The impact of international border closures due to COVID-19 on overseas migration again showed a slower population growth for Australia, in the year to June 2021, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
ABS Demography Director Beidar Cho said: “Australia’s population grew by 0.2 per cent (34,300 people) to 25.7 million following an annual increase of 46,000 people.”
Population growth over the past 12 months was entirely due to natural increase (adding 134,800 people), while net overseas migration was negative (-88,800) over the period. This continues the recent shift from the long run trend of net overseas migration driving the majority of Australia’s population growth.
With over 12 months of COVID-19 international travel restrictions having been in place, net overseas migration was down by 281,500 people compared with the previous year. Arrivals decreased more sharply (-71%) than departures (-25%) over the period.
Net overseas migration (-88,800) consisted of 145,800 overseas migration arrivals and 234,600 departures.
There were 298,000 births and 163,200 deaths during this period. The resulting natural increase was down .05 per cent from the previous year, driven mainly by decreasing births.
This data marks the 50th year of Estimated Residential Population at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a period that has seen the national population almost double from 13.1 million in June 1971 to 25.7 million in June 2021. More commentary and analysis is available at .
For regional population estimates see , available for free download from https://www.abs.gov.au/.
| Population at 30 June 2021 (‘000) | Change over previous year (‘000) | Change over previous year (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 8189.3 | 22.2 | 0.3 |
| Victoria | 6649.2 | -44.7 | -0.7 |
| Queensland | 5221.2 | 45.9 | 0.9 |
| South Australia | 1773.2 | 3.0 | 0.2 |
| Western Australia | 2681.6 | 17.4 | 0.7 |
| Tasmania | 541.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 |
| Northern Territory | 246.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 432.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 |
| Australia (a) | 25739.3 | 46.0 | 0.2 |
(a) Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.
Grab 1
Our population continues to grow, though at a slow rate. Today’s data shows that 46 thousand people were added to our population in the year to June 2021.
Grab 2
Australia’s 298 thousand births are keeping our growth ticking along by out-numbering both deaths and our net overseas migration, which is currently negative.
Grab 3
The net overseas migration result is minus 89 thousand is around 300 thousand people less than what we’ve seen over the past five years. Migration arrivals into Australia are much lower than departures out of Australia, so a lack of migrant arrivals is the biggest driver of our slow population growth.
Grab 4
Compared to interstate and overseas migration, Births and Deaths have been fairly stable. Natural increase, which is births minus deaths, dropped only half a percent compared to the previous year.
Grab 5
Queensland continues to benefit the most from interstate migration with a boost of nearly seven thousand people from other states. Both New South Wales and Victoria recorded net outflows to other states for the June quarter and the year.
Grab 6
Early next year the ABS will be releasing our 50th year in the Regional population series, where we can dig deeper into stories about locations within our state and territory boundaries, like the share of people living between cities and regions and the changes across decades in regional centres.
Grab 7
With today’s release, we will have 50 years of estimated residential population data. With this data, we can see the ways our population has changed over this time, by characteristics like age, sex and location, and we can also see how these changes have taken place, whether it be by changing fertility, overseas migration, increased life expectancy or movement between states and territories.
