WESTERN AUSTRALIA


State summary

Population change in Perth

Population change in the remainder of Western Australia

Population density

Centre of population

Local government area populations


STATE SUMMARY

At June 2010, the estimated resident population of Western Australia (WA) reached 2.29 million people, representing just over 10% of Australia's population.

The year to June 2010 saw a flattening of WA's growth rate to 2.2% (an increase of 49,100 people). While this was still the fastest growth of all of the states and territories, it was considerably slower than it had been in the previous year (3.1%). The majority of this increase was derived from net overseas migration.

POPULATION CHANGE IN PERTH

In the year to June 2010, Perth SD experienced the state's largest population growth, increasing by 37,500 people. This SD accounted for just over three-quarters of WA's growth between June 2009 and June 2010, and was home to just under three-quarters of the state's population in June 2010.

The largest population growth continued to occur in the outer suburban fringes of Perth SD. The northern coastal LGA of Wanneroo (C) increased by 6,000 people in the year to June 2010, while the southern coastal LGA of Rockingham (C) increased by 3,900. Strong growth was also recorded for Stirling (C), an inner LGA which also abuts the coast (3,300 people), Swan (C) to the north of the city (2,900), and Armadale (C) to the south-east (2,800). Together, these five LGAs accounted for more than one-third of the growth across the state in 2009-10. No LGAs in Perth SD experienced population decline in the year to June 2010.

In Perth SD, the fastest-growing LGAs in 2009-10 were Perth (C) (up by 5.1%), Armadale (C) (4.9%), and Serpentine-Jarradale (S) (4.4%).

The growth in Stirling (C) took this LGA's population past the milestone of 200,000 people at June 2010. Nearly 12% of the population in metropolitan Perth resided in this LGA.

LGAs WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH, Western Australia
	ERP at 30 June	Population Change
	2010p	2009r-2010p
LGA	no.	no.	%
LARGEST GROWTH
Wanneroo (C)	150 100	6 000	4.2
Rockingham (C)	104 100	3 900	3.9
Stirling (C)	202 000	3 300	1.6
Swan (C)	113 000	2 900	2.7
Armadale (C)	61 000	2 800	4.9
FASTEST GROWTH(a)
Capel (S)	13 400	690	5.4
Perth (C)	18 000	870	5.1
Armadale (C)	61 000	2 800	4.9
Chittering (S)	4 500	210	4.9
Serpentine-Jarrahdale (S)	17 200	730	4.4
(a) Excludes LGAs with a population of less than 2,000 at June 2009.

POPULATION CHANGE IN THE REMAINDER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

In the 12 months to June 2010, the population outside of the Perth metropolitan area grew by 2.0%, to 597,400. This was 26% of the state's total.

South West SD was the state's fastest-growing, increasing by 3.0% in 2009-10. Just over half of the LGAs in South West SD experienced growth rates above the state average (2.2%) in this period, with Capel (S) recording the fastest growth in the state (5.4%). The shires of Murray (4.3%) and Busselton (4.1%) also had growth rates well above the state average. The LGA of Mandurah (C) had the largest growth in the region, increasing by 2,200 people in 2009-10.

The Pilbara was the second fastest-growing SD (equal with Perth SD), growing by 2.3% in 2009-10. Port Hedland (T) was both the largest and fastest growing LGA in this SD, increasing by 560 people or 4.0%. Kimberley SD was the next fastest-growing SD in the state (2.0%), with growth in the LGA of Broome (S) attributable for nearly two-thirds of the increase in this region.

Upper Great Southern SD was the only SD in WA not to experience population growth in the year to June 2010, with just over half of the LGAs in this SD experiencing slight declines in population.

POPULATION DENSITY

WA's population density at June 2010 was 0.9 people per square kilometre (sq km). This compares with 2.9 people per sq km for Australia as a whole. Most of the state had a very low population density, with over half of the SLAs in WA (comprising 97% of the total area of the state) having less than one person per sq km.

The population density of Perth SD was 310 people per sq km at June 2010. This was lower than the density of Australia's capital cities combined (370 people per sq km). South Eastern SD (which includes Kalgoorlie) was the most sparsely populated in the state, followed by the Kimberley and the Pilbara; each having a population density of less than 0.1 person per sq km.

At June 2010, the SLAs with the highest population densities within Perth SD were Vincent (T) (2,700 people per sq km), Subiaco (C) (also 2,700) and East Fremantle (T) (2,400). South Perth (C), Mosman Park (T), Cottesloe (T) and Stirling (C) - South-Eastern also had densities of more than 2,000 people per sq km. All of these SLAs had an area of less than 20 square kilometres.

Between June 2009 and June 2010, the largest increases in population density within Perth SD occurred in the SLAs of Perth (C) - Inner (up 80 people per sq km), Perth (C) - Remainder (up 70) and Victoria Park (T) (up 40).

CENTRE OF POPULATION

At June 2010, the centre of population for WA was in the Avon Valley National Park, in the LGA of Toodyay (S). In the five years to June 2010, the centre moved approximately 2.5 kilometres south-west, reflecting strong population growth in Perth.

The centre of population for Perth SD at June 2010 was in the Swan River, between the Perth central business district and South Perth.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA POPULATIONS

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