MEDIA RELEASE
September 24, 2007	Embargoed 11.30 am (AEST)	103/2007
Largest population increase ever: ABS

Australia recorded its largest annual population increase ever, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Australia grew by an estimated 307,100 people for the year ended March 2007, the largest increase since record keeping began in 1789. The increase gave Australia an annual growth rate of 1.5% (the highest rate since 1990), and brings the population to an estimated 20.9 million.

Net overseas migration contributed 54% (162,600 people) to this growth, which was more than the natural increase of 46% (138,100 people or 273,500 births minus 135,400 deaths).

Queensland again recorded the highest growth rate of all the states and territories, at 2.3%, followed by Western Australia at 2.2%, the Northern Territory 2%, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory 1.5 %, South Australia and New South Wales 1% and Tasmania 0.6%.

Interstate migration revised with 2006 Census results

Although Australia has only two components of population growth - overseas migration and natural increase - people also move between states and territories. 2006 Census results have enabled the ABS to revise interstate migration figures from September quarter 2001 to June quarter 2006.

Over the five years to June 2006, an estimated 1.87 million people moved to another state or territory. The most popular destination was Queensland which had a net gain of 160,600 people. Tasmania (3,100) and Western Australia (2,700) also had net gains to their population.

New South Wales had a net loss of 140,500 people; South Australia lost 11,300; the Northern Territory 6,100; Victoria 5,000; and the Australian Capital Territory 3,100.

Indigenous Australians

There was an estimated 517,200 Indigenous Australians as at 30 June 2006. New South Wales had the highest number of Indigenous Australians (148,200) followed by Queensland (146,400), Western Australia (77,900), the Northern Territory (66,600), Victoria (30,800), South Australia (26,000), Tasmania (16,900) and the Australian Capital Territory (4,000). These Indigenous population estimates are preliminary, based on the 2006 Census (adjusted for undercount).

Further details are in Australian Demographic Statistics, March quarter 2007(cat. no. 3101.0).