Melbourne Population 2026

Melbourne has a population of 5,435,590, making it the #2 biggest city in 🇦🇺 Australia, located in Victoria. Roughly 20% of Australia's population lives here.

CanberraMelbourne
Location of Melbourne (capital Canberra shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
5,435,590
Rank in Australia
#2
Coordinates
37.81°S, 144.96°E
~25 m elevation · Australia/Melbourne
Distance to capital (Canberra)
466 km
289 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Victoria

CityPopulationRank in Australia
Geelong282,809#12
Ballarat111,973#19
Bendigo103,034#21
Wodonga38,949#38
St Albans37,629#40
Mildura34,565#43
Frankston East34,457#44
Warrnambool32,894#46

Cities near Melbourne

FAQ

What is the population of Melbourne?
Melbourne has a population of 5,435,590 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2 biggest city in Australia.
What region is Melbourne in?
Melbourne is located in Victoria, Australia.
Is Melbourne the capital of Australia?
No, the capital of Australia is Canberra, about 466 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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