DEMOGRAPHY

ESTIMATED RESIDENT POPULATION

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) for South Australia was 1,581,400 at 31 March 2007, an increase of 16,100 persons (1.0%) since 31 March 2006. The annual population growth for the year ended 31 March 2006 was also 1.0%.

All states and territories recorded population growth over the 12 months ended 31 March 2007. Queensland recorded the largest growth rate (2.3%) and Tasmania recorded the lowest growth rate (0.6%).

For the 12 months ending 31 March 2007, South Australia recorded a natural increase (i.e. the net of births and deaths) of 6,300 persons. Net overseas migration provided a gain of 12,600 persons in the same period while net interstate migration realised a loss of 3,500 persons.

In the March 2007 quarter South Australia recorded a net natural increase of 2,000 persons and a gain in net overseas migration of 4,800 persons, which was the largest quarterly net overseas migration recorded for the state in the last twenty five years. For every quarter since September 1986, with the exception of June 1993 (-217 persons) and June 1994 (-5), there has been a net overseas migration gain in South Australia's ERP. Net interstate migration in the March 2007 quarter resulted in a loss of 1,100 persons from South Australia. Since September 1986, South Australia has only shown a net increase in population from interstate migration in 11 out of the 80 quarters, and 9 of these quarters occurred before March 1992.

Nationally, the preliminary ERP was 20,948,900 at 31 March 2007, an increase of 307,100 persons (1.5%) since 31 March 2006. The population growth rate for the year ended 31 March 2007 (1.5%) was the same as that recorded for the year ended 31 March 2006 (1.5%). For the year ended 31 March 2007, Australia recorded a natural increase in population of 138,000 persons; net overseas migration resulted in a gain of 162,600 people.

In the March 2007 quarter Australia's population recorded a natural increase of 39,600 persons. The net overseas migration for Australia resulted in a gain of 57,000 persons, the largest increase since the March 2001 quarter.