Australia’s Indigenous population estimated at 2.2m before ‘demographic catastrophe’ of colonisation

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 6 original reports

1. Tue, 15 September 2026

   2 reports
   • The Guardian World09:00first to report
     Australia’s Indigenous population estimated at 2.2m before ‘demographic catastrophe’ of colonisation

     Study finds earlier numbers were underestimated, suggesting impact of diseases and massacres were much greater than previously thought Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia before colonisation was dramatically underestimated, according to new research that suggests many more of them were killed. Modelling by a national research group puts the population levels before the 1788 first fleet arrived at...

   • ABC News (Australia)09:05
     Impact of colonisation on First Nations people far greater than previous estimates, research finds

     Australia's Indigenous population was up to seven times larger before colonisation than previously estimated, but was devastated following the arrival of Europeans, new research reveals.

2. Wed, 16 September 2026

   2 reports
   • thelinkpaper.ca05:29
     More than 2 million Indigenous people lived in Australia in 1788: new research

     Melbourne, More than two million Indigenous people probably lived in Australia at the time of the British invasion in 1788, according to new research based on genetic, archaeological and environmental evidence. This figure is much larger than the estimate of 300,000 which has shaped public understanding for the past century. The old estimate, published by […]

   • Anadolu Agency (AA)16:57
     Australia's pre-colonial Indigenous population may have been far larger than estimated: Study

     Study estimates 2.22 million Indigenous people lived in Australia before British arrival in 1788

3. Thu, 17 September 2026

   1 report
   • ABC News (Australia)04:54
     Australia's population grows by more than 390,000 people in 12 months

     New data shows Australia's population has grown by 1.4 per cent over the past year.

4. Fri, 18 September 2026

   1 report
   • Der Spiegel (Germany)09:57edited after publishing
     Australien: Studie zeigt drastischen Einbruch der indigenen Bevölkerung

     previouslyIn Australien lebten offenbar viel mehr Indigene als bisher gedacht

     Die Kolonisation brachte Krankheiten, Gewalt und Tod nach Australien. 70 Jahre nach der Ankunft der Europäer war die indigene Bevölkerung laut einer neuen Studie um 93 Prozent geschrumpft.