The Australian population is set to reach 23 million a little before 10pm eastern time today according to McCrindle Research.
With the combined effect of births, deaths and migration, Australia’s population is growing by 1,048 people a day. The population’s annual growth rate of 1.7% is above the world average of 1.1%, as well as the USA (0.9%), the UK (0.6%) and China (0.5%). It equates to a population increase of ‘one new Canberra’ every year.
The fastest growing state continues to be Western Australia with a population increase of 3.4% while Tasmania has a barely increased population of 0.1% or 500 in an entire year.
Within Australia, people still continue to move to Queensland above any other state with more than 1,700 moving there every week from other states and territories. People from NSW, Western Australia and the NT are most likely to move to the Sunshine State, while those from Victoria, Queensland and the ACT are most likely to move to NSW. South Australians and Tasmanians prefer Victoria.
The key question is whether number 23 million will be Australian born or a new arrival. On the balance of demographic probabilities, McCrindle Research suggests Australia’s 23 millionth person is likely to be a young male from England called Chris on a 457 visa! But, on the basis of numbers, it could well be a baby boy named Jack, born to a 31-year-old mum in western Sydney.
On the current population growth rate, Australia will be a nation of more than 40 million people by the mid 2050s.
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