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ANNUAL POPULATION CHANGE - YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2013


AUSTRALIA: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The preliminary estimated resident population (ERP) of Australia at 31 December 2013 was 23,319,400 people. This reflects an increase of 396,200 people since 31 December 2012 and 85,100 people since 30 September 2013.

The annual population growth rate for the year ended 31 December 2013 was 1.7%.

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 December 2013 was higher from net overseas migration (60%) than from natural increase (40%). This remained stable from the previous year ending 31 December 2012.

Natural Increase

The preliminary estimated natural increase for the year ended 31 December 2013 was 160,400 people, a decrease of 0.9%, or 1,400 people, compared with natural increase for the year ended 31 December 2012 (161,800 people).

Births

The preliminary estimate of births for the year ended 31 December 2013 (308,100 births) decreased slightly, decreasing by 1,500 births from the year ended 31 December 2012 (309,600 births).

Deaths

The preliminary estimate of deaths for the year ended 31 December 2013 (147,700 deaths) remained fairly stable, decreasing by 100 deaths from the year ended 31 December 2012 (147,800 deaths).


Net Overseas Migration

For the year ended 31 December 2013, Australia's preliminary net overseas migration (NOM) estimate was 235,800 people. This was 2.2% (5,400 people) lower than the net overseas migration estimated for the year ended 31 December 2012 (241,200 people).

NOM arrivals increased by 1.3% (6,700 people) between the years ended 31 December 2012 (497,100 people) and 31 December 2013 (503,800 people).

NOM departures increased by 4.7% (12,000 people) between the years ended 31 December 2012 (255,900 people) and 31 December 2013 (268,000 people).

The preliminary net overseas migration estimate for the December quarter 2013 (49,000 people) was 9.6% (5,200 people) lower than the estimate for the December quarter 2012 (54,200 people).


STATES AND TERRITORIES: POPULATION AND GROWTH

The estimated resident population for each state and territory at 31 December 2013 was as follows:

• New South Wales 7,465,500;
• Victoria 5,791,000;
• Queensland 4,690,900;
• South Australia 1,677,300;
• Western Australia 2,550,900;
• Tasmania 514,000;
• Northern Territory 242,600; and
• Australian Capital Territory 384,100.

All states and territories recorded positive population growth in the year ended 31 December 2013. Western Australia continued to record the fastest growth rate of all states and territories at 2.9%. Tasmania recorded the slowest growth rate at 0.3%.


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

For the year ended 31 December 2013, natural increase was the major component of population change in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. Net overseas migration was the major component of population change in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Net interstate migration losses were recorded in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.


Natural Increase

Births

The total number of births registered for the year ended 31 December 2013 decreased in most states and territories when compared to the previous year. The largest percentage increase of registered births was recorded in the Australian Capital Territory at 2.6% (an increase of 140 births). This was followed by Western Australia (1.7%) and New South Wales (1.2%). The remaining states and territories recorded decreases in numbers of births. The largest percentage decrease of registered births was recorded in Victoria, decreasing by 3.3% (2,500 births), followed by Queensland (down 1.2%), Tasmania (down 0.9%), the Northern Territory (down 0.8%) and South Australia (down 0.1%). For more information, see table 13.

Deaths

The total number of deaths registered for the year ended 31 December 2013 decreased slightly for most of the states and territories when compared to the previous year. The largest percentage decrease was recorded in South Australia, decreasing by 2.5% (330 deaths). This was followed by the Australian Capital Territory (down 1.0%), New South Wales (down 0.5%), Tasmania (down 0.2%) and Queensland (down 0.1%). Increases in registered deaths were recorded for the remaining states and territories with the largest percentage increase recorded in the Northern Territory at 12.7% (120 deaths). 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 positive net overseas migration (NOM) for the year ending 31 December 2013. However, only half of the states and territories recorded an increase in NOM when compared with the previous year. New South Wales recorded the largest increase over the last four quarters at 9,600 people (15.6%), followed by Victoria at 5,200 people (9.1%). Moderate increases were recorded for South Australia (up 700 people) and Tasmania (up 100 people). The largest decrease in NOM was recorded in Western Australia, decreasing by 11,200 people (19.8%), followed by Queensland at 8,800 people (19.1%). Moderate decreases were recorded for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (both down 500 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM arrivals

Compared with the previous year ended 31 December 2012, most states and territories recorded increases in NOM arrivals. New South Wales recorded the largest percentage and increase at 7.4% (11,200 people), followed by Victoria at 6.6% (7,700 people). Moderate increases were recorded for South Australia (up 3.3%), Tasmania (up 3.2%) and the Northern Territory (up 1.9%). The largest decrease was recorded for Western Australia at 7,800 people (8.8%), followed by Queensland (down 5,000 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (400 people). For more information, see table 16.

NOM departures

Compared with the previous year ended 31 December 2012, all states and territories recorded increases in NOM departures except for Tasmania, which recorded a slight decrease of 1.1%. The largest increase was recorded for Queensland at (3,800 people) (7.5%). This was closely followed by Western Australia (3,400 people) and Victoria (2,500 people). For more information, see table 16.


Net Interstate Migration

Victoria recorded the highest gains from net interstate migration (NIM) for the year ended 31 December 2013 (7,500 people), closely followed by Queensland (6,900 people) and Western Australia (4,800 people). Net losses from interstate migration were recorded in New South Wales (11,200 people), South Australia (3,900 people), the Northern Territory (2,200 people), Tasmania (1,500 people) and the Australian Capital Territory (400 people). For more information, see table 17.