3101.0 - Australian Demographic Statistics, Mar 2014 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/09/2014   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All
MEDIA RELEASE
25 September 2014
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
138/2014
Stronger NSW and Victorian population growth

New South Wales and Victoria continued to experience high population growth in the year to 31 March 2014, going against the trend of slowing annual growth around Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"In the past year, the population of New South Wales and Victoria grew by 114,500 and 108,800 respectively. This is like adding close to the population of Darwin to New South Wales or Victoria, said Denise Carlton, Director of Demography at the ABS.

"Net overseas migration (NOM) was the main contributor to both New South Wales and Victoria's population growth, accounting for 67 and 57 per cent of the states' growth respectively.

"Notably, the NOM contribution to Victoria's growth is below the Australian rate of 60 per cent, which highlights the recent increase in net interstate migration to the state.

"We're also seeing fewer people moving to Queensland and Western Australia. Queensland recorded one of its lowest annual gains on record, slowing by 65 per cent in five years. Meanwhile, New South Wales recorded its lowest annual interstate loss in nearly 30 years and Victoria recorded its highest annual gain on record".

"Western Australia continued to have the country's fastest population growth rate at 2.5 per cent in the year to March 2014, although this has slowed significantly from 3.5 per cent growth a year ago. This is due to a drop in both overseas arrivals and internal migration, though the number of births continues to rise", said Ms Carlton.

Australia's total population increased by 388,400 people to reach 23.4 million by the end of March 2014, with a growth rate of 1.7 per cent, a continuation of the average annual growth rate for the past three years.

Natural increase contributed 156,900 people to Australia's population in the year to 31 March 2014, consisting of 306,500 births and 149,600 deaths. Net overseas migration contributed 231,500 to the population over the same period, accounting for 60 per cent of Australia's total growth.

Further information is available in Australian Demographic Statistics, March Quarter 2014 (cat. no. 3101.0).

For population estimates at the regional level, please see Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2012-13 (cat. no. 3218.0) and Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2013 (cat. no. 3235.0). Available for free download from www.abs.gov.au

Population at end Mar qtr 2014
Change over previous year
Change over previous year
PRELIMINARY DATA
'000
'000
%

New South Wales
7 500.6
114.5
1.6
Victoria
5 821.3
108.8
1.9
Queensland
4 708.5
75.8
1.6
South Australia
1 682.6
15.5
0.9
Western Australia
2 565.6
63.4
2.5
Tasmania
514.7
1.6
0.3
Northern Territory
243.7
3.4
1.4
Australian Capital Territory
385.6
5.5
1.4
Australia (a)
23 425.7
388.4
1.7

(a) Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.



Video: Take a look at the latest Demography video – Click to watch (available from 12:30pm today).


Media Note:
  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
  • Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.