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6 million Victorians
Victoria’s population has hit 6 million, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.
ABS acting Director of Demography Phil Browning said that in the year ending 31 March 2016, Victoria grew by 1.9 per cent, adding an extra 114,900 people to the population.
“This is the fastest population growth for Victoria since 2009 and is well above Australia’s growth rate of 1.4 per cent. New South Wales was the next fastest state, increasing by 1.4 per cent. Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory were not far behind, with both growing at 1.3 per cent,” said Mr Browning.
Net overseas migration was the main contributor to growth in Victoria, adding 62,800 people to the population over the year ending March 2016. The remainder of Victoria’s population change was explained by natural increase (+37,600) and net interstate migration (+14,500).
“The last time Victoria was growing this fast, back in 2009, the breakdown of Victoria’s growth was different, with net overseas migration at 84,200, natural increase 34,600 and a net interstate migration inflow of just 500 people.”
The Victorian population is projected to reach 7 million in 2024.
Overall, Australia’s population grew by 327,600 people (1.4 per cent) to reach 24.0 million by the end of March 2016.
Net overseas migration added 180,800 people to the population (2 per cent higher than the previous year), and accounted for 55 per cent of Australia’s total population growth.
Natural increase contributed 146,800 additional people to Australia’s population, made up of 304,300 births (1.6 per cent lower than the previous year) and 157,500 deaths (1.7 per cent higher).
Over the year, net overseas migration was the major contributor to population change in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, whilst natural increase was the major contributor in all other states and territories.
| Population at end March Qtr 2016 | Change over previous year | Change over previous year | |
| PRELIMINARY DATA | ‘000 | ‘000 | % |
| New South Wales | 7 704.3 | 103.2 | 1.4 |
| Victoria | 6 039.1 | 114.9 | 1.9 |
| Queensland | 4 827.0 | 61.8 | 1.3 |
| South Australia | 1 706.5 | 9.7 | 0.6 |
| Western Australia | 2 613.7 | 29.8 | 1.2 |
| Tasmania | 518.5 | 2.2 | 0.4 |
| Northern Territory | 244.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 395.2 | 5.0 | 1.3 |
| Australia (a) | 24 051.4 | 327.6 | 1.4 |
(a) Includes Other Territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Source: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/lookup/3101.0Media%20Release1Mar%202016