3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Dec 2009 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/06/2010   
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MAIN FEATURES


POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 31 December 2009 was 22,155,000 persons, an increase of 432,600 since 31 December 2008 and 89,800 persons since 30 September 2009. The annual population growth rate for the year ended 31 December 2009 was 2.0% and has been declining since the peak of 2.2% for the year ended 31 December 2008.

ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a), Australia
Graph: ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a), Australia



COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE

The growth of Australia's population has two components: natural increase (the number of births minus the number of deaths) and net overseas migration (NOM).

The contribution to population growth for the year ended 31 December 2009 was higher for NOM (64%) than for natural increase (36%)

COMPONENTS OF ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH(a), Australia
Graph: COMPONENTS OF ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH(a), Australia



Natural Increase

Natural increase for the 12 months ended 31 December 2009 was 154,900 persons, a decline of 2.2% (or 3,500 persons) compared with natural increase for the year ended 31 December 2008 (158,400 persons).

BIRTHS

The preliminary estimate for births during the year ended 31 December 2009 (295,700) was 1.5% (or 4,500 births) lower than the figure for the year ended 31 December 2008 (300,200).

DEATHS

The preliminary estimate for deaths during the year ended 31 December 2009 (140,800) was 0.7% (or 1,000 deaths) lower than the figure for the year ended 31 December 2008 (141,800).


Net Overseas Migration

The preliminary estimate for NOM during the December quarter 2009 (49,200) was 19,700 persons (or 28.6%) lower than the estimate for the December quarter 2008 (68,800).

For the year ended 31 December 2009, Australia's preliminary NOM estimate was 277,700 persons. This was the difference between 508,000 overseas arrivals that were added to the population (NOM arrivals) and 230,300 overseas departures that were subtracted from the population (NOM departures).


STATES AND TERRITORIES: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The estimated resident populations for the states and territories at 31 December 2009 were as follows:
  • New South Wales 7,191,500;
  • Victoria 5,496,400;
  • Queensland 4,473,000;
  • South Australia 1,633,900;
  • Western Australia 2,270,300;
  • Tasmania 505,400;
  • Northern Territory 227,700; and
  • Australian Capital Territory 354,900.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth over the 12 months ended 31 December 2009. Western Australia recorded the fastest growth rate (2.7%), followed by Queensland (2.4%), the Northern Territory (2.2%), Victoria (2.1%), the Australian Capital Territory (1.8%), New South Wales (1.6%), South Australia (1.3%) and Tasmania (0.9%).


COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE

At the state and territory level, population growth has three components: natural increase, net overseas migration and net interstate migration.

Although all states and territories experienced positive population growth in the year ended 31 December 2009, the proportion that each of these components contributed to population growth varied between the states and territories.

Population Components as a proportion of total growth(a) - Year ended 31 December 2009
Graph: Population Components as a proportion of total growth(a)—Year ended  31 December 2009



Natural Increase

As illustrated in the graph above, for the year ended 31 December 2009, natural increase was the major component of population growth in the Northern Territory at 58% (2,800 persons) and Tasmania at 55% (2,400 persons).

Estimates of births and deaths are subject to fluctuations caused by lags or accumulations in the reporting of birth and death registrations (for more information see paragraphs 10-11 of the Explanatory Notes).

BIRTHS

The total number of births registered for the 12 months ended 31 December 2009 increased in the Australian Capital Territory (2.8%), Queensland (1.4%) and Victoria (1.1%) compared with the previous year. Decreases in the number of births registered were recorded in New South Wales (down 6.2%), the Northern Territory (down 2.9%) and South Australia (down 1.0%). The number of births recorded in the remaining states were relatively stable compared with the previous year. For more information, see table 13.

DEATHS

The total number of deaths registered for the 12 months ended 31 December 2009 increased in Tasmania (2.9%) and Victoria (1.0%) compared with the previous year. Decreases in the number of deaths registered were recorded in the Northern Territory (down 7.8%), New South Wales (down 2.6%) and South Australia (down 1.5%). The number of deaths recorded in the remaining states and territories were relatively stable compared with the previous year. For more information, see table 14.


Net Overseas Migration

All states and territories recorded positive net overseas migration (NOM) for the year ended 31 December 2009. NOM was the major component of population growth for South Australia at 82% (17,300 persons), New South Wales at 72% (83,800 persons), Victoria at 68% (77,500 persons), Western Australia at 65% (38,100 persons), the Australian Capital Territory at 59% (3,800 persons) and Queensland at 50% (53,300 persons).


Net Interstate Migration

Queensland recorded the highest net gains from interstate migration for the year ended 31 December 2009 (13,500 persons). Other states and territories which recorded net gains were Western Australia (2,300 persons), Victoria (1,800 persons) and the Northern Territory (190 persons). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (13,800 persons) and South Australia (3,300 persons). Small net losses were estimated for the Australian Capital Territory (600 persons) and Tasmania (50 persons).

Interstate Migration, Arrivals, Departures and Net-States and territories - Year ended 31 December 2009
Graph: Interstate Migration, Arrivals, Departures and Net—States and territories—Year ended 31 December 2009