Australia's population barely grew in the year to March due to the impact of international border closures on overseas migration.
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics said Australia's population grew by just 0.1 per cent, or 35,700 people, to 25.7 million, in contrast to the 1.5 per cent growth recorded in the 2019 calendar year.
"This is the first full year of data reflecting the impacts of COVID-19 on Australia's population," ABS demography director Beidar Cho said.
Net overseas migration was down by 334,000 people compared with the previous year.
There were 293,500 births and 162,500 deaths in Australia during this period.
The resulting natural increase was down four per cent from the previous year and continues the trend of a gradual decline over the past five years, driven mainly by decreasing births.
BREAKDOWN OF AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION IN YEAR TO MARCH
NSW - 8,176,368, up 0.1 per cent
Victoria - 6,648,564, down 0.6 per cent
Queensland - 5,206,400, up 0.9 per cent
South Australia - 1,771,703, up 0.2 per cent
Western Australia - 2,675,797, up 0.6 per cent
Tasmania - 541,965, up 0.4 per cent
Northern Territory - 247,023, up 0.5 per cent
ACT - 431,826, up 0.4 per cent
Australia* - 25,704,340, up 0.1 per cent
* Includes other territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.
Australian Associated Press
