MAIN FEATURES


POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 31 March 2010 was 22,272,000 persons, an increase of 403,100 since 31 March 2009 and 106,400 persons since 31 December 2009. The annual population growth rate for the year ended 31 March 2010 was 1.8% and has been declining since the peak of 2.2% for the year ended 31 March 2009.

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 2010 was higher for NOM (60%) than for natural increase (40%).

Natural Increase

Natural increase for the 12 months ended 31 March 2010 was 161,700 persons, an increase of 7.0% (or 10,600 persons) compared with natural increase for the year ended 31 March 2009 (151,100 persons).

BIRTHS

The preliminary estimate for births during the year ended 31 March 2010 (303,500) was 3.1% (or 9,000 births) higher than the figure for the year ended 31 March 2009 (294,500).

DEATHS

The preliminary estimate for deaths during the year ended 31 March 2010 (141,800) was 1.1% (or 1,600 deaths) lower than the figure for the year ended 31 March 2009 (143,300).


Net Overseas Migration

The preliminary estimate for NOM during the March quarter 2010 (61,800) was 36,400 persons (or 37.0%) lower than the estimate for the March quarter 2009 (98,100). The decrease in preliminary NOM between March quarter 2009 and March quarter 2010 was due to a 26,000 decline in NOM Arrivals and a 10,400 increase in NOM Departures. The states with the largest numerical decreases in NOM Arrivals over this period were NSW (down 7,200), Victoria (down 6,800), Queensland (down 6,100), Western Australia (down 5,100) and South Australia (down 500).

For the year ended 31 March 2010, Australia's preliminary NOM estimate was 241,400 persons. This was the difference between 482,100 overseas arrivals that were added to the population (NOM arrivals) and 240,700 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 31 March 2010 were as follows:

• New South Wales 7,221,000;
• Victoria 5,529,400;
• Queensland 4,498,900;
• South Australia 1,640,700;
• Western Australia 2,286,100;
• Tasmania 507,100;
• Northern Territory 228,500; and
• Australian Capital Territory 357,700.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth over the 12 months ended 31 March 2010. Western Australia recorded the fastest growth rate (2.3%), followed by Queensland (2.2%), Victoria (2.0%), the Northern Territory (1.9%), the Australian Capital Territory (1.8%), New South Wales (1.6%), South Australia (1.3%) and Tasmania (0.9%).


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 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 31 March 2010, natural increase was the major component of population growth in the Northern Territory at 72% (3,000 persons) and the Australian Capital Territory at 56% (3,600 persons).

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 31 March 2010 increased in all states and territories, except for Tasmania. Compared with the previous year, the Australian Capital Territory recorded the largest increase (9.1%), followed by Queensland (5.8%) and the Northern Territory (3.6%). The number of births registered in Tasmania decreased by 1.0%. For more information, see table 13.

DEATHS

The total number of deaths registered for the 12 months ended 31 March 2010 increased in Queensland (1.5%) and slightly increased in Western Australia (0.1%) compared with the previous year. Decreases in the number of deaths registered were recorded in the Northern Territory (down 6.4%), the Australian Capital Territory (down 6.3%), South Australia (down 2.7%) and Victoria (down 2.3%). The number of deaths recorded in New South Wales and Tasmania were relatively stable compared with the previous year. 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 2010. NOM was the major component of population growth for South Australia at 78% (16,400 persons), New South Wales at 67% (74,300 persons), Victoria at 64% (68,200 persons), Western Australia at 60% (31,100 persons) and Queensland at 46% (44,800 persons).


Net Interstate Migration

Queensland recorded the highest net gains from interstate migration for the year ended 31 March 2010 (11,000 persons). Other states and territories which recorded net gains were Victoria (2,000 persons), Western Australia (1,700 persons), and Tasmania (160 persons). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (11,300 persons) and South Australia (3,000 persons). Small net losses were estimated for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (both 300 persons).