3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Jun 2017 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/12/2017   
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MEDIA RELEASE
14 December 2017
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
171/2017
Net overseas migration to Australia increases 27%

New South Wales and Victoria have recorded their highest ever levels of net overseas migration (NOM), according to the latest population figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Demography Director Beidar Cho said: "Australia's net overseas migration for the year ending 30 June 2017 was 245,400, an increase of 27 per cent from the previous 12 months (2015-16).

"Net overseas migration in New South Wales and Victoria increased by 31 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. This growth has seen both states surpass their previous recorded high in 2008-09."

All states and territories recorded an increase in NOM compared with the previous year. New South Wales was the most popular destination, with NOM of 98,600 and Victoria followed, with 86,900. This was followed by Queensland (31,100), Western Australia (13,100), South Australia (10,500), the Australian Capital Territory (2,800), Tasmania (1,500) and the Northern Territory (900).

Overall, Australia's population grew by 388,100 people, or 1.6 per cent, to reach 24.6 million by the end of June 2017. Victoria was the fastest growing state or territory, with a population increase of 2.3 per cent, followed by the Australian Capital Territory, 1.7 per cent.

Australia is growing faster than our close neighbours and other major OECD countries, except for Papua New Guinea (2.1 per cent). The Philippines and Singapore were the next fastest growing countries at 1.5 per cent, followed by Malaysia (1.4 per cent) and South Africa (1.3 per cent). In 2017 Australia's population is ranked 53rd in the world and is projected to rank 56th by 2050.

Further information is available in Australian Demographic Statistics, June Quarter 2017 (cat. no. 3101.0).

For population estimates at the regional level, see Regional Population Growth, Australia (cat. no. 3218.0), available for free download from https://www.abs.gov.au/

POPULATION, GROWTH RATE AND RANK (a)(b), Summary
ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION
PROJECTED POPULATION
RANK
2016
2017
Growth Rate
2050
2017
2050
Selected Countries
million
million
%
million
no.
no.
Australia
24
25
1.6
38
53
56
Canada
36
37
0.9
45
38
46
China (excl. SARs and Taiwan)
1 404
1 410
0.4
1 364
1
2
France
65
65
0.4
71
22
28
Greece
11
11
-0.2
10
82
98
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
7
7
0.8
8
104
111
India
1 324
1 339
1.1
1 659
2
1
Indonesia
261
264
1.1
322
4
5
Italy
59
59
-0.1
55
23
36
Japan
128
127
-0.2
109
11
17
Korea (South)
51
51
0.4
50
27
41
Malaysia
32
32
1.4
42
45
50
New Zealand
5
5
1.0
6
125
126
Papua New Guinea
8
8
2.1
14
101
86
Philippines
103
105
1.5
151
13
13
Singapore
6
6
1.5
7
115
120
South Africa
56
57
1.3
73
25
27
Sweden
10
10
0.7
12
89
93
United Kingdom
66
66
0.6
75
21
26
United States of America
322
324
0.7
390
3
4
Viet Nam
95
96
1.0
115
15
16
World
7 467
7 550
1.1
9 772
. .
. .
. . not applicable
(a) Selected countries include major OECD countries, the world's most populous countries, Australia's closest neighbours and trading partners.
(b) Selected country and world estimates and projections for 2016/2017 and 2050 are from United Nations World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision (medium variant projections).
Source: Australian estimates - this issue of Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0); Australian projections; Series B in Population Projections, Australia, 2012 (base) to 2101 (cat. no. 3222.0). Selected country and world estimates and projections - United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2017). World Population Prospects: the 2017 Revision, custom data acquired via website (medium variant projections).

Media notes:

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