MEDIA RELEASE
24 March 2011	Embargoed 11:30am (Canberra time)	38/2011

The Northern Territory recorded an average annual growth rate of 2.3% during the five years to 31 December 2009, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This makes the NT the third fastest growing of all the states and territories after Western Australia and Queensland.

During the year ending 31 December 2009, natural increase (the number of births minus the number of deaths) accounted for 58% of the NT's total population growth, followed by net overseas migration which accounted for 38%.

Net interstate migration accounted for the remaining 4% of the NT's total growth in 2009. All states, except New South Wales and Victoria, gained more people from the NT than they lost to the NT in 2009. Queensland remained the most popular destination for people departing the NT, as well as the most popular state of origin for people arriving into the NT.

Although net interstate migration was the smallest component of overall population growth, the NT had the highest population turnover of any state or territory. During 2009, the NT recorded 15,700 interstate departures, which was equivalent to a loss of 7% of the NT's total population of 227,900, while the same proportion (7%) also arrived in the NT from interstate. The other states and the Australian Capital Territory recorded turnover rates of between 1% and 5%.

Further information is in Regional Statistics, Northern Territory, Mar 2011 (cat. no. 1362.7). This is the last issue of this publication. It is being replaced by a new product called State and Territory Statistical Indicators (cat. no. 1367.0) which is due to be released in July 2011.

Media note: Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.