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Definitions and references

Births

live births occurring in that year.
Reference: Births, Australia (cat. no. 3301.0).

deaths occurring in that year.
Reference: Deaths, Australia (cat. no. 3302.0).

including the countries of North-East, South-East and Southern Asia. Countries are classified according to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), 1998 (cat. no. 1269.0).
Reference: Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0).

including the United Kingdom and Ireland, the former USSR and the Baltic States.
Reference: Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0).

migrants who have been sponsored by a relative who is an Australian citizen, or permanent resident of Australia, under the family stream of the migration program.
Reference: Immigration Update, June Quarter 1999, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

comprises: those who arrive under the refugee program (which provides protection for people who have fled their country because of persecution); those who arrive under the special humanitarian programs (those suffering persecution within their own country or who have left their country because of significant discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights); and those who arrive under the special assistance category (groups determined by the Minister to be of special concern to Australia and in real need, but who do not come under the traditional humanitarian categories. It includes those internally and externally displaced people who have close family links in Australia).
Reference: Immigration Update, June Quarter 1999, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

estimates of the resident Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Estimates are experimental in that the standard approach to population estimation is not possible because satisfactory data on births, deaths and migration are not generally available. Furthermore, there is significant intercensal volatility in census counts of the Indigenous population, due in part to changes in the propensity of persons to identify as being of Indigenous origin.
Reference: Experimental Estimates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population (cat. no. 3230.0).

long-term arrivals comprise overseas visitors who intend to stay in Australia for one year or more (but not permanently) and Australian residents returning after an absence of one year or more overseas. Long-term departures comprise Australian residents who intend to stay abroad for one year or more (but not permanently), and overseas visitors departing who stayed one year or more.
Reference: Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0).

the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.
Reference: Population by Age and Sex: Australian States and Territories (cat. no. 3201.0).

the excess of births over deaths during the year.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

interstate arrivals minus interstate departures during the year. Net interstate migration rate expresses this as a proportion (per cent) of the population at the beginning of the year.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

permanent and long-term arrivals minus permanent and long-term departures during the year, plus an adjustment for the net effect of category jumping. This net effect may be either positive or negative.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

permanent arrivals comprise travellers who hold migrant visas and other persons eligible to settle, and permanent departures comprise Australian residents who intend to settle in another country.
Reference: Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0).

estimated resident population. Quarterly estimates of the Australian population are obtained by adding to the estimated population at the beginning of each period the components of natural increase (on a usual residence basis) and net overseas migration. For the States and Territories, account is also taken of estimated interstate movements involving a change of usual residence.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

increase in the population during the year, measured as the sum of natural increase and net overseas migration. For dates prior to 1996, differences between growth and the sum of natural increase and net overseas migration arise from retrospective adjustments to population estimates (which are made after each census) to compensate for intercensal discrepancy. Population growth rate expresses the increase as a proportion
(per cent) of the population at the beginning of the year.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

ABS population projections take the base year population for each sex by single years of age and advance it year by year by applying assumptions about future mortality and migration. Assumed age-specific fertility rates are applied to the female populations of child-bearing ages to provide the estimates of new births for each year. The ABS produces several series of population projections based on different combinations of assumptions about mortality, fertility and migration. The assumptions underlying Series II most closely reflect prevailing trends and comprise: declining rates of mortality; the total fertility rate for Australia falling to 1.75 by 2005-06, and then remaining constant; low levels of overseas migration (annual net gain of 70,000 from 1998-99); and medium levels of interstate migration.
Reference: Population Projections,1997 to 2051 (Cat no. 3222.0).

the ratio of males to females multiplied by 100.
Reference: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

the skill stream component of the migration program is designed to contribute to Australia's economic growth. Settlers under this program meet a demand in Australia for their particular occupational skills, outstanding talents or business skills.
Reference: Immigration Update, June Quarter 1999, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

comprised largely of those who arrived under the migration and humanitarian programs. These programs include the following categories: the family stream; the skilled stream; special eligibility migrants; refugees; special humanitarian and special assistance migrants.
Reference: Immigration Update, June Quarter 1999, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.