Centre for Population, Media Release, 26 September 2022

The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) of Australia grew by 0.5 per cent in the March 2022 quarter, to be 0.9 per cent higher than a year earlier.

There was a strong recovery in overseas migration to a net inflow of 96,000 in the March 2022 quarter, the highest result in the series history (beginning 1981).

This saw overseas migration contributing most of quarterly population growth for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.

Deaths increased to 179,000 over the year to March 2022, 10.0 per cent higher than the year to March 2021 and the largest increase in the series history.

This more than offset an increase in births, resulting in natural increase (births minus deaths) to fall to 130,000.

Queensland had the fastest growing population over the year to March 2022, followed by Western Australia and South Australia. Annual population growth in New South Wales and Victoria increased from the previous quarter, while growth in the Northern Territory was slow but positive.

New South Wales and Victoria saw smaller net interstate migration outflows, while Queensland continued to have the largest net inflow of interstate migrants.

This publication was re‑released on 26 September 2022. Estimates for September 2020 to March 2022 have been updated since first release on 21 September 2022.