3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2013 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/03/2014   
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MAIN FEATURES COMMENTARY


ANNUAL POPULATION CHANGE - YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2013


AUSTRALIA: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 30 September 2013 was 23,235,800 people. This reflects an increase of 405,400 people since 30 September 2012 and 100,600 people since 30 June 2013.

The annual population growth rate for the year ended 30 September 2013 was 1.8%.

ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a)(b), Australia
Graph: ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a)(b), 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 30 September 2013 was higher from net overseas migration (59%) than from natural increase (41%). The NOM share of this growth decreased slightly from 60% for the previous year ending 30 September 2012, whilst correspondingly the natural increase share increased slightly from 40% over the same period.

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



Natural Increase

Estimated natural increase for the year ended 30 September 2013 was 164,400 people, an increase of 2.9%, or 4,700 people, compared with natural increase for the year ended 30 September 2012 (159,700 people).

Births

The preliminary estimate of births for the year ended 30 September 2013 (310,600 births) remained fairly stable, increasing by 100 births from the year ended 30 September 2012 (310,500 births).

Deaths

The preliminary estimate of deaths for the year ended 30 September 2013 (146,200 deaths) was 3.1%, or 4,600 deaths, lower than the figure for the year ended 30 September 2012 (150,800 deaths).


Net Overseas Migration

For the year ended 30 September 2013, Australia's preliminary net overseas migration (NOM) estimate was 241,000 people. This was 1.0% (2,400 people) higher than the net overseas migration estimated for the year ended 30 September 2012 (238,600 people).

NOM arrivals increased by 4.1% (20,100 people) between the years ended 30 September 2012 (491,500 people) and 30 September 2013 (511,600 people).

NOM departures increased by 7.0% (17,700 people) between the years ended 30 September 2012 (252,900 people) and 30 September 2013 (270,600 people).

The preliminary net overseas migration estimate for the September quarter 2013 (61,200 people) was 5.2% (3,400 people) lower than the estimate for the September quarter 2012 (64,600 people).


STATES AND TERRITORIES: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The estimated resident population for each state and territory at 30 September 2013 was as follows:
  • New South Wales 7,439,200;
  • Victoria 5,768,600;
  • Queensland 4,676,400;
  • South Australia 1,674,700;
  • Western Australia 2,535,700;
  • Tasmania 513,400;
  • Northern Territory 241,800; and
  • Australian Capital Territory 382,900.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth in the year ended 30 September 2013. Western Australia continued to record the fastest growth rate of all states and territories at 3.1%. Tasmania recorded the slowest growth rate at 0.2%.


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 2013, the proportion that each of these components contributed to population growth varied between the states and territories.

For the year ended 30 September 2013, natural increase was the major component of population change in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Net overseas migration was the major component of population change in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. A net interstate migration loss was the largest contributor to population change in Tasmania. Net interstate migration losses were also recorded in New South Wales, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.


Natural Increase

Births

The total number of births registered for the year ended 30 September 2013 increased moderately in half of the states and territories when compared to the previous year. The largest percentage increase of registered births was recorded in Western Australia at 2.6% (an increase of 900 births). This was followed by the Australian Capital Territory (2.4%), Victoria (1.4%) and the Northern Territory (0.2%). The remaining states and territories recorded decreases in numbers of births. The largest percentage decrease of registered births was recorded in Tasmania, decreasing by 4.3% (300 births), followed by New South Wales (down 1.1%), Queensland (down 0.8%) and South Australia (down 0.3%). For more information, see table 13.

Deaths

The total number of deaths registered for the year ended 30 September 2013 decreased for most of the states and territories when compared to the previous year. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in New South Wales, decreasing by 7.0% (3,700 deaths). This was followed by the Australian Capital Territory (down 4.7%), Queensland (down 1.7%) and Victoria (down 1.3%). Moderate increases in registered deaths were recorded for the remaining states and territories with the largest percentage increase recorded in the Northern Territory at 4.6% (50 deaths). For more information, see table 14.

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).


Net Overseas Migration

All states and territories recorded positive net overseas migration (NOM) for the year ending 30 September 2013. However, only half of the states and territories recorded an increase in NOM when compared to the previous year, with New South Wales recording the largest numerical increase over the last four quarters at 9,700 people (16.0%), followed by Victoria at 6,000 people (10.7%). Moderate increases were recorded for South Australia (up 400 people) and Tasmania (up 200 people). The largest numerical decrease in NOM was recorded in Western Australia, decreasing by 7,100 people. Moderate decreases were recorded for the Northern Territory (down 500 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (down 400 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM arrivals

Compared with the previous year ended 30 September 2012, most states and territories recorded increases in NOM arrivals. New South Wales recorded the largest percentage and numerical increase at 8.8% (13,200 people), followed by Victoria at 8.5% (9,900 people). Moderate increases were recorded for Tasmania (up 5.5%), the Northern Territory (up 5.0%) and South Australia (up 3.2%). The largest numerical decrease was recorded for Western Australia at 2,400 people (2.8%), followed by Queensland (down 1,500 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (300 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM departures

Compared with the previous year ended 30 September 2012, all states and territories recorded increases in NOM departures except for Tasmania, which recorded a slight decrease of 1.5%. The largest numerical increase was recorded for Western Australia at 4,600 people (15.3%). This was closely followed by Queensland (4,500 people) and Victoria (3,900 people). For more information, see table 16.


Net Interstate Migration

Victoria recorded the highest gains from net interstate migration (NIM) for the year ended 30 September 2013 (6,900 people), closely followed by Western Australia (6,800 people) and Queensland (6,700 people). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (12,400 people), South Australia (3,900 people), Tasmania (1,800 people), the Northern Territory (1,500 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (900 people). For more information, see table 17.

Interstate migration, Arrivals, Departures and Net - States and Territories - Year ending September 2013
Graph: Interstate migration, Arrivals, Departures and Net—States and Territories—Year ending September 2013