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REGIONAL POPULATION GROWTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

• At June 2009, the estimated resident population of WA was nearly 2.25 million people, an increase of 68,100 since June 2008. WA recorded the fastest population growth rate (3.1%) of all states and territories in Australia for the third consecutive year.
• In line with the general trend across Australia, most population growth in WA in 2008-09 occurred in the capital city and along coastal areas of the state. The Perth Statistical Division (SD) had the largest population increase, growing by 52,200 people (3.2%) while the population in the remainder of the state increased by 15,900 people (2.8%). By comparison, population growth in all Australian capital city SDs increased by 2.3% and by 1.9% in the remainder of Australia.
• The South West SD had the fastest growth in the state, increasing by 4% (9,500 people) with almost all Local Government Areas (LGAs) in this region experiencing growth in 2008-09. Murray (S) grew the fastest (6.5%), and Mandurah (C) gained the most people (3,300).
• After the South West and Perth, Pilbara was the state's third fastest-growing SD, with 3.1% growth, followed by Lower Great Southern (2.2%) and Kimberley (2.1%).

		Population Change 2008-2009p
Local Government Area (LGA)	2009p	no.	%
LARGEST GROWTH
Wanneroo (C)	144 100	9 500	7.1
Stirling (C)	198 800	5 000	2.6
Swan (C)	110 100	4 300	4.1
Rockingham (C)	100 200	3 900	4.1
Cockburn (C)	88 700	3 800	4.5
FASTEST GROWTH(b)
Perth (C)	17 100	1 900	12.8
Serpentine-Jarrahdale (S)	16 500	1 200	7.6
Wanneroo (C)	144 100	9 500	7.1
Murray (S)	14 800	900	6.5
Capel (S)	12 700	720	6.0

• In the Perth SD the largest population growth occurred in the outer suburban fringes, with the Cities of Wanneroo (9,500), Stirling (5,000) and Swan (4,300) recording the largest increases in 2008-09. Additionally, Rockingham (C), Cockburn (C) and Gosnells (C) each grew by more than 3,000 people over the same period.
• The City of Perth grew by almost 13%, making it the fastest growing LGA in WA in 2008-09 and the fastest growing capital city LGA in Australia for the sixth consecutive year. The next fastest growing LGAs in the state were Serpentine-Jarrahdale (S) (7.6%) and Wanneroo (C) (7.1%).
• Outside of capital city SDs, the largest population growth in 2008-09 generally occurred along the Australian coast . Many coastal LGAs in Western Australia were among the fastest-growing in Australia. Rapid population growth occurred in 2008-09 in the LGAs of Capel (S) (6%), Mandurah (C) (5%) and Port Hedland (T) (5%).
• Almost one-third of LGAs outside the Perth metropolitan area declined or had no change in their populations during the year to June 2009. Of these, over half already had populations below 1,000 people.

	Median Age (years)(a)		Sex Ratio (b)
	2009	2004	2009	2004
Perth	35.8	35.8	100.9	99.0
South West	39.5	38.6	103.6	102.1
Lower Great Southern	39.9	38.6	105.5	103.7
Upper Great Southern	39.4	37.9	107.0	107.9
South Eastern	32.2	31.8	114.8	114.2
Midlands	41.5	39.0	109.9	109.7
Central	36.8	35.5	109.0	107.4
Pilbara	31.5	30.7	129.2	124.7
Kimberley	30.5	29.2	111.2	111.4
Western Australia	36.2	35.8	102.8	101.1

• The median age in WA increased slightly to 36.2 years in the five years to June 2009. The median age for males was 35.5 years and for females 36.9 years.
• At the Statistical Division (SD) level, Midlands had the highest median age (41.5 years) in June 2009 and also the largest increase in median age (2.5 years) since June 2004. The Lower and Upper Great Southern SDs, as well as the South West and Central SDs, also had median ages above the state average in 2009. The Kimberley and Pilbara SDs has the lowest median ages (30.5 and 31.5 years respectively).
• Across WA the sex ratio in June 2009 was 102.8 males for every 100 females. This sex ratio was 1.7 points higher than in 2004. As natural increase (births minus deaths) was quite similar for males and females in the five years to June 2009, the higher sex ratio was due to higher net migration of males into WA.
• The sex ratio varied markedly within the state, although all SDs recorded a ratio over 100 (more males than females). The highest ratios were for the Pilbara SD (129.2), South Eastern SD (114.8) and Kimberley SD (111.2). All of these SDs contain Local Government Areas (LGAs) with extensive (male dominated) resource activity. The Perth SD had the lowest sex ratio (100.9), reflecting more even numbers of males and females.