More Australians will be dying than being born in 40 years as major report predicts future of lower growth
News Source
β’Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:30:32 GMT
π° What Happened
Australia's seventh Intergenerational Report says deaths will outnumber births by the 2060s. It is the first time this has been projected for the country.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers released the report in a speech at the Australian National University on Monday. He said no earlier report had faced such large global risks or such an uncertain future.
The population is expected to grow by 0.9 per cent a year, down from 1.4 per cent in the past. Real GDP per person will grow about 1.2 per cent a year, slower than before.
π The Backstory
Japan, Germany, Italy and South Korea have already passed the point where deaths outnumber births. Most other rich countries are expected to follow in coming decades.
The report leans heavily on artificial intelligence. It says AI could lift productivity and keep living standards rising. Chalmers called it the biggest economic change of our lifetime.
The government must balance that hope with public worry about AI and jobs. The report is written every five years, but Covid pushed the last one back to 2023.
π― Why It Matters
An older population means fewer workers and taxpayers supporting more retirees. This shapes decisions on migration, tax, health care and pensions for decades.
Australia's seventh Intergenerational Report says deaths will outnumber births by the 2060s. It is the first time this has been projected for the country.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers released the report in a speech at the Australian National University on Monday. He said no earlier report had faced such large global risks or such an uncertain future.
The population is expected to grow by 0.9 per cent a year, down from 1.4 per cent in the past. Real GDP per person will grow about 1.2 per cent a year, slower than before.
Japan, Germany, Italy and South Korea have already passed the point where deaths outnumber births. Most other rich countries are expected to follow in coming decades.
The report leans heavily on artificial intelligence. It says AI could lift productivity and keep living standards rising. Chalmers called it the biggest economic change of our lifetime.
The government must balance that hope with public worry about AI and jobs. The report is written every five years, but Covid pushed the last one back to 2023.
An older population means fewer workers and taxpayers supporting more retirees. This shapes decisions on migration, tax, health care and pensions for decades.