Australia’s population rose a brisk 2.1 per cent last year, just a whisker from the fastest pace in four decades and a boost to demand for everything from consumer goods to housing and infrastructure.

Government data out today showed 451,900 more people called Australia home in the 12 months to end September, taking the total to 22.07 million.

The growth pace of 2.1 per cent was almost twice the global average of 1.1 per cent, and far above most rich nations.

The natural rate of increase, births minus deaths, stood at 154,500, while net migration added 297,400. The Bureau of Statistics also revised up past immigration numbers to show a net addition of 77,300 people in the two years to September.

The rapid rise in population helped Australia dodge a recession last year as the global financial crisis raged.