Growth in Australia’s capitals remains steady

Population growth in Australia’s combined capital cities in 2017-18 remained steady, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

“The number of people living in our capital cities increased by 307,800 people (1.9 per cent) in 2017-18”, said ABS Demography Director Beidar Cho.

“This in on par with the average growth over the previous three years”.

Once again, Melbourne was the capital city with the largest population increase (119,400 people), followed by Sydney (93,400) and Brisbane (50,100).

Together, these three capitals accounted for over 65 per cent of Australia’s population growth in 2017-18.

Melbourne also had the highest growth rate of any Australian capital (2.5 per cent), ahead of Canberra (2.2 per cent) and Brisbane (2.1 per cent).

Darwin was the only capital city to experience a population decline in 2017-18, losing 360 people (-0.2 per cent).

POPULATION CHANGE, CAPITAL CITIES, 2014-15 to 2017-18

Today’s data also reveals the largest and fastest growing areas in each state and territory.

Cranbourne East had the largest growth in Australia in terms of numbers (up by 7,300 people), while Rockbank – Mount Cottrell was the fastest growing in terms of growth rate (59 per cent). These areas are located in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWTH AREAS BY STATE AND TERRITORY, 2017-18

State/Territory
LARGEST GROWTH
FASTEST GROWTH(a)
Area
Number
Area
Per cent change (%)

New South WalesRiverstone – Marsden Park
5 000
Riverstone – Marsden Park
23.2
VictoriaCranbourne East
7 300
Rockbank – Mount Cottrell
59.4
QueenslandPimpama
3 700
Pimpama
29.5
South AustraliaMunno Para West – Angle Vale
730
Munno Para West – Angle Vale
5.5
Western Australia Baldivis
2 200
Alkimos – Eglinton
14.8
TasmaniaNewnham – Mayfield
230
Mount Nelson – Dynnyrne
3.9
Northern TerritoryPalmerston – South
880
Palmerston – South
21.6
Australian Capital TerritoryMoncrieff
1 800
Greenway
18.9

(a) Excludes areas with less than 1,000 people at June 2017.

Media notes:

  • Unless otherwise stated, capital cities mentioned in this release are Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and areas are Statistical Areas Level 2 as defined in the 2016 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).
  • When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.

/ABS Public Release. View in full here.