TASMANIA

STATE SUMMARY

Tasmania's estimated resident population grew by 1,700 people to reach 514,800 in the year ending June 2014, an increase of 0.3%. This was the lowest rate of growth of all states and territories.

REGIONAL VARIATIONS

Between 2013 and 2014, the population increased in all four of Tasmania's SA4s. The largest growth was in Hobart (up by 1,200 people), followed by Launceston and North East (190), South East (160) and West and North West (60). Hobart also had the fastest growth in the state, increasing by 0.6%, followed by South East (0.4%). Of all the states and territories, Tasmania had the highest proportion of its population residing outside of the Greater Capital City (57%) at June 2014.

Hobart

Four of the five SA2s with the largest growth in Tasmania in the year to June 2014 were located in Hobart. In Hobart's east, Howrah - Tranmere (up by 140 people) had the largest growth, followed by Margate - Snug (110) in the south and Lindisfarne - Rose Bay (100) on Hobart's eastern shore. Within Hobart, the fastest-growing SA2s were Old Beach - Otago (up by 1.6%) on Hobart's eastern shore, Margate - Snug (1.5%) and Howrah - Tranmere (1.4%). The largest and fastest decline was in Bridgewater - Gagebrook, down by 100 (1.3%).

Launceston and North East

Within Launceston and North East, the largest growth from 2013 to 2014 was west of Launceston in the SA2 of Summerhill - Prospect (up by 80 people). This was followed by Legana to the north-west of Launceston, and Kings Meadows - Punchbowl to the south, which both grew by 70 people. Legana and Kings Meadows - Punchbowl were the fastest-growing SA2s in Launceston and North East, increasing by 1.7%. Summerhill - Prospect also had fast growth, up by 1.6%. The largest and fastest decline was in Ravenswood, down by 60 people (1.5%).

West and North West

Between 2013 and 2014, Latrobe SA2 continued to have the largest and fastest growth in West and North West, growing by 90 people (2.0%). This was followed by Port Sorell and Turners Beach - Forth, which grew by 90 and 60 people respectively (both 1.7%). The population of West Coast, which contains many of Tasmania's mines, had the largest and fastest decline, down by 140 people (3.0%).

South East

Within South East, the largest growth was in the SA2 of Huonville - Franklin, which increased by 80 people (0.9%). This was followed by Triabunna - Bicheno on the east coast, which grew by 60 people (1.4%) and Cygnet in the Huon Valley which grew by 40 people (0.9%). Forestier - Tasman had the fastest growth, increasing by 1.5%, partly reflecting the rebuilding of homes impacted by the January 2013 bushfires. The largest and fastest decline was in Southern Midlands, down by 40 people (0.6%).

SA2s WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH(a), Tasmania
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2014p	2013r-2014p
SA2	no.	no.	%
LARGEST GROWTH
Howrah - Tranmere	10 200	140	1.4
Margate - Snug	7 600	110	1.5
Lindisfarne - Rose Bay	7 000	100	1.4
Latrobe	4 700	90	2.0
Cambridge	7 600	90	1.2
FASTEST GROWTH
Latrobe	4 700	90	2.0
Legana	4 100	70	1.7
Turners Beach - Forth	3 300	60	1.7
Kings Meadows - Punchbowl	4 100	70	1.7
Port Sorell	5 500	90	1.7
(a) All population figures presented in this table are rounded. Estimates of population change are based on unrounded numbers.

POPULATION DENSITY

At June 2014, the population density of Tasmania was 7.6 people per square kilometre (sq km). The capital city SA4 of Hobart had the highest population density in the state by far, at 130 people per sq km, followed by Launceston and North East (7.2).

The most densely-populated SA2s within Hobart were West Moonah (2,200 people per sq km), Moonah (1,900) and Sandy Bay (1,700).

Outside of Hobart, South Launceston (1,700 people per sq km), Acton - Upper Burnie (1,600) and Devonport (1,400) had the highest population densities.

The SA2 in Tasmania with the largest increase in population density between 2013 and 2014 was West Moonah (up by 25 people per sq km), while the largest decrease was in Acton - Upper Burnie (down by 11 people per sq km).

CENTRE OF POPULATION

Tasmania's centre of population at June 2014 was near the banks of Woods Lake, in the Central Highlands SA2. In the ten years to 2014, the centre moved 2.1 kilometres south-east, reflecting continued population growth in Greater Hobart.

For Greater Hobart, the centre of population at June 2014 was in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, in the suburb of Queens Domain.