3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Mar 2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/09/2011   
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MAIN FEATURES


AUSTRALIA: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 31 March 2011 was 22,546,300 persons. This is an increase of 312,400 persons since the year ending 31 March 2010 and 98,000 persons since 31 December 2010. The annual population growth rate for the year ended 31 March 2011 was 1.4%. This reflects a decline from the peak of 2.2% for the year ended 31 December 2008, and is the lowest recorded since the year ended 30 September 2005.

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 March 2011 was higher for NOM (54%) than for natural increase (46%).

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



Natural Increase

Natural increase for the year ended 31 March 2011 was 145,200 persons, a decrease of 6.1%, or 9,400 persons when compared with natural increase for the year ended 31 March 2010 (154,600 persons). This decrease was due to a decrease in the number of births and an increase in the number of deaths.

Births

The preliminary estimate of births for the year ended 31 March 2011 (291,800 births) was 1.4%, or 4,100 births, lower than the figure for the year ended 31 March 2010 (295,900 births).

Deaths

The preliminary estimate of deaths for the year ended 31 March 2011 (146,600 deaths) was 3.8%, or 5,400 deaths, higher than the figure for the year ended 31 March 2010 (141,200 deaths).


Net Overseas Migration

For the year ended 31 March 2011, Australia's preliminary NOM estimate was 167,100 persons. This was 24% (52,800 persons) lower than the NOM recorded for the year ended 31 March 2010 (220,000 persons).

The recent decline in NOM is due to both a decrease in NOM arrivals and an increase in NOM departures for the year ended 31 March 2011 from the previous year.

NOM arrivals decreased by 8% (37,600 persons) between the years ended 31 March 2010 (460,600 persons) and 31 March 2011 (423,000 persons). This reflects a continuing decline in NOM arrivals since the peak of 536,000 persons recorded for the year ended 31 December 2008. It was the lowest number of NOM arrivals since the year ended 31 March 2005 (422,300 persons).

NOM departures increased by 6% (15,300 persons) between the years ended 31 March 2010 (240,600 persons) and 31 March 2011 (255,900 persons). This trend is reflected in comparisons between this reference quarter and the same quarter of the previous five years.

The preliminary NOM estimate for the March quarter 2011 (57,800 persons) was 6% (3,900 persons) lower than the estimate for the March quarter 2010 (61,800 persons). The decrease between March quarter 2010 and March quarter 2011 was the result of a 8,900 persons decline in NOM arrivals and a 5,000 persons increase in NOM departures.


STATES AND TERRITORIES: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The estimated resident population for each state and territory at 31 March 2011 was as follows:
  • New South Wales 7,287,600;
  • Victoria 5,605,600;
  • Queensland 4,561,700;
  • South Australia 1,654,200;
  • Western Australia 2,331,500;
  • Tasmania 510,200;
  • Northern Territory 229,200; and
  • Australian Capital Territory 363,800.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth in the year ended 31 March 2011. Western Australia continued to record the fastest growth rate of all states and territories with 2.2%. The Northern Territory recorded the slowest growth rate at 0.4%.


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 March 2011, the proportion that each of these components contributed to population growth varied between the states and territories.

For the year ended 31 March 2011, natural increase was the major component of population change in the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland and NOM was the major component of population change in South Australia, followed by New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Negative Net Interstate Migration was recorded in New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.


Natural Increase

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 year ended 31 March 2011 decreased in all states and territories, except for Western Australia, when compared with the previous year. The largest percentage decrease of registered births was recorded in the Northern Territory at 7.1% (280 births). Western Australia recorded a small increase of 0.1% (40 births) since the year ended 31 March 2010. For more information, see table 13.

Deaths

The total number of deaths registered for the year ended 31 March 2011 increased for all states and territories when compared with the previous year. The largest percentage increase was recorded by Victoria at 7% (2,400 deaths). Western Australia recorded the smallest percentage increase in deaths for year ended 31 March 2011 with an increase of 0.2% (30 deaths). For more information, see table 14.


Net Overseas Migration

All states and territories recorded positive net overseas migration (NOM) for the year ended 31 March 2011. However, when compared to the previous year, all states and territories recorded a decrease in NOM. Proportionally, the Northern Territory recorded the largest decrease at 49% (700 persons), while Western Australia recorded the smallest decrease at 0.3% (100 persons). For more information, see table 16.

NOM arrivals

When compared to the year ended 31 March 2010, all states and territories, except for Western Australia, recorded decreases in NOM arrivals. The largest percentage decrease was recorded by South Australia at 20% (5,400 persons). Western Australia recorded an increase of 1% (400 persons). For more information, see table 16.

NOM departures

Conversely, all states and territories, except for the Northern Territory, recorded increases in NOM departures. The largest percentage increase were recorded by Victoria and South Australia at 10% each (5,400 and 1,000 persons respectively). The Northern Territory recorded a decrease of 1% (30 persons) in NOM departures. For more information, see table 16.


Net Interstate Migration

Queensland recorded the highest gains from net interstate migration (NIM) for the year ended 31 March 2011 (7,400 persons). Other states and territories which recorded net gains were Western Australia (5,000 persons), Victoria (3,400 persons), the Australian Capital Territory (1,300 persons) and Tasmania (170 persons). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (12,200 persons), South Australia (2,700 persons) and the Northern Territory (2,400 persons). For more information, see table 19.

INTERSTATE MIGRATION, Arrivals, Departures and Net - Year ended - 31 March 2011
Graph: INTERSTATE MIGRATION, Arrivals, Departures and Net—Year ended—31 March 2011