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POPULATION CHANGE - AUSTRALIA

Queensland's annual growth rate of 1.9% was the second fastest increase of the states and territories. Its average annual growth rate over the five years to June 2006 was the fastest in Australia, at 2.2% .

South-east Queensland (comprising the Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and West Moreton SDs) increased by 50,900 people in 2005-06, accounting for 67% of Queensland's total population growth. This equates to an average increase of about 980 people per week.



GROWTH IN NEW SOUTH WALES AND VICTORIA

New South Wales (NSW) experienced the third largest population increase of the states and territories during 2005-06, up 58,800 people (0.9%). Natural increase added 40,500 people to NSW’s population and net overseas migration added 42,200 people (the largest of the states and territories), while a net 24,000 people were lost to the remaining states and territories due to interstate migration.

The population of Victoria increased by 68,500 people in 2005-06, which was the second largest increase of the states and territories. This corresponds to a growth rate of 1.4% for the year.

Victoria’s natural increase was 31,900 people in 2005-06, while net interstate migration was negative for the third consecutive year (losing a net 1,900 people to the rest of Australia). Net overseas migration in 2005-06 contributed 38,600 people to Victoria's population.

South Australia’s population increased by 12,600 people (0.8%) in 2005-06, with natural increase adding 5,900 people and net overseas migration adding 9,500 people. South Australia recorded the second largest interstate migration loss behind New South Wales, with a net loss of 2,900 people.

Tasmania’s population increased by 0.7% (3,300 people) during 2005-06, which was the slowest growth rate of the states and territories. Natural increase contributed 2,500 people to Tasmania's population, while net overseas migration added 690 people and net interstate migration contributed 60 people.

The Northern Territory’s population increased by 3,300 people (1.6%) in 2005-06. Natural increase remains the main component of growth, adding 2,800 people, while net overseas migration added 840 people and a net 390 people were lost to other states or territories.

The population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) increased by 0.9% (3,000 people) in 2005-06, about twice the growth recorded in 2004-05. Natural increase added 2,900 people to the ACT. Net migration trends have reversed, with interstate migration being positive for the first time since 2000-01 (adding 270 people), and net overseas migration being negative for the first time since 1999-2000, with a net 110 people lost from the ACT to overseas countries in 2005-06.

The combined populations of the state balances (those areas outside capital city SDs) increased by 102,800 people in 2005-06 to reach 7.5 million people, making up 36% of Australia’s population at June 2006.

The combined population of the state balances increased by 1.4%, which was faster than the 1.3% recorded by the combined capital city SDs in 2005-06. However, in all but the three most populous states, the rate of growth in the capital cities was higher than the state balance growth rate.

The largest growth among capital cities in 2005-06 occurred in the Melbourne SD (up 49,000 people), followed by Sydney SD (up 37,200 people) and Perth SD (up 29,500 people). The largest state balance growth occurred in the balance of Queensland, which increased by 46,900 people, with almost half of the growth occurring within the south-eastern corner of Queensland. Darwin SD was the fastest growing capital city in Australia in 2005-06, increasing by 2.5%, followed by the Perth SD (2.0%).

During the year ending June 2006, the major cities of Australia experienced the largest population growth of the RAs, with an increase of 157,800 people (or 1.2%), while the fastest growth was recorded in inner regional Australia with an increase of 1.8% (or 79,500 people). Inner regional Australia also recorded the fastest average annual population growth rate (1.7%) over the period from June 2001 to June 2006. The population of remote Australia increased the slowest of all RAs over the five years to June 2006, at an average annual rate of 0.1%.

New South Wales had the largest numbers of people residing in both major cities (4.9 million people) and inner regional areas (1.4 million people) of all the states and territories in June 2006, while Queensland had the largest numbers of people living in outer regional, remote and very remote areas of Australia. However, the Northern Territory had, by far, the largest percentages of its population living in outer regional (55.1%), remote (20.6%) and very remote (24.3%) areas of Australia.

In all states with major cities the largest population growth occurred in the major cities and the fastest population growth occurred in inner regional areas for the year ending June 2006. As neither Hobart nor Darwin is classified as a major city according to the RA criteria of accessibility and remoteness, the RA with the largest growth in Tasmania was inner regional Australia (which includes Hobart), and the largest and fastest growing RA in the Northern Territory was outer regional Australia (which includes Darwin).

Western Australia had the fastest growing population in the major cities, inner regional and very remote RAs in 2005-06, while Queensland experienced the largest growth in inner regional, outer regional and remote RAs.

Population density at June 2006 was highest in the city centres, particularly in the Sydney SD, where the four most densely populated SLAs in Australia were located. These were: Sydney (C) - East (with 7,600 people per square kilometre); Waverley (A) (6,700), which is just east of the city centre and includes the beach suburbs of Coogee, Bronte and Bondi Beach; Sydney (C) - West (6,600); and North Sydney (A) (5,900). The most densely populated SLA in Victoria was Port Phillip (C) - St. Kilda, which is on the shores of the bay just south of the city centre, with 5,700 people per square kilometre. The SLAs of New Farm (5,500) and Kangaroo Point (5,200), both in inner Brisbane, complete the list of Australian SLAs that had more than 5,000 people per square kilometre at June 2006. At the other extreme, there were over 250 SLAs in Australia with less than 1 person per square kilometre. For information about the areas of SLAs see paragraph 37 of the Explanatory Notes.

At June 2006 the centre of Australia's population was located around 55 kilometres east of the town of Ivanhoe in the LGA of Central Darling (A), reflecting the concentration of the population in the south-east of Australia, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. Between June 2001 and 2006 the centre of population moved around 8 kilometres north, as a result of population growth in northern Australia, especially in south-east Queensland.

CENTRE OF POPULATION, Australia - June 2001 and June 2006

ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION, States and territories - Capital city and balance of state/territory
		ERP AT 30 JUNE			Change
		2001	2005r	2006p	2001-2006p(a)	2005-2006p
Part of state/territory		no.	no.	no.	%	no.	%
New South Wales
	Sydney SD	4 128 272	4 255 954	4 293 105	0.8	37 151	0.9
	Balance of state	2 446 945	2 512 987	2 534 589	0.7	21 602	0.9
	Total	6 575 217	6 768 941	6 827 694	0.8	58 753	0.9
Victoria
	Melbourne SD	3 471 625	3 635 508	3 684 461	1.2	48 953	1.3
	Balance of state	1 333 101	1 387 656	1 407 205	1.1	19 549	1.4
	Total	4 804 726	5 023 164	5 091 666	1.2	68 502	1.4
Queensland
	Brisbane SD	1 629 133	1 790 921	1 820 375	2.2	29 454	1.6
	Balance of state	1 999 813	2 186 131	2 233 069	2.2	46 938	2.1
	Total	3 628 946	3 977 052	4 053 444	2.2	76 392	1.9
South Australia
	Adelaide SD	1 107 986	1 129 145	1 138 833	0.6	9 688	0.9
	Balance of state	403 742	412 951	415 823	0.6	2 872	0.7
	Total	1 511 728	1 542 096	1 554 656	0.6	12 560	0.8
Western Australia
	Perth SD	1 393 002	1 478 039	1 507 949	1.6	29 910	2.0
	Balance of state	508 157	532 925	542 935	1.3	10 010	1.9
	Total	1 901 159	2 010 964	2 050 884	1.5	39 920	2.0
Tasmania
	Hobart SD	197 282	203 527	205 510	0.8	1 983	1.0
	Balance of state	274 513	282 149	283 438	0.6	1 289	0.5
	Total	471 795	485 676	488 948	0.7	3 272	0.7
Northern Territory
	Darwin SD	106 842	111 179	113 955	1.3	2 776	2.5
	Balance of territory	90 926	92 225	92 733	0.4	508	0.6
	Total	197 768	203 404	206 688	0.9	3 284	1.6
Australian Capital Territory
	Canberra SD	318 939	325 405	328 441	0.6	3 036	0.9
	Balance of territory	378	376	376	-0.1	-	-
	Total	319 317	325 781	328 817	0.6	3 036	0.9
Other Territories		2 584	2 681	2 691	0.8	10	0.4
Australia
	Capital City	12 353 081	12 929 678	13 092 629	1.2	162 951	1.3
	Balance of Australia(b)	7 060 159	7 410 081	7 512 859	1.3	102 778	1.4
	Total	19 413 240	20 339 759	20 605 488	1.2	265 729	1.3
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Average annual growth rate.
(b) Includes Other Territories. Back to top

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS WITH LARGEST POPULATION CHANGES
		ERP AT 30 JUNE			Change
		2001	2005r	2006p	2001-2006p(a)	2005-2006p
National rank and LGA(b)	Part of state/territory	no.	no.	no.	%	no.	%
LARGEST INCREASES IN 2005-2006
1 Brisbane (C)	Brisbane SD	896 649	975 173	989 152	2.0	13 979	1.4
2 Gold Coast (C)	Qld Balance	423 719	484 005	497 568	3.3	13 563	2.8
3 Wanneroo (C)	Perth SD	84 132	107 195	115 136	6.5	7 941	7.4
4 Melton (S)	Melbourne SD	52 830	76 188	83 002	9.5	6 814	8.9
5 Wyndham (C)	Melbourne SD	87 141	115 914	122 574	7.1	6 660	5.7
6 Casey (C)	Melbourne SD	181 562	216 995	223 424	4.2	6 429	3.0
7 Blacktown (C)	Sydney SD	264 799	282 679	287 634	1.7	4 955	1.8
8 Rockingham (C)	Perth SD	74 018	85 013	89 629	3.9	4 616	5.4
9 Ipswich (C)	Brisbane SD	126 663	141 171	145 411	2.8	4 240	3.0
10 Cairns (C)	Qld Balance	117 629	128 666	132 765	2.5	4 099	3.2
11 Hume (C)	Melbourne SD	135 986	151 850	155 829	2.8	3 979	2.6
12 Pine Rivers (S)	Brisbane SD	122 303	144 682	148 529	4.0	3 847	2.7
13 Maroochy (S)	Qld Balance	127 202	145 569	149 232	3.2	3 663	2.5
14 Mandurah (C)	WA Balance	48 877	61 888	65 273	6.0	3 385	5.5
15 Caboolture (S)	Brisbane SD	114 338	131 557	134 820	3.4	3 263	2.5
16 Cardinia (S)	Melbourne SD	47 010	57 134	60 276	5.1	3 142	5.5
17 Bankstown (C)	Sydney SD	171 994	176 777	179 719	0.9	2 942	1.7
18 Sydney (C)	Sydney SD	129 696	148 986	151 920	3.2	2 934	2.0
19 Swan (C)	Perth SD	85 094	93 428	96 212	2.5	2 784	3.0
20 Greater Geelong (C)	Vic. Balance	194 478	204 875	207 515	1.3	2 640	1.3
LARGEST DECLINES IN 2005-2006
1 Campbelltown (C)	Sydney SD	150 154	149 491	148 969	-0.2	-522	-0.3
2 Johnstone (S)	Qld Balance	19 453	19 675	19 168	-0.3	-507	-2.6
3 Blue Mountains (C)	Sydney SD	77 021	76 275	75 770	-0.3	-505	-0.7
4 Esperance (S)	WA Balance	13 315	13 281	13 089	-0.3	-192	-1.4
5 Manjimup (S)	WA Balance	10 309	9 740	9 550	-1.5	-190	-2.0
6 Northern Grampians (S)	Vic. Balance	13 055	12 683	12 526	-0.8	-157	-1.2
7 Sutherland Shire (A)	Sydney SD	213 828	214 164	214 030	-	-134	-0.1
8 Collie (S)	WA Balance	9 072	8 833	8 705	-0.8	-128	-1.4
9 Devonport (C)	Tas. Balance	24 257	25 249	25 122	0.7	-127	-0.5
10 Northam (T)	WA Balance	6 573	6 249	6 137	-1.4	-112	-1.8
11 Moora (S)	WA Balance	2 694	2 576	2 470	-1.7	-106	-4.1
12 Dorset (M)	Tas. Balance	7 339	7 149	7 045	-0.8	-104	-1.5
13 Yilgarn (S)	WA Balance	1 825	1 551	1 450	-4.5	-101	-6.5
14 Eacham (S)	Qld Balance	6 318	6 355	6 262	-0.2	-93	-1.5
15 Narrogin (T)	WA Balance	4 750	4 423	4 332	-1.8	-91	-2.1
16 Loxton Waikerie (DC)	SA Balance	12 247	12 172	12 083	-0.3	-89	-0.7
17 Whyalla (C)	SA Balance	22 139	21 294	21 211	-0.9	-83	-0.4
18 Carnarvon (S)	WA Balance	6 723	6 282	6 199	-1.6	-83	-1.3
19 Coolgardie (S)	WA Balance	4 267	3 780	3 700	-2.8	-80	-2.1
20 Circular Head (M)	Tas. Balance	8 047	8 129	8 051	-	-78	-1.0
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Average annual growth rate.
(b) National rank based on population change between June 2005 and June 2006.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS WITH FASTEST POPULATION CHANGES
		ERP AT 30 JUNE			Change
		2001	2005r	2006p	2001-2006p(a)	2005-2006p
National rank and LGA(b)	Part of state/territory	no.	no.	no.	%	no.	%
FASTEST INCREASES IN 2005-2006
1 Perth (C)	Perth SD	7 808	11 958	13 439	11.5	1 481	12.4
2 Capel (S)	WA Balance	7 107	9 571	10 517	8.2	946	9.9
3 Melton (S)	Melbourne SD	52 830	76 188	83 002	9.5	6 814	8.9
4 Wanneroo (C)	Perth SD	84 132	107 195	115 136	6.5	7 941	7.4
5 Dardanup (S)	WA Balance	8 955	10 416	11 084	4.4	668	6.4
6 Wyndham (C)	Melbourne SD	87 141	115 914	122 574	7.1	6 660	5.7
7 Miriam Vale (S)	Qld Balance	4 484	5 453	5 763	5.1	310	5.7
8 Halls Creek (S)	WA Balance	3 931	4 344	4 587	3.1	243	5.6
9 Cardinia (S)	Melbourne SD	47 010	57 134	60 276	5.1	3 142	5.5
10 Crow's Nest (S)	Qld Balance	10 259	12 280	12 950	4.8	670	5.5
11 Mandurah (C)	WA Balance	48 877	61 888	65 273	6.0	3 385	5.5
12 Tiaro (S)	Qld Balance	4 672	5 120	5 396	2.9	276	5.4
13 Rockingham (C)	Perth SD	74 018	85 013	89 629	3.9	4 616	5.4
14 Palmerston (C)	Darwin SD	22 120	24 004	25 248	2.7	1 244	5.2
15 Donnybrook-Balingup (S)	WA Balance	4 691	4 778	5 010	1.3	232	4.9
16 Surf Coast (S)	Vic. Balance	20 872	23 090	24 195	3.0	1 105	4.8
17 Hervey Bay (C)	Qld Balance	43 298	51 972	54 457	4.7	2 485	4.8
18 Derby-West Kimberley (S)	WA Balance	8 287	8 413	8 800	1.2	387	4.6
19 Harvey (S)	WA Balance	18 452	19 686	20 601	2.2	915	4.6
20 Kwinana (T)	Perth SD	21 757	23 406	24 427	2.3	1 021	4.4
FASTEST DECLINES IN 2005-2006
1 Moora (S)	WA Balance	2 694	2 576	2 470	-1.7	-106	-4.1
2 Johnstone (S)	Qld Balance	19 453	19 675	19 168	-0.3	-507	-2.6
3 Coolgardie (S)	WA Balance	4 267	3 780	3 700	-2.8	-80	-2.1
4 Narrogin (T)	WA Balance	4 750	4 423	4 332	-1.8	-91	-2.1
5 Flinders (S)	Qld Balance	2 090	2 003	1 962	-1.3	-41	-2.0
6 Manjimup (S)	WA Balance	10 309	9 740	9 550	-1.5	-190	-2.0
7 Paroo (S)	Qld Balance	2 214	2 162	2 124	-0.8	-38	-1.8
8 Northam (T)	WA Balance	6 573	6 249	6 137	-1.4	-112	-1.8
9 Torres (S)	Qld Balance	3 600	3 892	3 827	1.2	-65	-1.7
10 Kingston (DC)	SA Balance	2 348	2 358	2 321	-0.2	-37	-1.6
11 Central Highlands (M)	Tas. Balance	2 316	2 334	2 297	-0.2	-37	-1.6
12 Eacham (S)	Qld Balance	6 318	6 355	6 262	-0.2	-93	-1.5
13 Dorset (M)	Tas. Balance	7 339	7 149	7 045	-0.8	-104	-1.5
14 West Coast (M)	Tas. Balance	5 516	4 998	4 923	-2.2	-75	-1.5
15 Mundubbera (S)	Qld Balance	2 298	2 343	2 311	0.1	-32	-1.4
16 Collie (S)	WA Balance	9 072	8 833	8 705	-0.8	-128	-1.4
17 Esperance (S)	WA Balance	13 315	13 281	13 089	-0.3	-192	-1.4
18 Ceduna (DC)	SA Balance	3 640	3 537	3 490	-0.8	-47	-1.3
19 Bridgetown-Greenbushes (S)	WA Balance	4 188	4 018	3 966	-1.1	-52	-1.3
20 Carnarvon (S)	WA Balance	6 723	6 282	6 199	-1.6	-83	-1.3
(a) Average annual growth rate.
(b) National rank based on population change between June 2005 and June 2006, excluding LGAs with a population of less than 2,000 at June 2005.

ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION BY REMOTENESS STRUCTURE(a)
		ERP AT 30 JUNE			CHANGE
		2001	2005r	2006p	2001-2006p(b)	2005-2006p
		no.	no.	no.	%	no.	%
New South Wales
	Major Cities of Australia	4 696 294	4 840 770	4 881 487	0.8	40 717	0.8
	Inner Regional Australia	1 348 876	1 397 458	1 412 492	0.9	15 034	1.1
	Outer Regional Australia	482 809	484 630	487 644	0.2	3 014	0.6
	Remote Australia	39 236	38 216	38 242	-0.5	26	0.1
	Very Remote Australia	8 002	7 867	7 829	-0.4	-38	-0.5
	Total	6 575 217	6 768 941	6 827 694	0.8	58 753	0.9
Victoria
	Major Cities of Australia	3 528 245	3 678 469	3 721 351	1.1	42 882	1.2
	Inner Regional Australia	1 017 905	1 081 065	1 103 942	1.6	22 877	2.1
	Outer Regional Australia	252 604	257 812	260 591	0.6	2 779	1.1
	Remote Australia	5 972	5 818	5 782	-0.6	-36	-0.6
	Total	4 804 726	5 023 164	5 091 666	1.2	68 502	1.4
Queensland
	Major Cities of Australia	1 899 756	2 094 300	2 130 684	2.3	36 384	1.7
	Inner Regional Australia	938 566	1 044 265	1 068 537	2.6	24 272	2.3
	Outer Regional Australia	645 467	690 663	705 721	1.8	15 058	2.2
	Remote Australia	92 525	94 449	95 364	0.6	915	1.0
	Very Remote Australia	52 632	53 375	53 138	0.2	-237	-0.4
	Total	3 628 946	3 977 052	4 053 444	2.2	76 392	1.9
South Australia
	Major Cities of Australia	1 085 291	1 105 806	1 115 078	0.5	9 272	0.8
	Inner Regional Australia	187 198	198 612	201 348	1.5	2 736	1.4
	Outer Regional Australia	178 860	177 773	178 000	-0.1	227	0.1
	Remote Australia	45 597	46 475	46 822	0.5	347	0.7
	Very Remote Australia	14 782	13 430	13 408	-1.9	-22	-0.2
	Total	1 511 728	1 542 096	1 554 656	0.6	12 560	0.8
Western Australia
	Major Cities of Australia	1 342 739	1 415 248	1 440 706	1.4	25 458	1.8
	Inner Regional Australia	232 165	269 590	282 005	4.0	12 415	4.6
	Outer Regional Australia	186 153	186 609	188 063	0.2	1 454	0.8
	Remote Australia	90 714	89 019	88 704	-0.4	-315	-0.4
	Very Remote Australia	49 388	50 498	51 406	0.8	908	1.8
	Total	1 901 159	2 010 964	2 050 884	1.5	39 920	2.0
Tasmania
	Inner Regional Australia	299 987	310 901	313 073	0.9	2 172	0.7
	Outer Regional Australia	160 828	163 705	164 845	0.5	1 140	0.7
	Remote Australia	8 369	8 559	8 571	0.5	12	0.1
	Very Remote Australia	2 611	2 511	2 459	-1.2	-52	-2.1
	Total	471 795	485 676	488 948	0.7	3 272	0.7
Northern Territory
	Outer Regional Australia	106 842	111 179	113 955	1.3	2 776	2.5
	Remote Australia	41 908	42 404	42 536	0.3	132	0.3
	Very Remote Australia	49 018	49 821	50 197	0.5	376	0.8
	Total	197 768	203 404	206 688	0.9	3 284	1.6
Australian Capital Territory
	Major Cities of Australia	318 661	325 134	328 179	0.6	3 045	0.9
	Inner Regional Australia	656	647	638	-0.6	-9	-1.4
	Total	319 317	325 781	328 817	0.6	3 036	0.9
Australia(c)
	Major Cities of Australia	12 870 986	13 459 727	13 617 485	1.1	157 758	1.2
	Inner Regional Australia	4 025 895	4 303 097	4 382 596	1.7	79 499	1.8
	Outer Regional Australia	2 013 563	2 072 371	2 098 819	0.8	26 448	1.3
	Remote Australia	324 321	324 940	326 021	0.1	1 081	0.3
	Very Remote Australia	178 475	179 624	180 567	0.2	943	0.5
	Total	19 413 240	20 339 759	20 605 488	1.2	265 729	1.3
(a) See paragraphs 14 to 17 and paragraph 35 of the Explanatory Notes.
(b) Average annual growth rate.
(c) Includes Other Territories.