3412.0 - Migration, Australia, 2014-15 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/03/2016   
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NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION

Net interstate migration (NIM) is the net gain or loss of population through the movement of people from one state or territory of usual residence to another. It is an important component required to calculate Australia's estimated resident population at the state and territory level, see Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0). During 2014-15, it was estimated that 339,000 people moved interstate, a decrease of 2.9% from the number of people who moved during the previous year. In 2013-14, there were 349,000 people who moved interstate, an increase of 2.5% from the number of people who moved in 2012-13 (340,600 persons).

Graph Image for 3.1 Interstate migration flows - 2014-15(a)

Footnote(s): (a) Estimates for 2014-15 are preliminary - see paragraph 9 of the Explanatory Notes.

Source(s): Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0)

Net interstate migration can be a source of population gain or loss for a state or territory. In the year ended 30 June 2015, NIM was a source of net population loss for New South Wales (-6,600 persons), South Australia (-3,800 persons), the Northern Territory (-3,000 persons), Western Australia (-2,000 persons), the Australian Capital Territory (-700 persons) and Tasmania (-500 persons). Those states and territories where NIM contributed positively to population growth were Victoria (10,200 persons) and Queensland (6,400 persons).

3.2 NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION(a) - 2005-06 to 2014-15
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
2005-06
-25 576
-1 831
26 607
-2 711
3 933
-82
-553
258
2006-07
-26 271
-1 617
23 381
-3 371
5 362
-537
443
2 465
2007-08
-20 780
-1 924
19 409
-4 221
4 991
730
1 389
260
2008-09
-18 667
1 523
14 702
-4 402
5 012
1 063
934
-309
2009-10
-9 458
3 314
6 172
-2 709
2 119
664
-661
427
2010-11
-13 496
3 534
6 795
-2 614
7 033
-47
-2 549
1 354
2011-12
-17 965
1 439
11 068
-2 424
11 416
-2 612
-1 423
501
2012-13
-14 463
5 443
8 196
-3 973
8 333
-1 942
-1 220
-374
2013-14
-6 857
8 783
5 753
-2 968
1 045
-1 168
-3 344
-1 244
2014-15
-6 639
10 190
6 417
-3 763
-1 962
-528
-3 038
-677
Annual average 2005-06 to 2014-15
-16,017
2,885
12,850
-3,316
4,728
-446
-1,002
266
(a) Estimates for 2011-12 to 2014-15 are preliminary - see paragraph 9 of the Explanatory Notes.


Over the decade ending June 2015, Queensland has been the only state to maintain annual NIM gains. The size of these gains in NIM for Queensland has declined over the last ten years, from 26,600 in 2005-06 to 6,400 persons in 2014-15.

In contrast, New South Wales and South Australia have both recorded annual NIM losses each year for the past decade. New South Wales has continually recorded the largest annual losses, with losses ranging between 26,300 persons in 2006-07 and 6,600 persons in 2014-15, with an annual average net loss of 16,000 persons. South Australia recorded an annual average net loss of 3,300 persons, with losses ranging between 4,400 persons in 2008-09 and 2,400 persons in 2011-12.

Gains in NIM for Western Australia increased from 3,900 persons in 2005-06 to peak at 11,400 persons in 2011-12 before decreasing to a net loss of 2,000 persons in 2014-15.

Over the past decade, Victoria recorded annual NIM losses in the three years from 2005-06 to 2007-08 and then annual NIM gains in the seven years from 2008-09 to 2014-15, resulting in an annual average net gain of 2,900 persons. In 2014-15, Victoria recorded its largest NIM gain in the last ten years with 10,200 persons.

NIM in the remaining State and Territories has fluctuated throughout the past decade resulting in annual average net losses in the Northern Territory and Tasmania (1,000 persons and 450 persons respectively) and an annual average net gain in the Australian Capital Territory (260 persons).