1307.8 - Australian Capital Territory in Focus, 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/11/2007  Ceased
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Contents >> People >> Population and Growth

POPULATION AND GROWTH

Estimated resident population

At 30 June 2006, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had an estimated resident population (ERP) of 334,200 persons, with 333,900 being in the Canberra Statistical Division. The Canberra-Queanbeyan Statistical District, with a population of 381,400 persons at June 2006 (1.8% of Australia's total population), is the eighth largest major population centre in Australia and larger than the capital cities of Hobart and Darwin.

5.1 Estimated resident population(a), Major population regions(b) - 30 June 2006

Population
Proportion of total Australian population
no.
%

Capital city statistical divisions

Sydney
4 284 379
20.7
Melbourne
3 744 373
18.1
Brisbane
1 820 400
8.8
Adelaide
1 146 119
5.5
Perth
1 519 510
7.3
Hobart
205 566
1.0
Darwin
114 368
0.6
Canberra
333 940
1.6

Statistical Districts

Gold Coast-Tweed (QLD/NSW)
565 256
2.7
Newcastle (NSW)
517 496
2.5
Canberra-Queanbeyan (ACT/NSW)
381 397
1.8
Wollongong (NSW)
227 972
1.1
Sunshine Coast (QLD)
224 127
1.1
Geelong (VIC)
167 802
0.8
Townsville (QLD)
152 954
0.7
Cairns (QLD)
131 564
0.6
Toowoomba (QLD)
121 894
0.6
Launceston (TAS)
103 325
0.5
Albury-Wodonga (NSW/VIC)
100 826
0.5

(a) Estimates are preliminary rebased estimates and are based on the 2006 Census.
(b) Estimates are based on the 2006 Australian Standard Geographical Classification boundaries.
Australian Demographic Statistics, March quarter 2007 (cat. no. 3101.0).



Population growth

During 2005-06, the population of the ACT increased by nearly 4,000 people (from 330,300 at June 2005 to 334,200 at June 2006), equating to a population growth rate of 1.2%. This compares with a 2005-06 national growth rate of 1.5%.


Over the five years to June 2006, the average annual growth rate for the ACT was 0.9%, compared with an average annual growth rate of 1.3% at the national level.

5.2 Total population growth rate - 2005-06
Graph: 5.2 Total population growth rate—2005–06




Statistical Subdivision (SSD) population growth in the ACT

Between June 2001 and June 2006, more than half (55%) of all population growth in the ACT occurred in suburban fringe statistical subdivision (SSD) of Gungahlin-Hall, which increased by 8,200 people (equating to an average annual growth rate of 5.9%). However, population growth in this region has slowed compared with the five years to June 2001, when the average annual growth rate was 14.0%.


Smaller levels of population growth were recorded in the SSDs of North Canberra (up 5,200 people since June 2001), Belconnen (up 1,600 people), South Canberra (up 1,300 people) and Woden Valley (up 760 people).


The largest decrease in population between June 2001 and June 2006 occurred in the SSD of Tuggeranong, located in Canberra's south, down 1,200 people (or an average of 0.3% per year). The Weston Creek-Stromlo SSD recorded a smaller population decrease, down 780 people in the five years to June 2006.



Statistical Local Area (SLA) population growth in the ACT

Residential development in the new statistical local area (SLA) of Gungahlin has led to an increase of 3,900 people in the five years to June 2006. Dunlop, located in the north-western fringe of the Belconnen SSD, recorded the second largest population increase (up 3,200 people in the five years to June 2006). Amaroo, located in the north of the Gungahlin-Hall SSD, recorded the third largest population increase (up 2,300 people).


As at June 2006, the most populous SLAs within the ACT were Kambah (16,100 people), Ngunnawal (9,200 people) and Wanniassa (8,200 people). Since 2001, Gordon has replaced Kaleen as the fourth most populous SLA (with 8,100 people as at June 2006), while Kaleen is now the fifth most populous SLA (7,900 people at June 2006).


During the five years to June 2006, more than half of all SLAs in the ACT experienced population decreases. The three SLAs in the ACT with the largest decreases were all part of the Tuggeranong SSD. Kambah recorded the largest decrease (down 930 people), followed by Wanniassa (down 510 people) and Chisholm (down 390 people).

5.3 Statistical Local Area (SLA) growth and decline(a), Selected ACT SLAs - 2001 to 2006

Change 2001-2006(a)
psns
%

Largest growth
Gungahlin
3 914
na
Dunlop
3 244
17.0
Amaroo
2 337
11.2
Turner
1 270
11.0
Banks
1 249
5.9
Largest decline
Kambah
-934
-1.1
Wanniassa
-508
-1.2
Chisholm
-392
-1.4
Evatt
-388
-1.3
Kaleen
-363
-0.9

na not available
(a) Preliminary estimates based on results of the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. SLAs are based on the Australian Standard Geographical Classification 2006 Edition.
Regional Population Growth, Australia, 1996-2006 (cat. no. 3218.0).



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