If you need information on the latest in population trends then read on...
Population Growth and Distribution, Australia 1996 provides the most comprehensive information on where Australians live, areas of population growth and population decline, and the latest trends in population mobility.
Using 1996 population estimates and 1996 Census data, the publication covers information from all geographic levels from Statistical Local Areas to the whole of Australia, and includes final estimates of the population for 1991 to 1996 for all geographic levels.
Some of the highlights of this publication include:
- As at 30 June 1996, 83% of Australia's population lived within 50 kilometres of the coastline.
- Some of the highest concentration of people aged over 65 years were found in coastal retirement areas of Queensland.
- Between 30 June 1991 to 30 June 1996, Australia's population increased by 1 million people, or 1.2%. Some 61% of this growth was due to natural increase and 39% was due to net migration.
- Two thirds of this growth occurred in capital cities. Liverpool in Sydney had the largest increase in population while Monash - Waverley East (Melbourne) had the largest decrease.
- The latest Census showed that between 1991 and 1996, 43% of the population changed their address in Australia. 37% moved within the same State or Territory while the remainder moved interstate.
- There has been a pattern of movement northward and westward, away from South-Eastern Australia. Net gains in movement were recorded by Queensland and Western Australia.
- The internal migration flows to and from the Northern Territory in 1991-96 were nearly as large as its total population.
- 10% of people who moved interstate between 1991 and 1995 returned to their state of origin by 1996. Return migration was highest for people who moved to the Northern Territory, and for people who moved from Queensland and Western Australia.
- 52% of Indigenous persons changed their usual residence compared to 43% for non Indigenous persons.
This page last updated 30 July 2007