• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

WA POPULATION GROWTH

JUNE KEY FIGURES, Western Australia
		Change over previous year
	Population at end Jun qtr 2010p (a)
Estimated Resident Population	'000	'000	%
Western Australia	2 296.4	49.1	2.2
Australia	22 342.4	377.1	1.7
(a) Estimated Resident Population at 30 June 2010. Estimate is preliminary. Source: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

• The preliminary estimated resident population of WA at 30 June 2010 was 2.30 million, an increase of 49,100 persons, or 2.2%, over the previous year. Nationally, the population grew by 377,100 persons, or 1.7%, to 22.34 million.
• Although population growth across Australia declined from June 2009, WA continued to record the fastest population growth (2.2%) of all states and territories during the 12 months to 30 June 2010, ahead of Queensland (2.0%), Victoria and the ACT (1.8%), with Tasmania recording the slowest growth (0.9%).

Components of Population Growth

• For the year ending 30 June 2010, net overseas migration (NOM) contributed 58% of WA's estimated resident population growth. Natural increase (births minus deaths) and net interstate migration contributed 38% and 4% respectively.
• The preliminary NOM estimate for WA for the year ending 30 June 2010 was 28,200 people, 40% less than NOM levels reached in the previous 12 months (47,300). In 2010, WA recorded the lowest June quarter NOM estimate (4,800) for four years. This decline was probably influenced by recent decreases in the number of student and 457 temporary visas (workers sponsored by an Australian business) granted for entry into Australia, as well as reduced program levels for permanent skilled migrants.
• Natural increase in the year ending 30 June 2010 added an estimated 18,900 people to the WA population, 3.3% higher than natural increase during the previous 12 months.
• WA had an estimated net gain of 2,000 people from interstate migration for the year ending 30 June 2010 and was one of four states to record a net gain, along with Queensland (up 9,600), Victoria (up 2,600) and Tasmania (up 320). However, interstate migration to WA in the year to June 2010 was still considerably lower than in recent years, when the state's resources boom drove annual net interstate migration above 6,000.