WESTERN AUSTRALIA

STATE SUMMARY

At June 2014, the estimated resident population of Western Australia (WA) was 2.57 million people, which represented 11% of the total Australian population. WA's population increased by 2.2% (54,400 people) between 2013 and 2014. This was the fastest growth of all the states and territories, and well above the national growth rate of 1.6%.

POPULATION CHANGE IN GREATER PERTH

At June 2014, the population of Greater Perth was 2.02 million people, which was 79% of the state's total population. Between 2013 and 2014, Greater Perth increased by 2.5% (48,400 people). This was the fastest growth rate among Australia's capital cities.

The largest population growth in WA occurred in the outer suburban areas of Greater Perth. The south-west SA2 of Baldivis had the largest increase, up by 3,500 people. Ellenbrook in the north-east, and Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters in the south-east followed, both increasing by 2,400 people. Yanchep and Byford had the next largest increases, up by 1,700 and 1,300 people respectively.

Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters was the fastest-growing SA2 in Greater Perth, increasing by 22% to reach 13,500 people. This was followed by North Coogee, Anketell - Wandi, Yanchep and Baldivis, all outer suburban coastal areas. These SA2s all had increases above 14%.

In the five years to 2014, Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters more than tripled in population and Baldivis more than doubled.

SA2s WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH(a), Western Australia
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2014p	2013r-2014p
SA2	no.	no.	%
LARGEST GROWTH
Baldivis	27 000	3 500	14.9
Ellenbrook	31 900	2 400	8.2
Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters	13 500	2 400	21.8
Yanchep	12 200	1 700	16.5
Byford	12 000	1 300	12.5
FASTEST GROWTH
Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters	13 500	2 400	21.8
North Coogee	1 400	240	20.7
Anketell - Wandi	1 800	270	17.9
Yanchep	12 200	1 700	16.5
Baldivis	27 000	3 500	14.9
(a) All population figures presented in this table are rounded. Estimates of population change are based on unrounded numbers.

POPULATION CHANGE IN THE REST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Population growth

Between 2013 and 2014, the rest of WA grew by 6,000 people (1.1%) to reach 552,200.

Outside of Greater Perth, the SA3s with both the largest and fastest increases were Bunbury (up by 2,600 people or 2.5%) and Augusta - Margaret River - Busselton (1,700 or 3.6%) in the state's south-west.

Of those SA2s outside of Greater Perth, Busselton in the south-west and Karratha in the north of the state had the largest growth, increasing by 850 and 750 people respectively. This was followed by Australind - Leschenault in the south-west which increased by 650 people.

The fastest-growing SA2s were Gelorup - Dalyellup - Stratham and Busselton Region in the state's south-west and Chittering located north-east of Greater Perth, all up by 4.5%. The next fastest-growing SA2s were McKail - Willyung (up by 4.2%) and Margaret River (4.0%) in the south-west, and Karratha (also 4.0%).


Population decline

The SA3s in the rest of WA that declined in population were Goldfields (down by 800 people or 1.8%), Kimberley (down by 390 or 1.0%) and Wheat Belt - South (down by 70 or 0.3%).

Population declined in almost one third of SA2s in the rest of WA. The largest declines were in Derby - West Kimberley (down 520 people), Kalgoorlie (down by 270) and Leinster - Leonora (down by 250).


POPULATION DENSITY

WA's population density at June 2014 was 1.0 person per square kilometre (sq km). This was the second-lowest of all the states and territories after the Northern Territory (0.2 people per sq km), and compares with 3.1 people per sq km for Australia as a whole.

Greater Perth had a population density of 315 people per sq km, while the rest of WA had 0.2 people per sq km. In the year to 2014, the density of Greater Perth increased by 7.5 people per sq km.

The SA2s with the highest population densities in Greater Perth were the north-west areas of Tuart Hill - Joondanna (3,600 people per sq km), Scarborough (3,400) and Innaloo - Doubleview (3,200), and North Perth (3,100) which adjoins the central business district. Nollamara - Westminster and Mount Hawthorn - Leederville also had densities of more than 3,000 people per sq km.

The SA2s with the largest increases in population density between 2013 and 2014 were in Greater Perth. Butler - Merriwa - Ridgewood in the north-west increased by 110 people per sq km and Bertram - Wellard (West) in the south increased by 90.

CENTRE OF POPULATION

At June 2014, the centre of population for WA was near the Avon Valley National Park, roughly 20 km west of the town of Toodyay. In the ten years to 2014, the centre moved 4.5 kilometres west, reflecting strong population growth in Greater Perth.

The centre of population for Greater Perth at June 2014 was in the suburb of Como, on the southern bank of the Swan River.