MAIN FEATURES


POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 30 September 2010 was 22,408,000 persons, an increase of 345,500 since 30 September 2009 and 78,800 persons since 30 June 2010. The annual population growth rate for the year ended 30 September 2010 was 1.6% and has been declining since the peak of 2.2% for the year ended 31 December 2008 and was the lowest recorded since the year ended 30 September 2006.

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 30 September 2010 was higher for NOM (54%) than for natural increase (46%).

Natural Increase

Natural increase for the 12 months ended 30 September 2010 was 159,800 persons, an increase of 2.1% (or 3,200 persons) compared with natural increase for the year ended 30 September 2009 (156,500 persons).

BIRTHS

The preliminary estimate of births during the year ended 30 September 2010 (301,500) was 1.1% (or 3,200 births) higher than the figure for the year ended 30 September 2009 (298,300).

DEATHS

The preliminary estimate of deaths during the year ended 30 September 2010 (141,700) was 0.1% (or 100 deaths) lower than the figure for the year ended 30 September 2009 (141,800).


Net Overseas Migration

The preliminary estimate for NOM during the September quarter 2010 (42,500) was 29,800 persons (or 41.2%) lower than the estimate for the September quarter 2009 (72,300). The decrease in preliminary NOM between September quarter 2009 and September quarter 2010 was due to a 21,400 decline in NOM Arrivals and a 8,400 increase in NOM Departures. The states with the largest numerical decreases in NOM Arrivals over this period were New South Wales (down 6,800), Victoria (down 6,200), Queensland (down 4,000), Western Australia and South Australia (both down 1,900).

For the year ended 30 September 2010, Australia's preliminary NOM estimate was 185,800 persons. This was the difference between 441,600 overseas arrivals that were added to the population (NOM arrivals) and 255,800 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 30 September 2010 were as follows:

• New South Wales 7,253,400;
• Victoria 5,567,100;
• Queensland 4,532,300;
• South Australia 1,647,800;
• Western Australia 2,306,200;
• Tasmania 508,500;
• Northern Territory 230,200; and
• Australian Capital Territory 359,700.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth over the 12 months ended 30 September 2010. Western Australia recorded the fastest growth rate (2.1%), followed by Queensland (1.8%), Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (both 1.7%), New South Wales and the Northern Territory (both 1.3%), South Australia (1.1%) and Tasmania (0.8%).


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 30 September 2010, the proportion that each of these components contributed to population growth varied between the states and territories.

Natural Increase

As illustrated in the graph above, for the year ended 30 September 2010, natural increase was the major component of population growth in Queensland, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

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 30 September 2010 increased in most states and territories, with decreases recorded for Victoria and Tasmania. Compared with the previous year, the Australian Capital Territory recorded the largest proportional increase (4.9%), followed by Western Australia (2.4%) and New South Wales (2.3%). The number of registered births decreased by 3.9% in Tasmania and 1.5% in Victoria. For more information, see table 13.

DEATHS

The total number of deaths registered for the 12 months ended 30 September 2010 remained relatively stable in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Compared with the previous year, there was a decrease in the Australian Capital Territory (down 3.5%) and increases in Tasmania (up 5.5%) and Western Australia (up 4.6%). For more information, see table 14.


Net Overseas Migration

All states and territories recorded positive net overseas migration (NOM) for the year ended 30 September 2010. NOM was the major component of population growth for South Australia at 76% (13,200 persons), New South Wales at 59% (56,100 persons) and Victoria at 58% (52,300 persons). For more information, see table 16.


Net Interstate Migration

Queensland recorded the highest gains from net interstate migration (NIM) for the year ended 30 September 2010 (8,400 persons). Other states and territories which recorded net gains were Western Australia (3,000 persons), Victoria (2,700 persons), Tasmania (360 persons) and the Australian Capital Territory (350 persons). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (10,300 persons), South Australia (3,300 persons) and the Northern Territory (1,200 persons). For more information, see table 19.