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 2013-14, it was estimated that 349,000 people moved interstate, an increase of 2.5% from the number of people who moved during the previous year. In 2012-13 there were 340,600 people who moved interstate, a decrease of 3.5% from the number of people who moved in 2011-12 (352,900 persons).


Net interstate migration can be a source of population gain or loss for a state or territory. In the year ended 30 June 2014, it was a source of population loss for New South Wales, the Northern Territory, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania, with net losses of 6,900 persons, 3.300 persons, 3,000 persons, 1,200 persons and 1,200 persons respectively. Those states and territories where NIM contributed positively to population growth were Victoria (8,800 persons), Queensland (5,800 persons) and Western Australia (1,000 persons).

3.2 NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION(a) - 2004-05 to 2013-14
	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
2004-05	-26 321	-3 070	30 371	-3 226	2 241	267	610	-842
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
Annual average 2004-05 to 2013-14	-17 985	1 559	15 245	-3 262	5 149	-366	-637	250
(a) Estimates for 2011-12 to 2013-14 are preliminary - see paragraph 9 of the Explanatory Notes.

Over the decade ending June 2014, Western Australia and Queensland have consistently recorded annual NIM gains from the rest of the country. The gain in NIM in Western Australia has gradually increased from 2,200 persons in 2004-05 to peak at 11,400 persons in 2011-12 before decreasing to 1,000 persons in 2013-14. In contrast, the gain in NIM in Queensland has gradually declined over the last 10 years, from 30,400 persons in 2004-05 to 5,800 persons in 2013-14, also with an increase in 2011-12 (11,100 persons).

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 2004-05 and 6,900 persons in 2013-14, with an annual average net loss of 18,000 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.

Over the past decade, Victoria recorded annual NIM losses in the four years from 2004-05 to 2007-08 and then annual NIM gains in the six years from 2008-09 to 2013-14, resulting in an annual average net gain of 1,600 persons. In 2013-14, Victoria recorded its largest NIM gain in the last ten years with 8,800 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 (640 persons and 370 persons respectively) and an annual average net gain in the Australian Capital Territory (250 persons).