TASMANIA


State summary

Regional variations

Population density

Centre of population


STATE SUMMARY

Tasmania's estimated resident population grew by 820 people to reach 512,000 in the year ending June 2012, an increase of 0.2%. This was a slower rate of growth than Australia as a whole (1.6%) and the lowest of all the states and territories.

REGIONAL VARIATIONS

Between June 2011 and June 2012, the population increased in three of the four Tasmanian SA4s. The largest growth was in Hobart (up 680 people), followed by South East (160) and West and North West (30). The population of Launceston and North East fell by 50 people. The fastest growth was in South East (up 0.4%), followed by Hobart (0.3%). Of all the states and territories, Tasmania had the highest proportion of its population residing outside of it's greater capital city (58%) at June 2012.


Hobart

The largest-growing Tasmanian SA2s in the year to June 2012 were located in Hobart. In Hobart's south, Margate - Snug (up 190 people) and Kingston - Huntingfield (160) had the largest growth, followed by and Howrah - Tranmere (130) on Hobart's eastern shore. Within Hobart, the fastest-growing SA2s were Margate - Snug (up 2.7%), Old Beach - Otago (2.3%) on Hobart's eastern shore, and Brighton - Pontville (1.5%) in Hobart's north. The largest declines within Hobart were in Lenah Valley - Mount Stuart (down 90 people), New Town (down 70) and West Hobart (down 60), which all border the city's central business district. The fastest decline was in the nearby suburb of West Moonah, which fell by 1.2%.


Launceston and North East

Within Launceston and North East, the largest growth from June 2011 to June 2012 was in the SA2 of Newnham - Mayfield (up 110 people), north of Launceston. North-west of Launceston, Legana grew by 70 people, and south of Launceston, Perth - Evandale increased by 60. The fastest-growing SA2s were Legana (up 1.7%), and Perth - Evandale and Newnham - Mayfield (both 1.3%). The largest and fastest decline was in George Town (down 70 people or 1.0%). The next largest declines were in Grindelwald - Lanena, Deloraine and Launceston (all down 40 people).


West and North West

Between June 2011 and June 2012, the largest and fastest growth in West and North West was in the SA2s of Latrobe and Port Sorell, which both grew by 120 people, or 2.8% and 2.3% respectively. This was followed by Penguin - Sulphur Creek, which increased by 30 people or 0.6%. The population of West Coast, which contains many of Tasmania's mines, had the largest decline (down 100 people), followed by Somerset (down 40) on the north-west coast. The fastest population decline was in King Island, which fell by 2.3%.


South East

Within South East, the largest growth was in the SA2 of Huonville - Franklin (up 100 people), followed by the Huon Valley town of Cygnet (60), and Southern Midlands (40). The fastest growth was in Cygnet (up 1.4%), Huonville - Franklin (1.2%) and Southern Midlands (0.6%). The only notable population decline in South East was Geeveston - Dover, which fell by 40 people or 1.1%.

SA2s WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH, Tasmania
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2012p	2011pr-2012p
SA2	no.	no.	%
LARGEST GROWTH
Margate - Snug	7 400	190	2.7
Kingston - Huntingfield	11 200	160	1.4
Howrah - Tranmere	9 900	130	1.3
Latrobe	4 500	120	2.8
Port Sorell	5 300	120	2.3
FASTEST GROWTH
Latrobe	4 500	120	2.8
Margate - Snug	7 400	190	2.7
Port Sorell	5 300	120	2.3
Old Beach - Otago	3 800	90	2.3
Legana	3 900	70	1.7

POPULATION DENSITY

At June 2012, the population density of Tasmania was 7.5 people per square kilometre (sq km). The capital city SA4 of Hobart had the highest population density in the state, at 130 people per sq km, followed by Launceston and North East (7.2), West and North West (5.1) and South East (1.6).

The most densely populated SA2s within Hobart were West Moonah (2,100 people per sq km), Moonah (1,900) and Sandy Bay (1,700).

The SA2s with the highest population density outside of Hobart were South Launceston (1,700 people per sq km), Acton - Upper Burnie (1,600) and Devonport (1,400).

The largest increase in population density in Tasmania in the year to 2012 was in the SA2 of Howrah - Tranmere, up 13 people per sq km, while the largest decrease was in West Moonah, down 26 people per sq km.

CENTRE OF POPULATION

Tasmania's centre of population at June 2012 was on the banks of Woods Lake in the Central Highlands SA2.

For Greater Hobart, the centre of population at June 2012 was near the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, in the suburb of Queens Domain.