Immigrants On A Rise In Western Australia

30 Sep 2013

Accounting for almost two thirds of the state’s growth, immigrants continue to fuel Western Australia’s population increase.

Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that immigrants are moving to Western Australia more than any other part of the country. In fact, out of the area’s total growth in the year by the end of March 2013, immigrants account for 63%.

Bjorn Jarvis from ABS said that Western Australia’s population touched 2.5 million by the end of March 2013 and grew at an annual rate of 3.4% (i.e., 82, 600 people).

On the opposite end stood Tasmania with the lowest growth rate in Australia at just 0.1% (i.e., 600 people) increase.

Jarvis explained that Net Overseas Migration (NOM) added 238,300 people to Australia’s population in the year to March 2013.

After Western Australia, the state with the largest population growth at 2.2% was the Australian Capital Territory, followed closely with a growth of 2% was Queensland, and with a growth of 1.8% stood both Victoria and the Northern Territory.

At the end of March 2013, the overall population of Australia reached 23 million, and increased by an annual rate of 1.8% (i.e., 397,400 people). 60% of Australia’s growth can be accounted for NOM, and 40% due to natural increase.

The statistics also show that compared to the previous year, all states and territories noted both increased and positive NOM. New South Wales noted the largest increase of 11.9% (i.e., 6,700 people) and the Australian Capital Territory recorded the smallest percentage and numerical increase at 0.8% (i.e., just 23 people). Tasmania recorded the largest percentage increase at 25.3% (i.e., 300 people), with the Northern Territory following it at 23.7%.

All states and territories recorded increases in NOM arrivals when compared to the year ended March 2012. The highest increase was noted by the Northern Territory at 15.0% (i.e., 900 people). The smallest percentage increase of 3.8% (i.e., 320 people) was noted by Australian Capital Territory.

Increases in NOM departures were noted for all territories and states, when compared to the year ended March 2012, with the largest percentage increase recorded by the Northern Territory at 9.7% (i.e., 350 people), followed by Western Australia at 9.2% (i.e., 2,700 people). Tasmania recorded the smallest percentage increase of 0.7% (i.e., 17 people).

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