AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY



Territory summary

Population growth

Population decline

Population density

Centre of population

Local government area populations

TERRITORY SUMMARY

The estimated resident population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) increased by 5,900 people in the 12 months to 30 June 2009 to reach 352,200. The annual growth rate of 1.7% was higher than the ACT's average annual growth of 1.5% for the five years to June 2009.

The three northern SSDs experienced the largest population growth in 2008-09. The outer northern SSD of Gungahlin-Hall grew by 2,900 people (7.5%), Belconnen SSD by 1,300 people (1.4%) and North Canberra SSD by 740 people (1.6%). The population of the southern SSD of Tuggeranong grew the least, with an increase of 150 people (0.2%).

For the second year in a row, the combined population of the northern SSDs (179,000 people) was greater than that of the combined southern SSDs (173,200).

POPULATION GROWTH

Growth in the ACT

In 2008-09 the three SLAs that grew the most in the ACT were in the northern suburbs of Canberra.

Amaroo, on the northern edge of Canberra, had the largest population increase of 600 people. The nearby SLAs of Franklin and Harrison also recorded large increases (560 and 530 people respectively).

While the vast majority of population growth in 2008-09 was in the SLAs of the Gungahlin-Hall SSD, there were also noticeable population increases in other SLAs in the ACT. Of the established suburbs, City experienced the fastest annual increase, up 22.4% over the year, followed by O'Malley (7.3%), Macgregor (6.8%) and Bonython (6.5%).


Growth in the surrounding region

Population growth in NSW LGAs located on the borders of the ACT, from which many people commute to work in Canberra, continued in 2008-09. The population of Queanbeyan (C) increased by 880 people, Palerang (A) by 410 and Yass Valley (A) by 340.

SLAs WITH LARGEST POPULATION GROWTH, Australian Capital Territory
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2009p	2008r-2009p
SLA	no.	no.	%
Amaroo	7 000	600	9.5
Franklin	900	560	184.5
Harrison	4 200	530	14.5
Forde	400	290	206.4
Nicholls	7 600	270	3.6

POPULATION DECLINE

While most SLAs in the ACT grew in population in 2008-09, slight population decreases occurred in about one-quarter of the SLAs in the ACT, with more than half of these in Canberra's south. The largest population decreases occurred in the southern SLAs of Gordon (down 80 people), Fadden (50) and Kambah (40).

POPULATION DENSITY

The population density of the ACT at June 2009 was 150 people per square kilometre (sq km), the greatest of all states and territories. The population density of the Canberra SD was 440 people per sq km, higher than Australian capital cities combined (370).

The SLAs within the Canberra SD with the highest population density at June 2009 were Palmerston (3,100 people per sq km), Braddon (3,000) and Amaroo (2,700). A number of SLAs within the Canberra SD recorded a decrease in population density in this period. The largest decreases occurred in the inner SLAs of Duntroon (down 50 people per sq km), Aranda and Gordon (both down 20).

In the 12 months to June 2009, the largest increases in population density within the Canberra SD occurred in Franklin (up 240 people per sq km), Amaroo (230) and Harrison (180).

CENTRE OF POPULATION

The centre of population in the ACT at June 2009 was west of the Royal Canberra Golf Course, in the suburb of Yarralumla. In the five years to June 2009 the centre of population moved 0.6 kilometres north-north-east. This reflects population growth in the northern suburbs of Canberra, especially within the Gungahlin-Hall SSD.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA POPULATIONS

For a full list of LGA populations, see the Downloads tab.