National rate has slowed largely due to decrease in immigration and births, while interstate migration figures show movement to Western Australia has reversed

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Australia’s population growth rate has reached its lowest point in almost 10 years, largely due to a decrease in immigration and births.

The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the population growth rate for the year to March 2015 was 1.35%. This is down from a peak of 2.19% in 2008.

The ABS says the decrease in population growth is consistent with the rate returning to a 20-year average, as recent years showed a higher than normal growth rate.

Most of the change is due to a decrease in immigration, with net migration now much lower than in 2008-09. This is likely to be due to changes in the demand for skilled migration related to the mining boom and to the pathway from student visas to permanent residency.



Natural increase shows the net increase or decrease due to combining the number of births and deaths. Natural increase is 15,500 lower year on year, with births having the biggest movement, nearly 9,000 down. Deaths are up 6,600.



Births decreased in all states and territories with the exception of Western Australia.



There is also significant migration within Australia.



Victoria and Queensland both had increases in net interstate migration, with net losses in all the other states and territories.



Natural increase and net overseas migration have also fallen year-on-year in most states and territories.



Western Australia stands out with big year-on-year changes in both interstate and overseas migration, with people leaving for other states and immigration slowing significantly.