3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/03/2007   
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MEDIA RELEASE
March 22, 2007
Embargoed 11:30am (AEDT)
30/2007
WA population grows fastest, again: ABS

Western Australia has again led the population stakes, growing by 2% (41,200 people) in the year to September 2006, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Over the same period, Australia's population increased by 1.3% (269,600 people) to just under 20.7 million (20,674,400).

Queensland came in with the second fastest annual growth (1.9%), followed by the Northern Territory, (1.6%), while Tasmania recorded the slowest at 0.6%.

Queensland remains the favourite place to move to, gaining a net 25,300 people from the other states and territories. As with previous years, the majority of people moving to Queensland came from New South Wales (52%).

Population estimates for the states and territories at 30 September 2006 were: New South Wales 6,844,200, Victoria 5,110,500, Queensland 4,070,400, South Australia 1,558,200, Western Australia 2,061,500, Tasmania 489,600, the Northern Territory 207,700, and the Australian Capital Territory 329,500.

Natural increase and net overseas migration contributed 46% and 54% respectively to Australia's population growth for the year ended 30 September 2006.

Further details are in Australian Demographic Statistics, September Quarter 2006(cat. no. 3101.0).


Media Note:
Natural increase is the excess of births over deaths.