Media release – Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 21 March 2024

Australia’s population grows by 2.5%

National, state and territory population, September 2023

Australia’s population grew by 2.5 per cent to 26.8 million people, in the year to 30 September 2023, an annual increase of 659,800 people according to the latest figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Beidar Cho, ABS head of demography, said: “Net overseas migration drove 83 per cent of the annual population growth, while natural increase accounted for the remaining 17 per cent”.

“Net overseas migration grew by 60 per cent compared with the previous year, driven by an increase in overseas migration arrivals (up 34 per cent), predominantly on a temporary visa for work or study.”

With 765,900 overseas migration arrivals and 217,100 departures, net overseas migration was 548,800 people during the year ending 30 September 2023.

Over this 12-month period, there were 295,000 births and 183,900 deaths registered in Australia. This makes the natural increase 111,000 people, 3.9 per cent less than the previous year.

“Western Australia had the fastest growing population, up 3.3 per cent compared with the previous year. This was followed by Victoria, which grew by 2.9 per cent, and Queensland which grew by 2.7 per cent,” Ms Cho said.

Tasmania saw the least growth, at 0.3 per cent over the same period.

Shane Broad, Shadow Treasurer, 21 March 2024  

Tasmanians continue to leave the state in droves after 10 years of Liberals

The number of people leaving Tasmania for better opportunities continues to grow after 10 years of Liberal government. 

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows nearly 16,000 people left the state in the year to the end of September 2023. 

Tasmania now has the lowest population growth in the country – more than eight times lower than the national average. 

The latest figures back in research by workforce demographer Dr Lisa Denny which cited a lack of secure, full time and well paid jobs as the key reason behind people’s decisions to leave Tasmania. 

Dr Denny warned that if these patterns of departure continue, Tasmania’s population growth rate will slow further and the population will age at a faster rate, resulting in increased pressure on public services.    

After 10 years of Liberal Government, Tasmania is heading in the wrong direction, with a planeload of young people leaving the state every week.  

If the Liberals haven’t fixed it in 10 years, we cannot risk giving them 14 years.  

It’s time for the Liberals to go and for Tasmania to have a better future under a Rebecca White Labor Government.