3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Mar 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/09/2015   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All
MEDIA RELEASE
24 September 2015
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
107/2015
Australia experiences lowest population growth in almost a decade

Australia's population growth rate has slowed to a rate last seen nearly 10 years ago, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"In the year to March 2015, Australia's population growth rate continued to slow from its peak in 2008-09 and is now just below the 20-year average growth rate," said Denise Carlton from the ABS.

"The Northern Territory recorded its lowest growth rate in 11 years, at 0.2 per cent for the year ending March 2015. This is 80 per cent lower than that of March 2014. Net interstate migration losses were the greatest contributor to this slower growth, with the territory recording its largest ever interstate migration loss in the year to March 2015," said Ms. Carlton.

"Western Australia also recorded slower growth. In the past two years, net overseas migration to the state has dropped by 71 per cent, while net interstate migration has dropped to the point where the state has seen a net interstate loss. This has not been seen in over 10 years in this state."

"Victoria and Queensland were the only states recording a net gain from interstate migration."

Australia's population grew by 316,000 people (1.4 per cent) to reach 23.7 million by the end of March 2015.

Net overseas migration contributed 173,100 people to the population (16 per cent lower than the previous year), and accounted for 55 per cent of Australia's total population growth.

Victoria continues to have the fastest population growth rate in the country, growing by 1.7 per cent (97,500 people).

Over the year, natural increase contributed 142,900 people to Australia's population, made up of 298,400 births (3 per cent lower than the previous year) and 155,500 deaths (4 per cent higher than the previous year).

Further information is available in Australian Demographic Statistics, March Quarter 2015 (cat. no. 3101.0).

For population estimates at the regional level, please see Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2013-14 (cat. no. 3218.0) and Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2014 (cat. no. 3235.0), available for free download from www.abs.gov.au


Population at end Mar Qtr 2015
Change over previous year
Change over previous year
PRELIMINARY DATA
'000
'000
%

New South Wales
7 596.6
101.2
1.4
Victoria
5 914.9
97.5
1.7
Queensland
4 766.7
61.1
1.3
South Australia
1 696.2
13.9
0.8
Western Australia
2 587.0
35.3
1.4
Tasmania
516.1
1.5
0.3
Northern Territory
243.8
0.5
0.2
Australian Capital Territory
389.7
4.8
1.3
Australia (a)
23 714.3
316.0
1.4

(a) Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.


Video: Take a look at the latest Demography video (available from 12:30pm today).


Media Note:
  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
  • Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.