population of the GCCSA/SUA is the most-often quoted figure for that city's population. The following ranks GCSSAs and SUAs which are not included within the GCCSAs with populations of over 30,000.
Greater Capital City Statistical Areas are in bold, the remainder are Significant Urban Areas.
50 largest urban centres by population
Urban Centres are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as being a population cluster of 1,000 or more people. For statistical purposes, people living in Urban Centres are classified as urban. The figures below represent the populations of the contiguous built-up areas of each city; with State and territory capitals in bold. These figures are only updated every census, as the ABS does not render population projections for Urban Centres, and as such can only be as up-to-date as the most recent census year.
30 largest local government areas by population
Local government areas are the main units of local government in Australia. They may be termed cities, shires, councils or other names, and all function similarly. Brisbane, which covers multiple LGAs, is the only state capital city with a local government area covering a significant portion of its urban area. Other capital cities are serviced by LGAs which cover a much smaller proportion of their total urban areas. A New South Wales review of local government areas resulted in various amalgamations of local government authorities in the state, reflected below, based on amalgamation of 2015 Australian Bureau of Statistics population figures
Apart from the City of Brisbane, City of Sydney and City of Melbourne, the populations of the central local government areas in other capitals is relatively small. As at 2015, Melbourne had 128,980, Darwin 82,912, Hobart 50,714, Adelaide 23,169 and Perth 21,092. Generally speaking, there are many suburban local government areas in most Australian capitals that are significantly larger in population than the central business district local government area.