POPULATION GROWTH RATES, DECEMBER 2003 FIGURES
The growth in Australia's population has two components; natural increase (the number of births minus the number of deaths) and net overseas migration (net permanent and long-term movement plus the migration adjustment). Since Federation natural increase has generally contributed more to annual population growth than net overseas migration. This was not the case for the year ended December 2003, when net overseas migration exceeded natural increase by 14,000 persons. This is attributed to high levels of net overseas migration rather than low levels of natural increase. Preliminary net overseas migration in the year ended December 2003 was 132,400 persons.
The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at December 2003 was 20,008,700 persons, an increase of 250,800 persons from December 2002 and 67,900 since September 2003. The national growth rate during the 12 months ended December 2003 was 1.3%, compared with 1.2% for the 12 months ended December 2002.
The December quarter 2003 issue of Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0) was released on 4 June 2004. For more information please contact Rachael Hill on (02) 6252 6296 or rachael.hill@abs.gov.au
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