The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that the country’s population grew by 1.5 per cent over the year ending September 2007, making it a nation of 21.1 million people.

56 per cent of Australia’s net increase in population was attributed to skilled immigration, totalling 179,100 people, whilst natural increase, meaning the excess of births over deaths, added 139,400 to the tally.

Western Australia currently holds the greatest increase of Australia’s states, boosting its population by 2.4 per cent, followed by Queensland and the Northern Territory at 2.2 per cent each.

Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory both recorded growth levels at the national rate of 1.5 per cent, whilst, New South Wales and South Australia both increasing their population by 1 per cent followed by Tasmania at 0.8 per cent. 

Net Australian immigration proved to be the largest contributor to population increase across all six states and territories, particularly in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Western Australia continued to have the fastest net overseas migration rate.

At 20 September 2007, the resident population for each state and territory was:

New South Wales  6,909,000
Victoria                5,226,000
Queensland          4,201,000
South Australia     1,588,000
Western Australia 2,119,000
Tasmania                494,500
Northern Territory     216,500
ACT                        340,300