WA drives population growth

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By Leith van Onselen

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just released the Australian Demographic Statistics for the December quarter of 2011, which recorded an increase in the estimated rate of growth of Australia’s population to 1.4% (302,600 persons) over the 12 months to December 2011. This was the fastest rate of population growth since March 2010.

Australia’s population is now growing at a rate that is just above it’s long-term average of 1.3% per year.

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As expected, Australia’s resources capital – Western Australia – has dominated growth, expanding its population by 2.9% over the past year (see below chart).

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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.