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ANNUAL POPULATION CHANGE - YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2016


AUSTRALIA: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 31 March 2016 was 24,051,400 people. This is an increase of 327,600 people since 31 March 2015 and 107,500 people since 31 December 2015.

The annual population growth rate for the year ended 31 March 2016 was 1.4%.

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 2016 was higher from NOM (55.2%) than from natural increase (44.8%).

Natural Increase

The preliminary estimate of natural increase for the year ended 31 March 2016 was 146,800 people, a decrease of 4.9%, or 7,500 people, compared with natural increase for the year ended 31 March 2015 (154,300 people).

Births

The preliminary estimate of births for the year ended 31 March 2016 (304,300 births) decreased by 4,900 births from the year ended 31 March 2015 (309,200 births).

Deaths

The preliminary estimate of deaths for the year ended 31 March 2016 (157,500 deaths) increased by 2,600 deaths from the year ended 31 March 2015 (154,900 deaths).


Net Overseas Migration

For the year ended 31 March 2016, Australia's preliminary net overseas migration (NOM) estimate was 180,800 people. This was 2.0% (3,600 people) higher than the net overseas migration estimated for the year ended 31 March 2015 (177,200 people).

NOM arrivals increased by 1.5% (7,300 people) between the years ended 31 March 2015 (472,800 people) and 31 March 2016 (480,100 people).

NOM departures increased by 1.2% (3,600 people) between the years ended 31 March 2015 (295,600 people) and 31 March 2016 (299,200 people).

The preliminary NOM estimate for the March quarter 2016 (66,000 people) was 6.0% (3,700 people) higher than the estimate for the March quarter 2015 (62,300 people).


STATES AND TERRITORIES: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary ERP for each state and territory at 31 March 2016 was as follows:

• New South Wales 7,704,300;
• Victoria 6,039,100;
• Queensland 4,827,000;
• South Australia 1,706,500;
• Western Australia 2,613,700;
• Tasmania 518,500;
• Northern Territory 244,000; and
• Australian Capital Territory 395,200.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth in the year ended 31 March 2016. Victoria recorded the fastest growth rate of all states and territories at 1.9%. The Northern Territory recorded the slowest growth rate at 0.4%.


COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE

At the state and territory level, population growth has three components: natural increase, net overseas migration (NOM) and net interstate migration.

Although all states and territories experienced positive population growth in the year ended 31 March 2016, the proportion that each of these components contributed to population growth varied between the states and territories.

For the year ended 31 March 2016, natural increase was the major component of population change in Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. NOM was the major component of population change in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Net interstate migration losses were recorded in all states and territories except for Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.


Natural Increase

Births

Compared with the previous year, the total number of births registered for the year ended 31 March 2016 decreased in all states and territories.

The largest percentage decrease was recorded in the Australian Capital Territory, decreasing by 5.7% (300 births). This was followed by Tasmania (down 2.7%) and South Australia (down 2.3%). For more information, see table 13.

Deaths

The total number of deaths registered for the year ended 31 March 2016 increased in most states and territories. Western Australia recorded the largest percentage increase at 3.9% (500 people). This was followed by New South Wales (up 2.4%). Tasmania (up 2.1%), and South Australia (up 1.2%). For more information, see table 14.

Preliminary 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 11-12 of the Explanatory Notes).


Net Overseas Migration

All states and territories recorded positive NOM for the year ending 31 March 2016. Only New South Wales (up 2.6%), Victoria (up 7.6%) and Western Australia (up 4.9%) recorded an increase when compared with the previous year. All other states and territories recorded decreases in NOM when compared with the previous year. The largest percentage decrease in NOM was recorded in the Australian Capital Territory at 26.9% (700 people). This was followed by Tasmania which decreased by 17.6% (by 200 people), and the Northern Territory which decreased by 14.7% (by 100 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM arrivals

The total number of NOM arrivals for the year ended 31 March 2016 increased in Victoria (up 5.0%), New South Wales (up 2.6%) and Queensland (up 1.1%). The largest percentage decreases in NOM arrivals were recorded in the Australian Capital Territory at 7.4% (700 people) and Tasmania at 7.0% (300 people). This was followed by South Australia at 5.8% (1,300 people), Western Australia 3.5% (1,900 people) and the Northern Territory 2.3% (100 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM departures

Compared with the previous year, the number of NOM departures for the year ended 31 March 2016 increased in New South Wales (up 2.6%), Victoria (up 2.8%), Queensland (up 3.3%) and the Australian Capital Territory (up 0.5%) . The largest percentage decrease was recorded in Western Australia at 6.4% and Tasmania 1.7%. This was followed by South Australia at 1.3% and the Northern Territory 0.6%. For more information, see table 16.


Net Interstate Migration

In the year ended 31 March 2016, only Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania recorded net interstate migration (NIM) gains. Victoria continued a recent trend of recording the highest net gain with 14,500 people, up from 9,800 people in the year ended 31 March 2015. This was followed by Queensland (10,100 people) and Tasmania (20 people). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (10,300 people), South Australia (5,900 people), Western Australia (5,600 people), the Northern Territory (2,500 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (400 people). For more information, see table 17.