Australia’s population surges
Australia’s fertility rate has reached a 30-year high with just under two babies per woman, the highest since 1977.
More than 300,000 babies were born in the last financial year, according to information released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Australia’s population as at 30 June 2009 was 21,875,000, an increase of 443,000 people over the previous financial year.
Australia’s net overseas migration contributed to more than half of this growth at 64% or 285,000 people. Natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) contributed 158,000 (36%).
Over the last 12 months, Western Australia continued to record the fastest population growth at 3.0%, followed by Queensland (2.6%), the Northern Territory (2.3%), Victoria (2.1%), New South Wales (1.7%), the Australian Capital Territory (1.6%), South Australia (1.2%) and Tasmania (1.0%).
To find out more including population estimates, visit http://www.abs.gov.au
