Quick answerCanberra is the capital of Australia, with 484,630 people inside the city limits in 2025. It is best known for the Parliament House, the Lake Burley Griffin and the National museums and galleries. Its official language is English, and its currency is the Australian dollar.
Canberra is the capital of Australia, with an estimated population of 484,630 in June 2025. It is a purpose-built city between Sydney and Melbourne, home to Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and Lake Burley Griffin.
Key facts
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 484,630 (2025) |
| Elevation | 578 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Australia/Sydney |
| Language | English |
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD, $) |
| Coordinates | 35.2931° S, 149.1269° E |
Overview
Canberra is the capital of Australia and the largest population centre in the Australian Capital Territory. It had an estimated population of 484,630 in June 2025, making it Australia's largest inland city and its eighth-largest city. The city occupies most of the northern part of the ACT, between the Brindabella Ranges and the New South Wales border, at an elevation of about 578 metres.
Canberra was created to be the national capital after the Australian colonies federated in 1901. Sydney and Melbourne both wanted the honour, so the capital was placed in a new, purpose-built city between them, on land that had been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians — including the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples — for up to 21,000 years. The city was designed by the American architect Walter Burley Griffin, whose plan centred on a lake and on axes between the hills.
Today Canberra is a low-rise, garden city of embassies, ministries and national institutions, set around Lake Burley Griffin. The city is also home to the Australian National University, and its suburbs are named after Australian prime ministers and explorers. Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia and Questacon are its best-known sights, and the Brindabellas — the northern end of the Australian Alps — rise just to the south and west.
What Canberra is known for
- Parliament House
- Lake Burley Griffin
- National museums and galleries
- Planned garden city
Landmarks
- Parliament House
- Lake Burley Griffin
- Australian War Memorial
- National Gallery of Australia
- Questacon
- Mount Ainslie lookout
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Canberra?
Canberra had an estimated population of 484,630 in June 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It is Australia's eighth-largest city and its largest inland city. Unlike other capitals, Canberra has no separate metropolitan area: the whole Australian Capital Territory is the city, and almost everyone in the territory lives in its urban area.
What is Canberra famous for?
Canberra is famous as the seat of Australia's government: Parliament House, the High Court and the national departments are all here. It is also known for its national institutions — the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia and Questacon — and for Lake Burley Griffin, around which the planned city is built.
Where is Canberra located?
Canberra is in south-eastern Australia, in the Australian Capital Territory, about 280 kilometres by road south-west of Sydney and 660 kilometres by road north-east of Melbourne. It sits at about 578 metres above sea level, between the Brindabella Ranges and the New South Wales border. Its coordinates are 35.29° S, 149.13° E, in the Australian Eastern Standard Time zone.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Australia — the country Canberra is in
- Melbourne — another city in Australia
- Sydney — another city in Australia
- Brisbane — another city in Australia
- All cities in Australia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, via Wikipedia — Canberra
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, via Wikipedia — List of cities in Australia by population
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.