3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Mar 2013 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/09/2013   
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MAIN FEATURES COMMENTARY


ANNUAL POPULATION CHANGE - YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2013


AUSTRALIA: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia passed the 23 million milestone during the first quarter of 2013, reaching 23,032,700 people by 31 March 2013. This reflects an increase of 397,400 people since 31 March 2012 and 114,800 people since 31 December 2012.

The annual population growth rate for the year ended 31 March 2013 was 1.8%. This continues the trend of an increasing rate from a low of 1.4% for the year ending March 2011.

ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a), Australia
Graph: ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE(a), 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 31 March 2013 was higher for net overseas migration (60%) than for natural increase (40%). The contribution of NOM to population growth for the year ending March 2013 increased from 58% for the year ending 31 March 2012 whilst the contribution of natural increase to population growth decreased from 42% over the same period.

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



Natural Increase

Natural increase for the year ended 31 March 2013 was 159,100 people, an increase of 0.8%, or 1,200 people, when compared with natural increase for the year ended 31 March 2012 (157,900 people).

Births

The preliminary estimate of births for the year ended 31 March 2013 (308,700 births) was 1.2%, or 3,800 births, higher than the figure for the year ended 31 March 2012 (304,900 births).

Deaths

The preliminary estimate of deaths for the year ended 31 March 2013 (149,600 deaths) was 1.7%, or 2,600 deaths, higher than the figure for the year ended 31 March 2012 (147,000 deaths).


Net Overseas Migration

For the year ended 31 March 2013, Australia's preliminary net overseas migration estimate was 238,300 people. This was 10.5% (22,600 people) higher than the net overseas migration estimated for the year ended 31 March 2012 (215,700 people).

NOM arrivals increased by 6.8% (32,100 people) between the years ended 31 March 2012 (470,500 people) and 31 March 2013 (502,600 people).

NOM departures increased by 3.8% (9,600 people) between the years ended 31 March 2012 (254,800 people) and 31 March 2013 (264,300 people).

The preliminary net overseas migration estimate for the March quarter 2013 (73,400 people) was 3.3% (2,400 people) higher than the estimate for the March quarter 2012 (71,000 people).


STATES AND TERRITORIES: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The estimated resident population for each state and territory at 31 March 2013 was as follows:
  • New South Wales 7,381,100;
  • Victoria 5,713,000;
  • Queensland 4,638,100;
  • South Australia 1,667,500;
  • Western Australia 2,497,500;
  • Tasmania 512,900;
  • Northern Territory 237,800; and
  • Australian Capital Territory 381,700.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth in the year ended 31 March 2013. Western Australia continued to record the fastest growth rate of all states and territories at 3.4%. Tasmania recorded the slowest growth rate at 0.1%.


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

For the year ended 31 March 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 highest contributor to population change in Tasmania. Net interstate migration losses were also recorded in New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.


Natural Increase

Births

The total number of births registered for the year ended 31 March 2013 increased in all states and territories when compared to the previous year, except for New South Wales (which decreased 0.9%), Tasmania (4.9%) and the Australian Capital Territory (3.7%). The largest percentage increase of registered births were recorded in Western Australia at 4.8% (an increase of 1,600 births). This was followed by Victoria (3.6%), the Northern Territory (1.4%), Queensland (1.3%) and South Australia (0.4%). For more information, see table 13.

Deaths

The total number of deaths registered for the year ended 31 March 2013 increased for all states and territories, except for Victoria (where it decreased 0.8%) the Northern Territory (3.1%) and the Australian Capital Territory (1.1%), when compared with the previous year. The largest increase was in New South Wales, where there was an increase of 1,200 deaths between the year ended 31 March 2013 and the previous year (2.4%). 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 both positive and increased net overseas migration (NOM) when compared to the previous year ended 31 March 2012. New South Wales recorded the largest numerical increase of 6,700 people (11.9%) and the Australian Capital Territory recorded the smallest numerical and percentage increase at 0.8% (23 people). Tasmania recorded the largest percentage increase at 25.3% (300 people), followed by the Northern Territory (23.7%). For more information, see table 16.

NOM arrivals

When compared to the year ended 31 March 2012, all states and territories recorded increases in NOM arrivals. The largest percentage increase was recorded by the Northern Territory at 15.0% (900 people). The Australian Capital Territory recorded the smallest percentage increase of 3.8% (320 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM departures

When compared to the year ended 31 March 2012, increases in NOM departures were recorded for all states and territories, with the largest percentage increase recorded by the Northern Territory at 9.7% (350 people), followed by Western Australia at 9.2% (2,700 people). Tasmania recorded the smallest percentage increase of 0.7% (17 people). For more information, see table 16.


Net Interstate Migration

Queensland recorded the highest gains from net interstate migration (NIM) for the year ended 31 March 2013 (10,300 people), followed by Western Australia (9,300 people). Other states and territories which recorded net gains were Victoria (2,800 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (1,900 people). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (16,600 people), South Australia (3,600 people), Tasmania (2,400 people) and the Northern Territory (1,600 people). For more information, see table 19.

INTERSTATE MIGRATION, Arrivals, Departures and Net - States and Territories - Year ended March 2013
Graph: INTERSTATE MIGRATION, Arrivals, Departures and Net—States and Territories—Year ended March 2013