MEDIA RELEASE
30 April 2013	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	68/2013

The four most densely populated areas in the country all surround Sydney's central business district, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Director of Demography, Bjorn Jarvis, said the four locations with the highest population density in Australia were:

· Pyrmont – Ultimo;
· Potts Point – Woolloomooloo;
· Darlinghurst; and
· Surry Hills.

“Each of these areas has a population density of over 13,000 residents per square kilometre,” Mr Jarvis said.

“Inner-city Melbourne had the next highest density, at 10,100 people per square kilometre.

“Inner Melbourne also had the country's largest increase in density in 2011-12, adding an extra 860 people per square kilometre over the year,” he said.

Outside the inner cities, newly established suburbs also had large increases in population density.

Population density in Bonner, on the northern fringes of Canberra, virtually doubled from 620 to 1,200 people per square kilometre. Forde and Crace, up 480 and 450 people per square kilometre respectively, also had large increases.


New South Wales

Population growth in Sydney accounted for more than three-quarters of the state's total growth. Parklea - Kellyville Ridge, in Sydney's north-west growth corridor, had both the largest and fastest growth in the state (up 2,300 people or 10 per cent).

Victoria

Melbourne had the largest growth of all capital cities in Australia, up 77,200 people. The areas with the largest population increases in the country were all on the outskirts of Melbourne. They were South Morang and Craigieburn - Mickleham in the north, and Point Cook and Tarneit in the west, which grew by a combined 16,500 people in just one year.

Queensland

Growth in Brisbane (43,300 people) was almost matched by growth in the rest of the state (42,700). Outside of capital cities, the areas with the highest population densities in Australia were on Queensland's Gold Coast including Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise (both 3,700 people per square kilometre).

South Australia

Davoren Park in Adelaide's north had the largest population growth in the state, up 710 people, while neighbouring Munno Para West - Angle Vale had the fastest growth, increasing by 8.3 per cent.

Western Australia

Perth was the fastest-growing of all capital cities, up 3.6 per cent. Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters in Perth's south-east was the fastest growing area in the state, increasing by 24 per cent to reach 9,600 people.

Tasmania

Hobart grew by 680 people, while the remainder of Tasmania increased by just 140 people. The areas with the fastest growth were Latrobe (up 2.8 per cent) in the state's north, and Margate - Snug (2.7 per cent) in Hobart's south.

Northern Territory

The Darwin suburbs of Rosebery - Bellamack (up 10 per cent) and Lyons (6 per cent), were the fastest-growing areas in the NT. Rosebery - Bellamack also had the largest growth (up 380 people), followed by Katherine (260) in the Lower Top End.

Australian Capital Territory

The population of the northern regions increased by 7,500 people, while the south decreased by 630. The northern region of Gungahlin contributed the most to this growth, increasing by 5,100 people.

Media notes:
1) When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
2) Unless otherwise stated, areas mentioned in this release are defined as Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s), regions as Statistical Areas Level 3 (SA3s) and capital cities as Greater Capital City Statistical Areas.
3) Fastest growth rankings exclude areas with less than 1,000 people at June 2011.

	Estimated resident population		Change 2011-12
	2011	2012	Population increase	Percentage increase
TOTAL AUSTRALIA (a)	22323933	22683573	359640	1.6
Capital Cities	14729816	15001523	271707	1.8
Remainder	7594117	7682050	87933	1.2
	Estimated resident population		Change 2011-12
GCCSA name	2011	2012	Population increase	Percentage increase
Greater Sydney	4605992	4667283	61291	1.3%
Rest of NSW	2605476	2623062	17586	0.7%
Greater Melbourne	4169103	4246345	77242	1.9%
Rest of Vic.	1365423	1377147	11724	0.9%
Greater Brisbane	2146577	2189878	43301	2.0%
Rest of Qld	2327521	2370181	42660	1.8%
Greater Adelaide	1262940	1277174	14234	1.1%
Rest of SA	375292	377604	2312	0.6%
Greater Perth	1832114	1897548	65434	3.6%
Rest of WA	520101	532704	12603	2.4%
Greater Hobart	216276	216959	683	0.3%
Rest of Tas.	294919	295060	141	0.0%
Greater Darwin	129062	131678	2616	2.0%
Rest of NT	102269	103158	889	0.9%
Australian Capital Territory	367752	374658	6906	1.9%
(a) Includes Other Territories.