Australia's population up 1.4% in 2010-11 as migration slows

Jonathan ChancellorJan 19, 2012

Australia's population increased by 1.4% – or 320,800 people – to 22.6 million people, for the year to June 2011.

Net overseas migration accounted for 53% of the growth, with the remaining 47% due to natural increase – births minus deaths.

But the preliminary net overseas migration estimate of 170,300 people was 9% lower than the 198,000 estimate for the year ended June 30, 2010.

The ABS says the recent decline in migration was due to both a decrease in arrivals and an increase in departures.

Migration arrivals decreased by 5% (22,900 persons) between the years ended June 30, 2010 (446,800 persons) and June 30 2011 (423,900 persons).

This reflected a continuing decline in arrivals since the peak of 536,000 people recorded for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Migration departures increased by 2% (5,200 persons) between the years ended June 30, 2010 (248,400 persons) and June 30, 2011 (253,600 persons).

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.