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National, state and territory population

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Statistics about the population and components of change (births, deaths, migration) for Australia and its states and territories

Reference period

March 2020

Released

24/09/2020

View all releases

Key statistics

Australia’s population was 25,649,985 people at 31 March 2020.
The quarterly growth was 113,900 people (0.4%).
The annual growth was 357,000 people (1.4%).
38.2% of annual growth was due to natural increase, and 61.8% was due to net overseas migration.

National

Annual population change

In the year ending 31 March 2020, Australia's population grew by 357,000 people (1.4%).

Annual population growth rate(a)(b)
	Annual population change (%)
Mar-00	1.2
Jun-00	1.2
Sep-00	1.2
Dec-00	1.2
Mar-01	1.3
Jun-01	1.3
Sep-01	1.3
Dec-01	1.3
Mar-02	1.2
Jun-02	1.1
Sep-02	1.1
Dec-02	1.1
Mar-03	1.2
Jun-03	1.2
Sep-03	1.2
Dec-03	1.1
Mar-04	1.1
Jun-04	1.1
Sep-04	1.1
Dec-04	1.1
Mar-05	1.2
Jun-05	1.2
Sep-05	1.3
Dec-05	1.3
Mar-06	1.4
Jun-06	1.4
Sep-06	1.5
Dec-06	1.6
Mar-07	1.7
Jun-07	1.8
Sep-07	1.9
Dec-07	1.9
Mar-08	2.0
Jun-08	2.0
Sep-08	2.1
Dec-08	2.2
Mar-09	2.1
Jun-09	2.1
Sep-09	2.0
Dec-09	1.8
Mar-10	1.7
Jun-10	1.6
Sep-10	1.5
Dec-10	1.4
Mar-11	1.4
Jun-11	1.4
Sep-11	1.5
Dec-11	1.6
Mar-12	1.7
Jun-12	1.8
Sep-12	1.8
Dec-12	1.8
Mar-13	1.8
Jun-13	1.7
Sep-13	1.7
Dec-13	1.6
Mar-14	1.6
Jun-14	1.5
Sep-14	1.5
Dec-14	1.5
Mar-15	1.5
Jun-15	1.5
Sep-15	1.5
Dec-15	1.5
Mar-16	1.5
Jun-16	1.6
Sep-16	1.7
Dec-16	1.7
Mar-17	1.7
Jun-17	1.7
Sep-17	1.7
Dec-17	1.6
Mar-18	1.6
Jun-18	1.6
Sep-18	1.6
Dec-18	1.6
Mar-19	1.6
Jun-19	1.5
Sep-19	1.5
Dec-19	1.5
Mar-20	1.4

Annual population growth rate(a)(b)

["","Annual population change"]

[["Mar-00","Jun-00","Sep-00","Dec-00","Mar-01","Jun-01","Sep-01","Dec-01","Mar-02","Jun-02","Sep-02","Dec-02","Mar-03","Jun-03","Sep-03","Dec-03","Mar-04","Jun-04","Sep-04","Dec-04","Mar-05","Jun-05","Sep-05","Dec-05","Mar-06","Jun-06","Sep-06","Dec-06","Mar-07","Jun-07","Sep-07","Dec-07","Mar-08","Jun-08","Sep-08","Dec-08","Mar-09","Jun-09","Sep-09","Dec-09","Mar-10","Jun-10","Sep-10","Dec-10","Mar-11","Jun-11","Sep-11","Dec-11","Mar-12","Jun-12","Sep-12","Dec-12","Mar-13","Jun-13","Sep-13","Dec-13","Mar-14","Jun-14","Sep-14","Dec-14","Mar-15","Jun-15","Sep-15","Dec-15","Mar-16","Jun-16","Sep-16","Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20"],[[1.1499999999999999],[1.1499999999999999],[1.1599999999999999],[1.1699999999999999],[1.26],[1.29],[1.27],[1.28],[1.1899999999999999],[1.1399999999999999],[1.1399999999999999],[1.1299999999999999],[1.1499999999999999],[1.1599999999999999],[1.1499999999999999],[1.1299999999999999],[1.1100000000000001],[1.0700000000000001],[1.0900000000000001],[1.1000000000000001],[1.1699999999999999],[1.22],[1.28],[1.3200000000000001],[1.3500000000000001],[1.3600000000000001],[1.47],[1.5600000000000001],[1.6899999999999999],[1.8400000000000001],[1.8600000000000001],[1.8799999999999999],[1.96],[2.02],[2.1099999999999999],[2.1899999999999999],[2.1400000000000001],[2.0800000000000001],[1.98],[1.8200000000000001],[1.6799999999999999],[1.5700000000000001],[1.45],[1.3999999999999999],[1.3899999999999999],[1.3999999999999999],[1.49],[1.5800000000000001],[1.6699999999999999],[1.76],[1.79],[1.8],[1.78],[1.74],[1.6899999999999999],[1.6100000000000001],[1.5800000000000001],[1.5],[1.48],[1.47],[1.45],[1.45],[1.45],[1.46],[1.51],[1.5700000000000001],[1.6499999999999999],[1.6899999999999999],[1.72],[1.7],[1.6499999999999999],[1.5700000000000001],[1.55],[1.55],[1.5700000000000001],[1.6100000000000001],[1.5800000000000001],[1.53],[1.48],[1.45],[1.4099999999999999]]]

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Annual growth calculated at the end of each quarter.
All data after 30 June 2016 is subject to revision.

Australia's population growth is comprised of natural increase (births minus deaths) and net overseas migration (migration arrivals minus migration departures).

Components of quarterly population change

In the March 2020 quarter, natural increase:

was 35,400 people
increased by 1,100 people since the previous quarter

In the March 2020 quarter, net overseas migration:

was 78,500 people
increased by 38,200 people since the previous quarter

Components of quarterly population change
	Total growth	Natural increase	Net overseas migration
Mar-16	118,844	42,678	73,013
Jun-16	87,482	39,007	43,566
Sep-16	108,946	35,289	73,657
Dec-16	89,831	36,238	53,593
Mar-17	128,671	39,902	88,769
Jun-17	83,505	36,173	47,332
Sep-17	100,022	30,290	69,732
Dec-17	71,468	35,640	35,828
Mar-18	125,281	40,176	85,105
Jun-18	84,057	36,498	47,559
Sep-18	107,012	33,184	73,828
Dec-18	81,591	35,863	45,728
Mar-19	121,676	38,122	83,554
Jun-19	71,140	34,550	36,590
Sep-19	97,357	32,258	65,099
Dec-19	74,609	34,291	40,318
Mar-20	113,912	35,409	78,503

Components of quarterly population change

["","Total growth","Natural increase","Net overseas migration"]

[["Mar-16","Jun-16","Sep-16","Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20"],[[118844],[87482],[108946],[89831],[128671],[83505],[100022],[71468],[125281],[84057],[107012],[81591],[121676],[71140],[97357],[74609],[113912]],[[42678],[39007],[35289],[36238],[39902],[36173],[30290],[35640],[40176],[36498],[33184],[35863],[38122],[34550],[32258],[34291],[35409]],[[73013],[43566],[73657],[53593],[88769],[47332],[69732],[35828],[85105],[47559],[73828],[45728],[83554],[36590],[65099],[40318],[78503]]]

[]

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Components of annual population change

In the year ending 31 March 2020, natural increase:

was 136,500 people
decreased by 7,200 people (5.0%) since the previous year
contributed 38.2% to Australia's annual population growth

In the year ending 31 March 2020, net overseas migration:

was 220,500 people
decreased by 30,200 people (12.0%) since the previous year
contributed 61.8% to Australia's annual population growth

Components of annual population change(a)
	Total growth	Natural increase	Net overseas migration
Mar-00	216,186	122,809	106,552
Jun-00	216,538	122,077	107,275
Sep-00	218,360	121,035	109,456
Dec-00	221,826	121,831	111,441
Mar-01	238,470	120,435	128,796
Jun-01	245,899	120,306	135,673
Sep-01	243,067	121,430	131,490
Dec-01	245,425	118,978	136,076
Mar-02	228,169	119,918	117,651
Jun-02	220,509	119,120	110,556
Sep-02	219,764	115,874	112,733
Dec-02	218,980	117,024	110,475
Mar-03	223,278	115,779	115,694
Jun-03	225,527	116,899	116,498
Sep-03	224,558	118,327	113,833
Dec-03	221,714	118,944	110,104
Mar-04	217,477	120,541	104,002
Jun-04	211,985	118,817	99,966
Sep-04	216,248	119,865	103,135
Dec-04	218,848	119,133	106,425
Mar-05	232,448	121,098	118,020
Jun-05	244,122	126,994	123,763
Sep-05	255,050	130,362	130,819
Dec-05	265,540	134,156	137,009
Mar-06	271,579	133,543	143,153
Jun-06	274,122	131,973	146,753
Sep-06	297,555	136,595	166,253
Dec-06	316,004	139,793	182,196
Mar-07	344,685	146,327	205,033
Jun-07	376,656	151,225	232,796
Sep-07	381,878	151,295	238,660
Dec-07	388,574	153,327	244,030
Mar-08	406,111	154,155	261,444
Jun-08	421,577	154,432	277,338
Sep-08	441,889	154,320	298,648
Dec-08	459,504	155,794	315,687
Mar-09	452,748	154,693	310,921
Jun-09	442,454	156,343	299,866
Sep-09	422,039	158,728	278,259
Dec-09	389,998	159,237	246,900
Mar-10	362,421	161,691	218,063
Jun-10	340,097	162,566	196,058
Sep-10	316,314	161,846	175,318
Dec-10	306,846	157,978	172,038
Mar-11	304,661	157,003	173,149
Jun-11	308,274	155,714	180,372
Sep-11	328,369	154,518	194,040
Dec-11	349,728	156,050	206,240
Mar-12	372,185	157,854	219,276
Jun-12	393,441	158,822	231,947
Sep-12	401,151	158,708	239,848
Dec-12	405,826	163,064	240,248
Mar-13	402,061	162,153	237,462
Jun-13	394,664	161,958	230,329
Sep-13	386,309	162,611	221,214
Dec-13	369,754	158,791	208,379
Mar-14	363,189	158,305	202,191
Jun-14	347,557	156,976	187,778
Sep-14	342,670	155,718	183,735
Dec-14	342,554	156,565	182,345
Mar-15	339,436	154,285	181,080
Jun-15	340,309	151,779	184,033
Sep-15	341,370	150,622	184,227
Dec-15	344,250	148,985	186,730
Mar-16	357,796	151,267	195,976
Jun-16	374,912	154,351	206,233
Sep-16	395,582	154,883	229,509
Dec-16	405,103	153,212	243,829
Mar-17	414,930	150,436	259,585
Jun-17	410,953	147,602	263,351
Sep-17	402,029	142,603	259,426
Dec-17	383,666	142,005	241,661
Mar-18	380,276	142,279	237,997
Jun-18	380,828	142,604	238,224
Sep-18	387,818	145,498	242,320
Dec-18	397,941	145,721	252,220
Mar-19	394,336	143,667	250,669
Jun-19	381,419	141,719	239,700
Sep-19	371,764	140,793	230,971
Dec-19	364,782	139,221	225,561
Mar-20	357,018	136,508	220,510

Components of annual population change(a)

["","Total growth","Natural increase","Net overseas migration"]

[["Mar-00","Jun-00","Sep-00","Dec-00","Mar-01","Jun-01","Sep-01","Dec-01","Mar-02","Jun-02","Sep-02","Dec-02","Mar-03","Jun-03","Sep-03","Dec-03","Mar-04","Jun-04","Sep-04","Dec-04","Mar-05","Jun-05","Sep-05","Dec-05","Mar-06","Jun-06","Sep-06","Dec-06","Mar-07","Jun-07","Sep-07","Dec-07","Mar-08","Jun-08","Sep-08","Dec-08","Mar-09","Jun-09","Sep-09","Dec-09","Mar-10","Jun-10","Sep-10","Dec-10","Mar-11","Jun-11","Sep-11","Dec-11","Mar-12","Jun-12","Sep-12","Dec-12","Mar-13","Jun-13","Sep-13","Dec-13","Mar-14","Jun-14","Sep-14","Dec-14","Mar-15","Jun-15","Sep-15","Dec-15","Mar-16","Jun-16","Sep-16","Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20"],[[216186],[216538],[218360],[221826],[238470],[245899],[243067],[245425],[228169],[220509],[219764],[218980],[223278],[225527],[224558],[221714],[217477],[211985],[216248],[218848],[232448],[244122],[255050],[265540],[271579],[274122],[297555],[316004],[344685],[376656],[381878],[388574],[406111],[421577],[441889],[459504],[452748],[442454],[422039],[389998],[362421],[340097],[316314],[306846],[304661],[308274],[328369],[349728],[372185],[393441],[401151],[405826],[402061],[394664],[386309],[369754],[363189],[347557],[342670],[342554],[339436],[340309],[341370],[344250],[357796],[374912],[395582],[405103],[414930],[410953],[402029],[383666],[380276],[380828],[387818],[397941],[394336],[381419],[371764],[364782],[357018]],[[122809],[122077],[121035],[121831],[120435],[120306],[121430],[118978],[119918],[119120],[115874],[117024],[115779],[116899],[118327],[118944],[120541],[118817],[119865],[119133],[121098],[126994],[130362],[134156],[133543],[131973],[136595],[139793],[146327],[151225],[151295],[153327],[154155],[154432],[154320],[155794],[154693],[156343],[158728],[159237],[161691],[162566],[161846],[157978],[157003],[155714],[154518],[156050],[157854],[158822],[158708],[163064],[162153],[161958],[162611],[158791],[158305],[156976],[155718],[156565],[154285],[151779],[150622],[148985],[151267],[154351],[154883],[153212],[150436],[147602],[142603],[142005],[142279],[142604],[145498],[145721],[143667],[141719],[140793],[139221],[136508]],[[106552],[107275],[109456],[111441],[128796],[135673],[131490],[136076],[117651],[110556],[112733],[110475],[115694],[116498],[113833],[110104],[104002],[99966],[103135],[106425],[118020],[123763],[130819],[137009],[143153],[146753],[166253],[182196],[205033],[232796],[238660],[244030],[261444],[277338],[298648],[315687],[310921],[299866],[278259],[246900],[218063],[196058],[175318],[172038],[173149],[180372],[194040],[206240],[219276],[231947],[239848],[240248],[237462],[230329],[221214],[208379],[202191],[187778],[183735],[182345],[181080],[184033],[184227],[186730],[195976],[206233],[229509],[243829],[259585],[263351],[259426],[241661],[237997],[238224],[242320],[252220],[250669],[239700],[230971],[225561],[220510]]]

[]

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Annual components calculated at the end of each quarter.

Births and deaths

Overseas migration arrivals and departures

States and territories

Annual population change

All states and territories, except the Northern Territory, had positive population growth over the year ending 31 March 2020.
Victoria had the highest growth rate (1.8%).
The Northern Territory had the lowest growth rate (-0.2%).

Annual population change by state and territory

	Population at 31 Mar 2020 ('000)	Change over previous year ('000)	Change over previous year (%)
New South Wales	8,157.7	87.8	1.1
Victoria	6,689.4	116.5	1.8
Queensland	5,160.0	85.0	1.7
South Australia	1,767.2	17.9	1.0
Western Australia	2,656.2	39.6	1.5
Tasmania	539.6	6.0	1.1
Northern Territory	245.4	-0.4	-0.2
Australian Capital Territory	429.8	4.6	1.1
Australia (a)	25,650.0	357.0	1.4

a. Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.

State and territory population change is comprised of natural increase, net overseas migration, and net interstate migration (interstate arrivals minus interstate departures).

Components of annual population change

For the year ending 31 March 2020:

natural increase was the major contributor to population change in the Australian Capital Territory
net interstate migration loss was the largest component of population change in the Northern Territory
net overseas migration was the major contributor to population change in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Components of annual population growth
	Natural increase	Net interstate migration	Net overseas migration
NSW	42,543	-22,301	67,569
Vic.	35,333	7,721	73,484
Qld	28,869	24,021	32,105
SA	4,937	-3,176	16,121
WA	18,008	-3,206	24,826
Tas.	1,069	1,254	3,668
NT	2,404	-3,387	576
ACT	3,348	-926	2,141

Components of annual population growth

["","Natural increase","Net interstate migration","Net overseas migration"]

[["NSW","Vic.","Qld","SA","WA","Tas.","NT","ACT"],[[42543],[35333],[28869],[4937],[18008],[1069],[2404],[3348]],[[-22301],[7721],[24021],[-3176],[-3206],[1254],[-3387],[-926]],[[67569],[73484],[32105],[16121],[24826],[3668],[576],[2141]]]

[]

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[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"25000","axis_min":"-25000","axis_max":"100000","axis_title":"","precision":"0","table_units":"","tooltip_units":"","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Natural increase by state and territory

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
Births	98,305	77,911	61,805	19,128	33,150	5,732	3,531	5,421
Deaths	55,762	42,578	32,936	14,191	15,142	4,663	1,127	2,073
Natural increase	42,543	35,333	28,869	4,937	18,008	1,069	2,404	3,348

Net overseas migration by state and territory

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
Overseas arrivals	192,236	170,018	96,079	29,980	53,925	6,852	5,011	10,071
Overseas departures	124,667	96,534	63,974	13,859	29,099	3,184	4,435	7,930
Net overseas migration	67,569	73,484	32,105	16,121	24,826	3,668	576	2,141

Net interstate migration by state and territory

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
Interstate arrivals	92,401	83,475	104,244	24,086	30,949	13,462	13,753	21,140
Interstate departures	114,702	75,754	80,223	27,262	34,155	12,208	17,140	22,066
Net interstate migration	-22,301	7,721	24,021	-3,176	-3,206	1,254	-3,387	-926

Notes

New name and website location for population estimates

On the new ABS website, official population estimates for states, territories and Australia are now found at:

Statistics > People > Population > National, state and territory population

Previous releases are named Australian Demographic Statistics (ABS. cat. no. 3101.0)

COVID-19

Statistics in this release are partially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting Australian Government closure of the international border from 20 March 2020.

To ensure the ongoing production of fit-for-purpose official population estimates through the COVID-19 pandemic, the ABS has been assessing the likely impact of changed traveller behaviour on preliminary Net Overseas Migration (NOM) estimates, a component of ERP. The ABS has introduced more frequent revisions to NOM to ensure the suite of demographic statistics continue to be of high quality, and reflect the most timely data available. Preliminary NOM estimates will be revised every quarter over four quarters, instead of once after four quarters, until it becomes final. These more frequent revisions will ensure the most timely and accurate data flows through to ERP.

It should be noted that the model that underpins the preliminary NOM estimates utilises all available overseas movements data, including some data for April through July 2020. As a result, some impacts from changed traveller behaviour may be observed in this release. For further information see the Information Paper: Improvements to estimation of net overseas migration (cat. no. 3412.0.55.004).

Table changes in National state and territory population datacubes

Population for external territories has moved from table 3 to table 4.
Table 4 - major population regions has moved to table 15 and will be found under 'Regional Population' for the next National, state and territory population release.

Forthcoming issues

Reference period	Release date
June 2020	17 December 2020
September 2020	18 March 2021
December 2020	17 June 2021
March 2021	16 September 2021

Download xls [226 KB]

Population by age and sex - national

Summary statistics of Australia's population by age and sex

Data files

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Standard population

Standard population used in age-standardised rates

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All data cubes

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ABS.Stat datasets

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Quarterly Population Estimates (ERP), by State/Territory, Sex and Age
Interstate Migration by States and Territories of Arrival and Departure by Sex
Population Clock Component Data

History of changes

24/09/2020 3:00 pm (Canberra time)

The ABS has renamed the time series spreadsheets back to their original names. No data has changed.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 3101.0

Methodology

National, state and territory population methodology, March 2020

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APA

National, state and territory population

APA

Key statistics

National

Annual population change

Components of quarterly population change

Components of annual population change

Births and deaths

Births

Deaths

Overseas migration arrivals and departures

Overseas migration arrivals

Overseas migration departures

States and territories

Annual population change

Annual population change by state and territory

Components of annual population change

Natural increase by state and territory

Net overseas migration by state and territory

Net interstate migration by state and territory

Notes

New name and website location for population estimates

COVID-19

Table changes in National state and territory population datacubes

Forthcoming issues

Data downloads - time series spreadsheets

Population and components of change - national

Components of population change - states and territories

Population - states and territories

Interstate migration arrivals

Interstate migration departures

Population - New South Wales

Population - Victoria

Population - Queensland

Population - South Australia

Population - Western Australia

Population - Tasmania

Population - Northern Territory

Population - Australian Capital Territory

Population - Australia

Data downloads - data cubes