New research estimates that more than 2 million Indigenous people lived in Australia in 1788

New research estimates that more than 2 million First Nations people lived in Australia before colonisation. Published in Nature Human Behaviour on 15 September 2026, the study is viewed as invaluable to truth-telling and reconciliation.  

Read more in The Conversation, 15 September 2026:
https://theconversation.com/more-than-2-million-indigenous-people-lived-in-australia-in-1788-new-research-291278

Tory Shepherd’s article in The Guardian of 15 September 2026, ‘Australia’s Indigenous population estimated at 2.2 million before “demographic catastrophe” of colonisation,’ reveals that the ‘study finds earlier numbers were underestimated, suggesting impact of diseases and massacres were much greater than previously thought’. Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/15/australia-indigenous-population-before-colonisation-underestimated-ntwnfb?utm_term=6aa9b03489ec2873f23968920eaeee17&utm_campaign=MorningMailAUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=morningmailau_email

Stephanie Shepherd, also covered the story on ABC News on 15 September 2026 in ‘Impact 0f colonisation on First Nations people far greater than previous estimates, research finds’:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-15/extent-of-catastrophe-after-australias-colonisation-uncovered/107155538

News that estimates of the population of First Nations before colonisation was very likely under-estimated is not surprising as it was calculated using 1930s anthropological information.

Many First Nations were decimated in brutal massacres, led by colonists, who often covered their exploits up. Introduced diseases, like influenza, measles, and smallpox, to which First People had no immunity, took a fatal toll. As did dispossession of lands and traditional food and water resources. Read more about the complexities of Australian colonisation and its effects on this website under Resources, for example, have a look at the Bibliography, Books, Databases, Journal Articles, and Podcasts. (Post updated 18 September 2026).