Making it to 27 million: Inside Australia's new inhabitants milestone

KEY POINTS

Australia’s inhabitants grew by 2.3 per cent during the last 12 months to succeed in 27.1 million in March.
This was pushed primarily by internet abroad migration (83 per cent), whereas pure improve made up the opposite 17 per cent.
Demographer Dr Liz Allen mentioned points akin to a declining fertility price pose points for the nation’s future.

Australia’s inhabitants has reached — and surpassed — .

The nation was residence to 27,122,411 individuals as at 31 March this 12 months, based on the newest figures launched by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The inhabitants grew by 615,300 individuals — 2.3 per cent — over the earlier 12 months.

This was primarily pushed by internet abroad migration (83 per cent), with what’s often called pure improve making up the remaining 17 per cent.

Demographer Dr Liz Allen, from the Australian Nationwide College’s Centre for Social Coverage Analysis, mentioned any main inhabitants milestone provides an opportunity to replicate on how and the place we have come from.

“It offers us a capability to pause and take into consideration what lies forward, the issues which are offering challenges and alternatives, and to constitution a course for maximising wellbeing into the long run,” she mentioned.

How did the inhabitants attain 27 million?

A rustic’s inhabitants is set by two elements: pure improve, which suggests the variety of births and deaths over a time period, and internet abroad migration, which is the variety of arrivals into the nation minus departures.

Australia’s inhabitants is rising — although at a slowing price, Allen mentioned.

Australia’s annual inhabitants development price since 2004. Supply: SBS Information

Within the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reopening of the nation’s borders, inhabitants development was excessive

“We’re beginning to see inhabitants development gradual. Immigration continues to be, traditionally, comparatively excessive. However it’s declining,” Allen mentioned.

Internet abroad migration

In line with the ABS figures, launched on Thursday, annual internet abroad migration was 509,800 individuals, down from a peak of 559,900 in September final 12 months.

This determine was drastically impacted by the pandemic.

Journey restrictions had meant abroad migration plunged to file lows in 2020-21, with Australia shedding round 85,000 individuals in .

“We then had individuals come to the nation, and since we had these within the inhabitants that have been attributable to depart sooner or later depart early, we did not have the opposite aspect of that internet equation ongoing over time,” Allen mentioned, referring to worldwide college students and customer visa holders who returned to their nation of origin within the early days of the pandemic.

She argued an extended view of Australia’s internet abroad migration ranges relationship from earlier than the pandemic exhibits the “peaks and troughs” are nonetheless balancing out.

“We’ll see the online abroad migration determine right with time,” she mentioned.

A declining fertility price

The pure inhabitants improve was 105,500, the newest figures present.

There have been 289,700 births — representing a 1.7 per cent lower because the earlier 12 months — and 184,200 deaths.

A chart showing the make-up of Australia's annual population change since 2004.

The make-up of Australia’s annual inhabitants change since 2004. Supply: SBS Information

“We are able to see that births are at their lowest level since 2007. That’s fairly important, and one thing we have to delve extra deeply into,” Allen mentioned.

Australia has been experiencing a, which is the typical variety of births per girl, for a while.

Allen is worried a continued decline might pose challenges for the economic system, together with an ageing inhabitants and shrinking relative workforce.

However there’s one other aspect to this difficulty.

“A falling fertility price is not an issue if that is what people are selecting … however that does not seem like the case,” she mentioned.

“Life is getting in the way in which; the limitations to reaching a desired household are insurmountable.”

Allen mentioned limitations vary from points akin to housing affordability, price of dwelling, gender inequality and local weather change.

“These 4 broad areas come collectively, creating the proper storm to undermine Australia’s future.”

What occurred throughout the nation?

There was inhabitants development in all states and territories over the previous 12 months.

Western Australia had the fastest-growing inhabitants – up 3.1 per cent – adopted by Victoria (2.7 per cent), Queensland (2.5 per cent), NSW (2.0 per cent), the ACT (1.8 per cent), South Australia (1.5 per cent) and the Northern Territory (0.8 per cent).

Tasmania had the slowest development price, at 0.4 per cent.

A table showing Australia's population growth by state and territory.

Inhabitants development as at March 2024 by state and territory. Supply: SBS Information

Internet abroad migration was the most important contributor in most states, whereas pure improve was behind the change within the Northern Territory.

Allen mentioned Australia’s newest inhabitants milestone now provides an opportunity to look past the figures — and perceive what is going on on in society.

“Undoubtedly, we’ve got challenges. However with these challenges, we’ve got alternative to behave now, to make sure that Australia’s future feels extra sure,” she mentioned.