Australian Bureau of Statistics

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MARCH KEY FIGURES

	Population at end Mar qtr 2009	Change over previous year	Change over previous year
PRELIMINARY DATA	'000	'000	%
New South Wales	7 076.5	112.5	1.6
Victoria	5 402.6	111.9	2.1
Queensland	4 380.4	112.7	2.6
South Australia	1 618.2	18.6	1.2
Western Australia	2 224.3	67.6	3.1
Tasmania	501.8	5.0	1.0
Northern Territory	223.1	4.8	2.2
Australian Capital Territory	349.9	6.0	1.8
Australia(a)	21 779.1	439.1	2.1
(a) Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Population growth

Population Growth Rate, Year ended current quarter

• The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 31 March 2009 was 21,779,000 persons. This was an increase of 439,100 persons (2.1%) since 31 March 2008 and 135,100 persons since 31 December 2008.
• Preliminary natural increase recorded for the year ended 31 March 2009 (160,800) was 15.2% (or 21,200 persons) higher than the natural increase recorded for the year ended 31 March 2008 (139,700).
• Preliminary net overseas migration for the year ended 31 March 2009 was 278,200 persons.

• Australia's population grew by 2.1% during the 12 months ended 31 March 2009. Natural increase and net overseas migration contributed 37% and 63% respectively to this total population growth.
• All states and territories experienced positive population growth over the 12 months ended 31 March 2009. Western Australia recorded the largest percentage gain (3.1%) and Tasmania the smallest (1.0%).