Australian Demographics
Australia is a diverse and multicultural society and is home to citizens from some 200 countries making Australia the most multilingual workforce in the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia's population is currently a little over 22.4 million people spread between the six States and two Territories as follows:
New South Wales: 7,191,000
Victoria: 5,496,400
Queensland: 4,473,200
South Australia: 1,633,900
Western Australia: 2,270,300
Tasmania: 505,400
Northern Territory: 227,700
Australian Capital Territory: 352,900
Australia's population is estimated to increase by one person every one minute 37 seconds based on the following:
one birth every one minute 51 seconds;
one death every 3 minutes 48 seconds; and
the gain of one international migrant every 2 minutes 55 seconds.
Population Growth Rates
Australia's population grew by 2.0% during the 12 months ended 31 December 2009 and the growth rate has been declining since the peak of 2.2% for the year ended 31 December 2008.
Natural increase and net overseas migration contributed 36% and 64% respectively to total population growth.
All states and territories experienced positive population growth over the 12 months ended 31 December 2009. Western Australia recorded the largest percentage gain (2.7%) and Tasmania the smallest (0.9%).
The current median age of Australia's population, 36.8 years, is expected to rise to approximately 43.5 years by 2056.
