3412.0 - Migration, Australia, 2016-17 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/07/2018   
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NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION

Net interstate migration (NIM) is the net gain or loss of population through the movement of people from one state or territory of usual residence to another. It is an important component required to calculate Australia's estimated resident population at the state and territory level, see Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0). During 2016-17, it was estimated that 376,700 people moved interstate, an increase of 1.3% from the number of people who moved during the previous year. In 2015-16, there were 371,900 people who moved interstate, an increase of 8.1% from the number of people who moved in 2014-15 (344,000 persons).




3.1 INTERSTATE MIGRATION FLOWS - 2016-17(a)

Graph: Interstate Migration Flows 2016-17


Net interstate migration can be a source of population gain or loss for a state or territory. In the year ended 30 June 2017, NIM was a source of net population loss for New South Wales (-15,200 persons), Western Australia (-13,900 persons), South Australia (-6,800 persons) and the Northern Territory (-2,900 persons). Those states and territories where NIM contributed positively to population growth were Victoria (18,200 persons), Queensland (17,800 persons), Tasmania (1,500 persons) and the Australian Capital Territory (1,200 persons).

3.2 NET INTERSTATE MIGRATION(a) - 2007-08 to 2016-17
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
2007-08
-20,780
-1,924
19,409
-4,221
4,991
730
1,389
260
2008-09
-18,667
1,523
14,702
-4,402
5,012
1,063
934
-309
2009-10
-9,458
3,314
6,172
-2,709
2,119
664
-661
427
2010-11
-13,496
3,534
6,795
-2,614
7,033
-47
-2,549
1,354
2011-12
-18,115
2,417
11,782
-3,220
8,609
-1,925
-691
1,145
2012-13
-14,645
6,420
8,874
-4,761
5,676
-1,286
-481
202
2013-14
-6,751
9,739
6,294
-3,890
-1,724
-435
-2,421
-812
2014-15
-6,776
11,079
6,861
-4,570
-4,278
127
-2,341
-103
2015-16
-11,539
17,639
11,986
-7,212
-10,010
760
-2,029
383
2016-17
-15,161
18,193
17,795
-6,778
-13,934
1,522
-2,867
1,230
Annual average 2007-08 to 2016-17
-13,539
7,193
11,067
-4,438
349
117
-1,172
378
(a) Estimates for 2016-17 are preliminary - see paragraph 9 of the Explanatory Notes.


Over the decade ending June 2017, Queensland has been the only state to maintain annual NIM gains. The gain of 17,800 persons in 2016-17 is the second highest increase for Queensland, after a gain of 19,400 persons in 2007-08.

In contrast, New South Wales and South Australia have both recorded annual NIM losses each year for the past decade. New South Wales has continually recorded the largest annual losses, ranging between 20,800 persons in 2007-08 and 6,800 persons in both 2013-14 and 2014-15, with an annual average net loss of 13,500 persons. South Australia recorded an annual average net loss of 4,400 persons, with losses ranging between 7,200 persons in 2015-16 and 2,600 persons in 2010-11.

Gains in NIM for Western Australia increased from 5,000 persons in 2007-08 to peak at 8,600 persons in 2011-12 before decreasing to a net loss of 13,900 persons in 2016-17.

Over the past decade, Victoria recorded an annual NIM loss in 2007-08 of 1,900 persons, followed by annual NIM gains in the nine years from 2008-09 to 2016-17 resulting in an annual average net gain of 7,200 persons. In 2016-17, Victoria recorded its largest NIM gain in the last ten years with 18,200 persons.

NIM in the remaining State and Territories has fluctuated throughout the past decade resulting in an annual average net loss in the Northern Territory (1,200 persons) and annual average net gains in the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania (380 persons and 120 persons respectively).