National, state and territory population

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Statistics about the population and components of change (births, deaths, migration) for Australia and its states and territories

Reference period
December 2022
Released
15/06/2023

Key statistics

Statistics in this release are commonly known as Estimated Resident Population (ERP).

  • Australia’s population was 26,268,359 people at 31 December 2022.
  • The quarterly growth was 127,078 people (0.5%).
  • The annual growth was 496,800 people (1.9%).
  • Annual natural increase was 109,800 and net overseas migration was 387,000.

In this issue, the ABS has rebased the population estimates to the 2021 Census of Population. Estimates for September 2016 - June 2021 are final.  For further information see Methodology used in final rebased population estimates, June 2021. These final rebased estimates supersede all previously released estimates.

National

Annual population change

In the year ending 31 December 2022, Australia's population grew by 496,800 people (1.9%).

  1. Annual growth calculated at the end of each quarter.
  2. All data after 30 June 2021 is subject to revision.

Australia's population growth is comprised of natural increase (births minus deaths) and net overseas migration (migration arrivals minus migration departures).

Components of quarterly population change

In the December 2022 quarter, natural increase:

  • was 29,200 people
  • increased by 6,700 people since the previous quarter
     

In the December 2022 quarter, net overseas migration:

  • was 97,900 people
  • decreased by 15,400 people since the previous quarter
     

Components of annual population change

In the year ending 31 December 2022, natural increase:

  • was 109,800 people
  • decreased by 33,500 people (23.4%) since the previous year

 

In the year ending 31 December 2022, net overseas migration:

  • was 387,000 people
  • increased by 380,100 people since the previous year
  1. Annual components calculated at the end of each quarter.

Births and deaths

Overseas migration arrivals and departures

States and territories

Annual population change

  • All states and territories had positive population growth over the year ending 31 December 2022.
  • Western Australia had the fastest growth rate (2.3%).
  • Tasmania had the slowest rate (0.5%).
 Population at 31 December 2022 ('000)Change over previous year ('000)Change over previous year (%)
New South Wales8238.8138.01.7
Victoria6704.3137.72.1
Queensland5378.3116.62.2
South Australia1834.328.51.6
Western Australia2825.262.72.3
Tasmania571.62.90.5
Northern Territory250.12.00.8
Australian Capital Territory460.98.31.8
Australia (a)26268.4496.81.9

a. Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.

State and territory population change is comprised of natural increase, net overseas migration, and net interstate migration (interstate arrivals minus interstate departures).

Components of annual population change

For the year ending 31 December 2022:

  • net overseas migration was the major contributor to change in most states, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
  • natural increase was the major contributor to change in the Northern Territory.
     

Natural increase by state and territory

Net overseas migration by state and territory

Net interstate migration by state and territory

Internal migration, capital city - rest of state

Notes

COVID-19

Statistics in this release are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting Australian Government closure of the international border through most of 2020 and 2021.

To ensure the ongoing production of fit-for-purpose official population estimates through the COVID-19 pandemic, the ABS has been assessing the likely impact of changed traveller behaviour on preliminary overseas migration estimates, a component of ERP. The ABS has introduced more frequent revisions to overseas migration to ensure the suite of demographic statistics continue to be of high quality and reflect the most timely data available. Preliminary overseas migration estimates will be revised every quarter over four quarters, instead of once after four quarters, until it becomes final. These more frequent revisions will ensure the most timely and accurate data flows through to ERP.

For further information see the Improvements to estimation of net overseas migration.

Data downloads - time series spreadsheets

I-note

Population and components of change - national

Quarterly population and components of change, national, from June 1981 onwards

Components of population change - states and territories

Quarterly components of change, by state and territory, from June 1981 onwards

Population - states and territories

Quarterly population by sex, by state and territory, from June 1981 onwards

Interstate migration arrivals

Quarterly interstate migration arrivals, from June 1981 onwards

Interstate migration departures

Quarterly interstate migration departures, from June 1981 onwards

Population - New South Wales

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, NSW, from 1971 onwards

Population - Victoria

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Vic., from 1971 onwards

Population - Queensland

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Qld, from 1971 onwards

Population - South Australia

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, SA, from 1971 onwards

Population - Western Australia

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, WA, from 1971 onwards

Population - Tasmania

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Tas., from 1971 onwards

Population - Northern Territory

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, NT, from 1971 onwards

Population - Australian Capital Territory

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, ACT, from 1971 onwards

Population - Australia

Population at 30 June, by sex and single year of age, Aust., from 1971 onwards

All time series spreadsheets

Data downloads - data cubes

National, state and territory population tables

Various tables of population, components of change and rates, by state and territory. 

Population by age and sex - national

Summary statistics of Australia's population by age and sex

Standard population

Standard population used in age-standardised rates

Regional internal migration estimates, provisional

All data cubes

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3101.0

Rebasing of Australia's population estimates using the 2021 Census

2021 Census update of the Net Interstate Migration model

Post-release changes

15th September 2023 - Scaling updated for 'Components of annual population growth' graph.

27th July 2023 - Data downloads - Population and components of change - national, table 12. September 2022 data has been added.

 

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