According to Australian Aboriginal mythology and the animist framework developed in Aboriginal Australia, the Dreaming is a sacred era in which ancestral totemic spirit beings formed The Creation. The Dreaming established the laws and structures of society and the ceremonies performed to ensure continuity of life and land. Population The current Australian resident population is estimated at ( ). This does not include Australians living overseas. In 2015, 2.15% of the Australian population lived overseas, one of the lowest proportions worldwide. This ratio is much lower than many other countries in the OECD. Historical population The data in the table is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics The population estimates do not include the Aboriginal population before 1961. Estimates of Aboriginal population prior to European settlement range from 300,000 to one million, with archaeological finds indicating a sustainable population of around 750,000. See also Australians in the United Kingdom Australian Americans Australian Canadians Australian New Zealanders Australians in China Australians in Greece Australians in India Australians in Italy Australians in Japan Australians in Turkey Australians in Thailand List of prime ministers of Australia Notes References Citation External links Ethnic groups in Australia Demographics of Australia Society of Australia