POPULATION GROWTH


Population growth in Australia's states and territories is drawn from three components – natural increase, overseas migration and interstate migration. In 2006, New South Wales (NSW) population growth (0.9%) was characterised by net gains for natural increase (0.6%) and overseas migration (0.7%), and a net loss (-0.4%) for interstate migration.

Differences in population growth between states and territories are due to differences in these components. For example, in 2006 Victoria (average annual growth of 1.5%) had net gains for natural increase (0.6%) and overseas migration (0.8%), but only recorded a small net loss due to interstate migration (-0.02%). Queensland (annual growth of 2.0%) recorded net gains in all three components.

New South Wales annual population growth (1.2% in 2001) declined during the period 2002 to 2004 (0.6% to 0.7%), then rose again in 2005 and 2006, albeit to a lower level than previously (0.9%). The main influences since 2002 have been a combination of lower net overseas migration into NSW and higher net interstate migration from NSW. Natural increase has remained relatively steady throughout this period.

The net interstate migration loss in 2005–06 was largely due to a net loss in the younger age groups.