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CONTRIBUTION OF MIGRATION TO POPULATION GROWTH

• In 2002-03, 52% of Australia's population growth was from net overseas migration (NOM). The preliminary estimate of net overseas migration was 125,300, while natural increase was 115,200 and total growth was 240,500.

• In 2002-03, net permanent movement contributed 43,500 people (35%) to net overseas migration, while net long-term movement contributed 81,800 people (65%). For the first time, components of overseas migration are presented as adjusted figures - see Chapter 6, 'Special Article: Adjustments to Overseas Migration Estimates'.

• The method of preliminary distribution of net overseas migration among the states and territories is under review, and for 2002-03, net overseas migration for each state and territory is only available on a preliminary basis.

• New South Wales received the largest share of net overseas migration (40%), which exceeded the share of population of Australia living there (34%). Queensland had the second largest share of net overseas migration (24%), followed by Victoria (18%), Western Australia (14%) and South Australia (3%). The Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Tasmania (less than 1% each) had the smallest shares.

• The contribution of net overseas migration to total population growth ranged from 85% in New South Wales to 15% in Tasmania. The Northern Territory's population declined by 310 despite a positive contribution from net overseas migration of 240.

• Preliminary net permanent movement comprised 43,500 people in 2002-03, 4,900 more than in 2001-02.

• There were 93,900 permanent (settler) arrivals in 2002-03, an increase of 11% on the previous year. This number does not include those who arrived on a temporary basis and were subsequently granted permanent residency (these on-shore grants of permanent residency are not included in this publication).

• In 2002-03, 13% of all permanent arrivals had been born in the United Kingdom and another 13% in New Zealand. New Zealand was the most common source country of permanent arrivals in 2001-02, but declined by 21% to 12,400 in 2002-03.

• There were 50,500 permanent departures in 2002-03, an increase of 10% on 2001-02, continuing the pattern of annual increase which occurred in most years since 1986-87 and the highest level recorded over the past two decades.

• Of all permanent departures, people born in Australia comprised 51% in 2002-03, slightly higher than in 2001-02 (50%).

• In 2002-03, net long-term movement contributed 81,800 people, an increase of 14% from 2001-02.

• Due to a new method of adjusting net overseas migration, long-term movement for 2001-02 on is not comparable with earlier published figures - for more information, see Chapter 6, 'Special Article: Adjustments to Overseas Migration Estimates'.

• Overseas visitors comprised 71% of all long-term arrivals in 2002-03, down slightly from 72% in 2001-02, whereas they comprised 34% of long-term departures in 2002-03 and 32% in 2001-02.

• In 2001-02, the United Kingdom was the most common country of citizenship of all long-term visitor arrivals.

• The median age of long-term visitor arrivals in 2001-02 was 30.0, with slightly more females than males (a sex ratio of 118 males per 100 females).

• At 30 June 2002, Australia's overseas-born residents comprised 4.6 million people, 23% of the total estimated resident population (19.6 million).

• From 30 June 2001 to 30 June 2002, the number of overseas-born residents increased by 1.9%. This is slightly higher than the rate of growth in the total population, which was 1.2% over the same period.

• At 30 June 2002, 7.5% of the Australian population had been born in North-West Europe. Most of these people (5.7% of the Australian population) were born in the United Kingdom. People born in the three Asian regions (South-East Asia, North-East Asia and South and Central Asia) together comprised 5.7% of Australia's population.

• Although 63% of the overseas-born population at 30 June 2001 lived in either New South Wales or Victoria, Western Australia had the highest proportion of overseas-born residents in its population (29%). Tasmania had the lowest proportion (11%), and the Northern Territory the second lowest (16%).

• The number of interstate moves increased by 3.7%, from 384,100 in 2001-02 to 398,500 in 2002-03.

• Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria experienced a net gain from interstate migration during 2002-03. Queensland's gain of 39,200 persons was an increase of 26% over the preceding year. Net interstate migration for Tasmania was the first net gain in that state for over ten years.

• New South Wales had the largest net interstate migration outflow in 2002-03 (-31,800 people). The second highest net outflow was from Northern Territory (-3,400).

• In 2002-03, the median age of interstate migrants was 29 years. The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory received the youngest interstate migrants (both with a median age of 27 years). Tasmania received the oldest interstate migrants (median age 32 years).

COMPONENTS OF ALL OVERSEAS MOVEMENTS - 2002-03p

	State or territory of departure
State or territory of arrival	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT	Total arrivals
NSW	. .	24,190	37,957	6,670	7,817	2,615	2,755	11,401	93,405
Vic.	27,570	. .	19,675	9,075	8,329	4,339	2,498	2,718	74,204
Qld	63,921	25,272	. .	7,683	8,938	4,063	6,274	4,095	120,246
SA	7,557	8,332	5,719	. .	3,436	949	3,028	835	29,856
WA	8,343	7,389	6,900	3,373	. .	1,419	2,623	851	30,898
Tas.	4,226	4,362	3,710	1,152	1,737	. .	406	413	16,006
NT	2,506	2,275	4,255	2,493	2,444	371	. .	413	14,757
ACT	11,072	2,356	2,823	907	1,007	355	562	. .	19,082
Total Departures	-31,790	28	39,207	-1,497	-2,810	1,895	-3,389	-1,644	, ,

POPULATION BORN OVERSEAS(a)