3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2012 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/03/2013   
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MAIN FEATURES COMMENTARY


ANNUAL POPULATION CHANGE - YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2012


AUSTRALIA: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 30 September 2012 was 22,785,500 people. This reflects an increase of 382,500 people since 30 September 2011 and 101,900 people since 30 June 2012.

The annual population growth rate for the year ended 30 September 2012 was 1.7%. This continues the trend of an increasing rate from a low of 1.1% for the year ending March 2011.

ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a), Australia
Graph: ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a), Australia



COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE

The growth of Australia's population has two components: natural increase (the number of births minus the number of deaths) and net overseas migration (NOM).

The contribution to population growth for the year ended 30 September 2012 was higher for net overseas migration (60%) than for natural increase (40%). The contribution of NOM to population growth for the year ending September 2012 increased from 54% for the year ending 30 September 2011 whilst the contribution of natural increase to population growth decreased from 46% over the same period.

COMPONENTS OF ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH(a), Australia
Graph: COMPONENTS OF ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH(a), Australia



Natural Increase

Natural increase for the year ended 30 September 2012 was 154,500 people, an increase of 4.0%, or 6000 people, when compared with natural increase for the year ended 30 September 2011 (148,500 people).

Births

The preliminary estimate of births for the year ended 30 September 2012 (303,600 births) was 2.7%, or 7,900 births, higher than the figure for the year ended 30 September 2011 (295,700 births).

Deaths

The preliminary estimate of deaths for the year ended 30 September 2012 (149,100 deaths) was 1.3%, or 1,900 deaths, higher than the figure for the year ended 30 September 2011 (147,200 deaths).


Net Overseas Migration

For the year ended 30 September 2012, Australia's preliminary net overseas migration estimate was 228,000 people. This was 32.2% (55,500 people) higher than the net overseas migration estimated for the year ended 30 September 2011 (172,500 people).

NOM arrivals increased by 13.8% (59,100 people) between the years ended 30 September 2011 (429,000 people) and 30 September 2012 (488,100 people).

NOM departures increased by 1.4% (3,600 people) between the years ended 30 September 2011 (256,500 people) and 30 September 2012 (260,100 people).

The preliminary net overseas migration estimate for the September quarter 2012 (64,300 people) was 44.0% (19,700 people) higher than the estimate for the September quarter 2011 (44,700 people).


STATES AND TERRITORIES: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The estimated resident population for each state and territory at 30 September 2012 was as follows:
  • New South Wales 7,314,100;
  • Victoria 5,649,100;
  • Queensland 4,584,600;
  • South Australia 1,658,100;
  • Western Australia 2,451,400;
  • Tasmania 512,200;
  • Northern Territory 236,300; and
  • Australian Capital Territory 376,500.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth in the year ended 30 September 2012. Western Australia continued to record the fastest growth rate of all states and territories with 3.4%. Tasmania recorded the slowest growth rate at 0.1%.


COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE

At the state and territory level, population growth has three components: natural increase, net overseas migration and net interstate migration.

Although all states and territories experienced positive population growth in the year ended 30 September 2012, the proportion that each of these components contributed to population growth varied between the states and territories.

For the year ended 30 September 2012, natural increase was the major component of population change in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Net overseas migration was the major component of population change in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. A net interstate migration loss was the highest contributor to population change in Tasmania. Net interstate migration losses were also recorded in New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.


Natural Increase

Estimates of births and deaths are subject to fluctuations caused by lags or accumulations in the reporting of birth and death registrations (for more information see paragraphs 10-11 of the Explanatory Notes).

Births

The total number of births registered for the year ended 30 September 2012 increased in all states and territories except for Queensland and Tasmania which decreased 1.7% and 4.8% respectively. The largest percentage increase of registered births were recorded in the Australian Capital Territory at 6.2% (an increase of 320 births). This was followed by Victoria (5.8%), Western Australia (4.4%) and New South Wales (3.1%). For more information, see table 13.

Deaths

The total number of deaths registered for the year ended 30 September 2012 increased for all states and territories, except for Victoria (-1.0%), when compared with the previous year. The largest increase was in New South Wales where there was an increase of 1,200 deaths between the year ended 30 September 2012 and the previous year (2.4%). For more information, see table 14.


Net Overseas Migration

All states and territories recorded both positive and increased net overseas migration (NOM) when compared to the previous year. Western Australia recorded the largest numerical increase of 15,900 people (45.9%) whilst Tasmania recorded the lowest at 400 people (36.5%). New South Wales recorded the smallest percentage increase at 20.3% (10,000 people) and the Northern Territory recorded the largest percentage increase at 289.1% (2,000 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM arrivals

When compared to the year ended 30 September 2011, all states and territories recorded increases in NOM arrivals. The largest percentage increase was recorded by the Northern Territory at 41.2% (1,900 people). New South Wales recorded the smallest percentage increase of 6.8% (9,600 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM departures

When compared to the year ended 30 September 2011, increases in NOM departures were recorded for all states and territories except for New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory recorded the largest percentage increase in departures, up 12.1% (620 people). For more information, see table 16.


Net Interstate Migration

Queensland recorded the highest gains from net interstate migration (NIM) for the year ended 30 September 2012 (12,100 people), closely followed by Western Australia (11,100 people). Other states and territories which recorded net gains were Victoria (1,300 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (800 people). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (18,400 people), Tasmania (2,700 people), South Australia (2,500 people) and the Northern Territory (1,500 people). For more information, see table 19.

INTERSTATE MIGRATION, Arrivals, Departures and Net - States and territories - Year ended 30 September 2012
Graph: Interstate migration, Arrivals, Departures and Net—States and territories—Year ended 30 September 2012