Australia's population grew by 1.5 per cent during the year ending 30 June 2019, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The population at 30 June 2019 was 25.4 million people, following an annual increase of 381,600 people.
This is almost identical to the 380,800 people the year before.
This means that as a percentage this figure is marginally down, but at 1.53% population growth remains fairly steady.
Natural increase accounted for 37.5 per cent of annual population growth, while net overseas migration accounted for the remaining 62.5 per cent.
There were 303,900 births and 160,600 deaths registered in Australia during the year ending 30 June 2019.
Natural increase during this period was 143,300 people, an increase of 0.5 per cent from the previous year.
There were 536,000 overseas migration arrivals and 297,700 departures during the year ending 30 June 2019, resulting in net overseas migration of 238,300 people.
Net overseas migration did not change compared to the previous year.
The key stats:
- The lion’s share of overseas migrants still come into NSW and Victoria, with slightly more into NSW – but Victoria adds more people due to having positive interstate migration.
- NSW is losing large numbers of people interstate – mainly to Queensland.
- Queensland’s growth is strong (+1.7%) with increasing interstate migration.
- WA is slowly returning to population growth,
- Tasmania continues to grow at a rate not seen for decades, adding almost 6,000 people a year, and with a faster growth rate than SA and WA.
For all the talk of cutting migration rates, the number of net migrants in Australia was almost identical to the previous year.
Source: ABS
Australian annual population growth – 1997-2019
Victoria remains the fastest-growing state, at 2.05%.
Victoria has held this spot now for the past 6 years straight and shows no sign of letting go!
The following graphics from demographers id.com.au highlight the trends.
Source: id.com.au