3218.0 - Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2010-11 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/03/2012   
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA


State summary

Population change in Perth

Population change in the remainder of Western Australia

Population density

Centre of population

Local government area populations


STATE SUMMARY

At June 2011, the estimated resident population of Western Australia (WA) reached 2.35 million people, representing just over 10% of Australia's population.

The state’s growth rate in the year to June 2011 was 2.4% (an increase of 55,800 people). This was the fastest growth rate of all the Australian states and territories, and higher than the national figure of 1.4%. However, it was slightly lower than WA's average annual growth rate of 2.7% for the five years to June 2011. WA recorded the fourth largest population growth behind Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

SLA POPULATION CHANGE, Western Australia - 2010-11
Diagram: SLA  POPULATION CHANGE, Western Australia—2010–11



POPULATION CHANGE IN PERTH

In the year to June 2011, Perth SD had the state's largest population growth, increasing by 42,800 people (or 2.5%) to reach 1.74 million. This SD accounted for just over three-quarters (77%) of WA's growth between June 2010 and June 2011 and represented just under three-quarters (74%) of the state's population at June 2011. Perth SD also had the fastest growth rate of all the capital cities in Australia.

The largest population growth in 2010-11 occurred in the outer suburban fringes of Perth SD, with the northern coastal LGA of Wanneroo (C) increasing by 6,200 people. Stirling (C), an inner LGA which also abuts the coast, grew by 4,000 people, while the southern coastal LGA of Rockingham (C) increased by 3,900 people. Strong growth was also recorded for Armadale (C) to the south-east of the city (up 3,300 people), and Joondalup (C) and Swan (C) to the north of the city (3,200 and 3,100 respectively). Together, these LGAs accounted for more than two-fifths (42%) of the growth across the state. No LGAs in Perth SD experienced population decline in the year to June 2011.

In Perth SD, the fastest-growing LGAs in 2010-11 were Serpentine-Jarrahdale (S) (6.9%), Armadale (C) (5.4%), and Kwinana (T) (4.8%), all located in the southern suburban fringes of the Perth SD.

LGAs WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH, Western Australia

ERP at 30 June
Population Change
2011p
2010r-2011p
LGA
no.
no.
%

LARGEST GROWTH

Wanneroo (C)
156 300
6 200
4.2
Stirling (C)
206 000
4 000
2.0
Rockingham (C)
108 000
3 900
3.7
Mandurah (C)
74 100
3 700
5.3
Armadale (C)
64 300
3 300
5.4

FASTEST GROWTH

Serpentine-Jarrahdale (S)
18 400
1 200
6.9
Armadale (C)
64 300
3 300
5.4
Mandurah (C)
74 100
3 700
5.3
Kwinana (T)
30 400
1 400
4.8
Exmouth (S)
2 600
110
4.3



POPULATION CHANGE IN THE REMAINDER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

In the year to June 2011, the population outside of the Perth metropolitan area grew by 2.2%, to 610,500. This represented 26% of the state's total.

South West SD continued to be the state's fastest-growing, increasing by 3.0% (or 7,600 people) in 2010-11. Over one-third of the LGAs in South West SD experienced growth rates above the state average (2.4%) in this period, with Mandurah (C) recording both the largest and fastest growth in the SD (up by 3,700 people or 5.3% in 2010-11). This LGA, which adjoins Perth SD to the south, has been among the fastest-growing in the state for several years as indicated by its average annual growth rate of 4.6% over the five years to June 2011. The shires of Capel (S) (4.0%), Augusta-Margaret River (S) (3.2%) and Harvey (S) (3.1%) also had growth rates well above the state average. In contrast, the shire of Manjimup (S) recorded a population decline of 60 people or 0.6%.

The Pilbara was the second fastest-growing SD in the state, increasing by 2.7% (or 1,300 people) in 2010-11. Roebourne (S) was the LGA with the largest growth in this SD, increasing by 640 people (3.3%), while Ashburton (S) was the fastest-growing with an increase of 3.7%.

The Kimberley was the next fastest-growing SD in the remainder of the state (2.3%), with growth in the LGA of Broome (S) (up 490 people or 3.0%) attributable for almost 60% of the increase in this region.

The remaining SDs of Lower Great Southern, Midlands, South Eastern and Central experienced slower population growth in the year to June 2011 (below the state average of 2.4%), while Upper Great Southern SD was the only SD in WA not to increase in population. Almost half of the LGAs in this SD declined slightly.

POPULATION DENSITY

WA's population density at June 2011 was 0.9 people per square kilometre (sq km). This was the second lowest of all the states and territories after the Northern Territory and compares with 2.9 people per sq km for Australia as a whole. Most of the state had a very low population density, with over half of the SLAs in WA (comprising 97% of the total area of the state) having less than one person per sq km.

The population density of Perth SD was 320 people per sq km at June 2011. While this was an increase from 2010, it was the third lowest of all the capital cities and lower than the density of Australia's capital cities combined (380 people per sq km). South Eastern SD (which includes Kalgoorlie) was the most sparsely populated in the state, followed by the Kimberley; each having a population density of less than 0.1 person per sq km.

At June 2011, the SLAs with the highest population densities within Perth SD were Vincent (T) (2,800 people per sq km), Subiaco (C) (2,700) and East Fremantle (T) (2,500). The SLAs of South Perth (C), Mosman Park (T), Cottesloe (T), Stirling (C) - South-Eastern and Claremont (C) also had densities of more than 2,000 people per sq km. All of these SLAs had an area of less than 20 square kilometres.

Between June 2010 and June 2011, the largest increases in population density within Perth SD occurred in the SLAs of East Fremantle (T) (up 69 people per sq km), Perth (C) - Remainder (up 57) and Vincent (T) (up 49).

POPULATION DENSITY BY SLA, Perth SD - June 2011
Diagram: POPULATION DENSITY BY SLA, Perth SD—June 2011



CENTRE OF POPULATION

At June 2011, the centre of population for WA was in the Avon Valley National Park, in the LGA of Toodyay (S). In the five years to June 2011, the centre moved approximately 1.9 kilometres south-west, reflecting strong population growth in Perth.

The centre of population for Perth SD at June 2011 was in the Swan River, between the Perth central business district and South Perth.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA POPULATIONS

For a full list of LGA populations, see the Downloads tab.