Updated 29 October 2010
PDF version [350KB]
Janet Phillips and Michael Klapdor, Social Policy Section
Joanne Simon-Davies, Statistics and Mapping Section
Contents
- The rate of Australia’s population growth has increased significantly over the last five years largely driven by an increase in net overseas migration (NOM). The largest contribution to NOM in recent years has been from people on temporary visas—mostly comprised of overseas students and temporary skilled migrants.
- Although permanent migration intakes over the last few years have been high in comparison to previous years, Australia’s recent population growth predominantly reflects a significant increase in temporary, not permanent migration.
- Net overseas migration (NOM) (Table 3) compiled since 1925 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is not a measure of the number of permanent migrants arriving in any given year as it measures departures and arrivals of both permanent and (long-term) temporary entrants and the resulting increase or decrease in the population overall. In addition, the methodology for the calculation of NOM has changed significantly over the years and should be used with caution.
- Migration Program outcome (visa grant) data (Table 1), currently recorded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), provide the most accurate statistics on the number of permanent migrants to Australia—data is available back to the 1980s.
- Humanitarian Program outcome (visa grant) data (Table 1), currently recorded by DIAC, provide the most accurate statistics on refugee and humanitarian intakes to Australia—data is available back to the 1970s (prior to that there are estimates available for the number of post war refugees).
- There has been a significant increase in the number of people entering the country on temporary visas in recent years, particularly overseas students and temporary (long-term) skilled migrants. However, the number of temporary entrants can fluctuate in response to changing circumstances (for example, changes in immigration policy regarding permanent residency eligibility for graduating overseas students).[1] Data available from DIAC over the last 15 years shows the fluctuations in numbers (Table 2).[2]
- Settler arrival statistics are a better indication of permanent migration flows than NOM, but include NZ and some other temporary migrants who have indicated an intention to settle—data is available back to the 1920s in the statistical appendix (Table 6).
- It is important to note that ABS data on overseas arrivals and departures in general may relate to the multiple arrivals and departures of individuals in any year and not the number of people. They are not an appropriate source of migration statistics.
|
Since 1945, when Australia’s first immigration department was established, approximately seven million permanent migrants have settled in Australia.[3] According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), the contribution of immigrants from all parts of the world to Australian society, culture and prosperity ‘has been an important factor in shaping our nation’.[4]
However, while Australia is often described as a ‘nation of immigrants’, there is a great deal of confusion and misinformation in the public debate on how many permanent migrants Australia has actually accepted over the years. In particular, some publicly available statistics on both permanent and temporary migration are often used interchangeably and/or incorrectly with the result that the statistics used to describe migration flows are often inaccurate or misleading.
The purpose of this paper is to provide background information on Australia’s migration programs and to define and present the relevant data in a simplified format. The paper aims to clarify which statistics are the best to use when measuring permanent migration and addresses some of the popular misconceptions that surround the debate on migration flows to Australia. It is envisaged that some of the statistics provided in the appendix will be updated at regular intervals.
Australia’s immigration program is divided into two distinct programs for permanent migrants—the Migration Program for skilled and family migrants and the Humanitarian Program for refugees and those in refugee-like situations. There have been many changes to these programs and to data collection over the years making it difficult to compare statistics on permanent migration over time. The following background illustrates some of those changes and the corresponding tables are presented in the statistical appendix.
At the time of federation in 1901, the states administered their own migration programs, but over time the Commonwealth Government began to assume more and more responsibility for immigration policy. After World War I the Commonwealth took active control of immigration and encouraged new settlers, with the result that in the 1920s about 300 000 settlers arrived (mostly under assisted schemes such as the Empire Settlement Scheme). Between 1901 and the beginning of World War II, approximately 700 000 new settlers arrived and Australia’s population grew to about seven million.[5]
Australia’s first federal immigration portfolio was created in 1945. The major impetus for the new portfolio, and for the implementation of a large-scale migration program, was World War II and its aftermath. After the war the Australian Government was keen to boost the population in order to stimulate post-war economic development and to increase the numbers of people able to defend the country in the event of another war, with the result that about one million migrants arrived in each of the six decades following 1950.[6]
For many years the Australian Government has reviewed and adjusted the number of places available for permanent migrants on an annual basis according to government priorities. As a result, the Government’s planned annual intakes and the numbers of permanent migrants have fluctuated markedly.
Available data on migration levels prior to the 1980s is patchy. It relies on a variety of ABS data, some of which may also include temporary arrivals; or on government planning figures that only provide an indication of migration outcomes for certain years.[7] Prior to 1959 the Government found it difficult to collect figures on permanent or net migration to Australia. Settler arrivals were not recorded separately from temporary and other arrivals.[8] In 1959 the Commonwealth Statistician began publishing separate figures for ‘settler arrivals’ and the new system began identifying and recording actual arrivals as distinct from long term visitors, returning Australians and others.[9] Similarly, government migration program planning figures were not published systematically before the 1980s and are only available for some years in historical departmental reports and records.[10]
According to departmental records, the highest number of settlers to arrive in any one year since World War II was 185 099 in 1969–70 under the Gorton Government. The lowest number in any one year was 52 752 in 1975–76 during the Whitlam and Fraser Governments.[11] After the peak of 185 000 settler arrivals in 1969, numbers declined and by 1975 the Government’s planned intake for the year was only 50 000. The migration intake gradually climbed again and by 1988 there was another peak under the Hawke Government with a planned intake of 145 000. After 1988, the migration planning levels were gradually reduced, with lows of 60 000 to 80 000 in the early 1990s.[12]
When the Howard Government came to power in 1996, there was an initial dip, followed by a gradual increase in the planned migration numbers again with an intake of 148 200 in 2006– 07. This increase continued under the Rudd Government, despite some reductions in the skilled migrant intakes due to the economic downturn.[13]
In response to these migration waves, the makeup of Australia’s overseas-born population has also fluctuated over the years from around 32 per cent in 1891 to 20 per cent in the 1980s. As of 30 June 2009, 27 per cent of the overall resident population was born overseas.[14] Statistics on the top ten countries of birth for the overseas-born population since 1901 are presented in Table 7 of the statistical appendix.
After the first federal immigration department was established in 1945, Australia resettled thousands of post-war refugees and displaced people, and ratified the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees on 22 January 1954. However, it was not until the late 1970s with the arrival of the Indochinese ‘boat people’ seeking asylum, that the government developed a specific refugee policy.[15]
Australia’s first planned Humanitarian Program tailored to the special needs of refugees and asylum seekers commenced under the Fraser Government in 1977. Before then, the Government’s approach was to respond to international events and crises as they arose. Now there was a program specifically designed to deal with refugee and humanitarian issues and which also included the establishment of mechanisms to determine onshore protection claims.[16]
The new program was designed to help Australia respond to the Indochinese humanitarian crisis (and any future crises) in an orderly manner.[17] According to departmental records, 108 641 Indochinese refugees were resettled in Australia between April 1975 and June 1988.[18] Most were resettled between 1979 and 1982 when there were around 20 000 Indochinese arrivals per year under the new Humanitarian Program.[19]
By the mid 1980s, the Humanitarian Program intake had reduced to 11 000–12 000 a year and has remained at around 13 000 ever since, with a couple of exceptions—for example, higher numbers of humanitarian visas were granted in 2000–01 due to a wave of boat arrivals carrying asylum seekers from the Middle East.[20]
By the 1990s, a comprehensive refugee and humanitarian system was in place within the immigration portfolio and in January 1993 a decision was made by the Keating government to separate out the Humanitarian Program from the general Migration Program.[21]
As with the general Migration Program, the Australian Government reviews and adjusts the number of places available for refugee and humanitarian entrants on an annual basis in response to humanitarian need and according to government policy. As a result, both government planning figures and the number of humanitarian entrants have fluctuated over the years. However, available data on refugee and humanitarian entrants prior to the 1970s is limited. In the 1970s and 1980s, Humanitarian Program outcomes began to be published more comprehensively. Table 1 provides figures from 1984–85.
In 1996 the Howard Government introduced the practice of separately identifying those granted protection within Australia, or ‘onshore’, from those accepted ‘offshore’.[22] This introduced some new confusion in terms of the collection and presentation of Humanitarian Program data. While offshore and onshore components were separately identified for the first time, the data was numerically linked. Under the Howard Government, this meant that those processed extraterritorially under the ‘Pacific Solution’ were mostly included and counted under the ‘offshore’ component of the Humanitarian Program. In contrast, under the current Government, places allocated to those processed offshore on Christmas Island are counted under the ‘onshore’ not ‘offshore’ category. To confuse things further, the 7750 planning places currently allocated against the offshore humanitarian category are also shared with those granted onshore protection visas (including those processed on Christmas Island). The annual visa grant outcomes are then broken down and published each year (refugee, humanitarian and onshore) to reflect the actual outcomes.
There are two main sources of immigration related data—DIAC and the ABS—and the limitations of the data sets need to be understood. Changes in government policy and data collection methodology by these government agencies have also added to the complexity in interpreting this data and make it very difficult to compare migration-related statistics over time. The following examples illustrate these points.
The annual statistics on Migration and Humanitarian program ‘outcomes’ (visa grants) provided by the Department of Immigration since the 1980s show the number of permanent visas granted in any given year. This is the most accurate measure of the actual number of permanent migrants. However, one limitation is that offshore visa recipients may not actually arrive and settle in the country in the year the visa was issued.[23]
The ABS provides a figure for net overseas migration (NOM). However, in September 2006, the ABS changed the methodology for determining what is meant by a ‘long-term’ arrival or departure. As a result NOM data provided after September 2006 is not strictly comparable with previous years.[24] In particular, in 2007 the ABS introduced the ‘12/16 rule’ whereby a traveller is included in the resident population if they are in the country for a total of 12 months or more over a 16 month period and vice versa. Prior to that, a traveller had to be in (or out of) the country continuously for 12 months.[25]
The following sections describe the more commonly used categories of migration-related statistics and offer suggestions as to when it may be appropriate to use them. The corresponding tables are presented in the statistical appendix.
The rate at which Australia’s population has grown has increased significantly over the last five years—faster than at any other time in the past several decades.[26] Population growth is affected by two components; natural increase (the number of births minus the number of deaths); and net overseas migration (NOM). Although Australia’s fertility rate has increased since the early 2000s, it is NOM that has been the main driver of population growth in the last few years.[27]
The largest contribution to NOM in recent years has been from people on temporary visas—mostly comprised of overseas students and temporary skilled migrants—and Australian residents returning to the country due to the economic downturn.[28] So, although permanent migration intakes over the last few years have been high in comparison to previous years, it is important to note that Australia’s recent population growth predominantly reflects a significant increase in temporary, not permanent migration, and that NOM can fluctuate considerably from year to year.
Net overseas migration statistics are often used as an indicator of migration flows. However, they should be used with caution as NOM data includes the movements of those who are not permanent migrants or not migrants at all, such as Australian and New Zealand citizens coming and going on a long term basis, and any long term temporary migrants who are intending to stay for a year or more.
NOM is calculated by taking into account the addition (or loss) to the population of Australia arising from the difference between those leaving permanently or on a long-term basis (12 months or longer) and those arriving permanently or on a long-term basis.[29] This data includes:
- people who change their travel intentions, such as those who come to Australia intending to stay short-term but who actually stay longer than 12 months, and vice versa
- permanent residents and Australian citizens either leaving the country or returning home long-term (over 12 months)
- long term arrivals and departures of New Zealand passport holders (New Zealanders are granted a Special Category visa which remains valid for as long as the person remains in Australia), and
- entrants on temporary visas who intend to remain in the country for longer than 12 months, such as international students, people on long-term temporary (457) business visas and other long term visitors.[30]
In recent years it has been temporary, not permanent, migration that has contributed significantly to fluctuations in net overseas migration data. The ABS states that:
The largest contribution to NOM in recent years has been from people on temporary visas. In 2007–08, these accounted for 186 500 people or two-thirds of all net migration. Students made up the largest category of temporary net migration and 39 per cent of all NOM. The number of overseas students contributing to NOM has more than doubled from 45 300 in 2004–05 to 108 700 in 2007–08. Over half of the student component of NOM was made up of students who were citizens of India (33 300) and China (25 600). The third largest source of students in 2007–08 was Nepal with a NOM contribution of 7300 (equal to 7 per cent of the total NOM of students).[31]
Over the past 25 years, the contribution of NOM to population growth has averaged around 39 per cent per year, but has significantly increased in recent years (it has doubled since 2005–06).[32] Increases in the migration intakes, along with larger numbers of Australians returning from places like the UK due to the economic downturn, have pushed the average level of NOM up.[33] The net number of New Zealand citizens in Australia increased by 75 per cent between 2004–05 and 2007–08, and New Zealanders contributed 13 per cent to NOM in 2007–08.[34]
The preliminary NOM estimate for 2008–09 is 298 900 (the highest figure on record) representing 65 per cent of population growth.[35] However, NOM can fluctuate considerably from year to year and is estimated to have dropped by around 20 per cent over the last financial year.[36]
In summary, caution should be used when using NOM—while it may be an indication of changes to the population, it is not a measure of the number of permanent migrants arriving in any given year. Instead, NOM measures departures and arrivals of both permanent and (long term) temporary entrants and the resulting increase or decrease in the population overall. Also, statistics on overseas arrivals and departures relate to the number of movements of individuals and not necessarily the number of people. The ABS states that:
Care should be taken when using permanent and long-term movement data as it is known that some individuals who travel multiple times in a year are counted each time they cross Australia's borders.[37]
It is also important to note that, although ABS net overseas migration data is available back to 1901, the methodologies used to estimate NOM have changed significantly over time and the statistics for different years are not always comparable.[38]
The definition of a ‘settler arrival’ for migration purposes is someone arriving in Australia who:
- holds a permanent visa
- holds a temporary visa where there is a clear intention to settle
- is a New Zealand citizen indicating an intention to settle, and
- is any person otherwise eligible to settle.[39]
Eligible ‘settler arrivals’ may hold a permanent visa under the family, skill or special eligibility streams of the Migration Program or a visa under the refugee, special humanitarian or special assistance streams of the Humanitarian Program. However, others not covered under the Migration or Humanitarian Programs may also be eligible, such as New Zealand citizens; children born to Australian citizens overseas; people granted Australian citizenship overseas; and residents of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.[40]
As noted above, ABS data on arrivals and departures, including settler arrivals, tracks the number of movements not individuals. Prior to 1959, arrivals and departures were only classified as permanent or temporary. The permanent category was subsequently subdivided into permanent and long-term movement. The data for these categories is based on the stated intentions of travellers. Recent research comparing arrivals and departures data with data obtained using the new ABS methodology for calculating NOM (which is able to track travellers’ movement history) indicates that the stated intentions and actual movements of individuals diverge significantly.[41]
In summary, settler arrival statistics are a better indication of permanent movements than NOM, but include NZ citizens and some other temporary migrants who have indicated an intention to settle. Care should be taken in using these statistics and the ABS does not consider them an appropriate source of migration statistics.[42]
As part of its planned Migration Program, the federal government allocates places each year for people wanting to migrate permanently to Australia. Migration Program planning numbers fluctuate according to the priorities and economic and political considerations of the government of the day. Since the first federal immigration department was established, immigration policy has become more highly planned and in recent decades has specifically targeted skilled migration while continuing to allow a certain amount of family and humanitarian migration.
In the late 1980s, the federal government introduced the practice of dividing the immigration program into three main streams (family, skill and humanitarian).[43] Since then, data on the number of visas granted by category under Australia’s Migration Program each year has been collected and published by the Government.
Although only available since the 1980s, this data provides the best measure of the actual number of permanent migrants planning to settle in Australia.[44]
As discussed in detail earlier in this paper, over the years policy changes have resulted in changes to the methodology for counting humanitarian entrants. For example, onshore refugees were not counted against the Humanitarian Program until the Howard Government introduced the practice of separately identifying and quantifying offshore and onshore components of the Humanitarian Program in 1996.[45]
Despite these discrepancies, Humanitarian Program visa grants are the most accurate statistics available for refugee and humanitarian intakes to Australia back to the 1970s. Prior to the 1970s there are only estimates available for the number of post war refugees.
Although the rise in permanent migration to Australia is significant, many argue that the greatest change in immigration patterns to Australia in the last decade or so is the change in emphasis from permanent to temporary migration—with temporary migration increasingly becoming the first step towards permanent settlement in Australia for many people.[46] According to the ABS, over the last ten years onshore permanent visas have increased fourfold from 15 000 in 1998–99 to 63 400 in 2008–09.[47] Over one-third of the Migration Program in 2007–08 was made up of people granted permanent residence after initial entry to Australia on a temporary basis.[48]
Unlike the permanent migration program, the level of temporary migration to Australia is usually not determined by government, but rather is demand driven. The two most significant categories contributing to the rise in temporary migration to Australia in recent years are temporary skilled migrants and overseas students.
The most commonly used visa to sponsor temporary skilled migrants is the (subclass 457) Temporary business (long stay) visa introduced by the Howard Government in 1996.[49] There is no cap set on the number of 457 visas which may be granted in a particular year. Rather, the number of visas granted is directly related to the level of demand by employers for temporary skilled migrant workers, and their willingness to sponsor such workers. As a result, the temporary skilled migration program is highly responsive to changes in economic conditions and the demand for labour has risen (and fallen) in recent years accordingly.
Overseas students have also contributed significantly to temporary migration figures in Australia in recent years. In 2007–08 international students made up the largest group of temporary visa holders to arrive:
Australia’s immigration program has also seen an exponential increase in overseas student entrants. Indeed, by 2007 Australia accounted for 11 per cent of the international student market and had seen a three-fold increase in student numbers over the previous ten years. Figures published by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) indicate that the number of student visa holders in Australia grew at the average annual rate of 13.9 per cent every year after June 2001, rising to a total of 386 523 student visa holders in the 12 months to the end of June 2009.[50]
Since the mid 1990s, the number of overseas visitors entering Australia on a temporary long-term basis (staying for at least one year) has exceeded the number of people arriving for permanent settlement.[51] However, it is not easy to provide meaningful statistics for long-term temporary migration. Researchers McDonald and Withers point out that:
Immigrants are broadly divisible into two categories, permanent and temporary. To be included in the count of the Australian population, temporary immigrants need to stay in Australia for at least 12 months within a given 16-month period ... Statistics for long-term temporary immigrants are more difficult to describe. The main categories are overseas students, persons coming to Australia for specific employment (long stay business visa), working holiday makers, persons on bridging visas (between other visa types), persons on temporary protection visas and over-stayers (those who have remained in Australia illegally after their visa has expired). As most of these people go in and out of the country relatively frequently, statistics on their movements can be misleading. Stock data are possibly more useful than flow data.[52]
|
Year
|
Migration Program
|
Humanitarian Program
|
|
Family
|
Skill
|
Special Eligibility
|
Total
|
|
1984–85
|
44 200
|
10 100
|
200
|
54 500
|
14 207
|
|
1985–86
|
63 400
|
16 200
|
400
|
80 000
|
11 700
|
|
1986–87
|
72 600
|
28 500
|
600
|
101 700
|
11 291
|
|
1987–88
|
79 500
|
42 000
|
600
|
122 100
|
11 392
|
|
1988–89
|
72 700
|
51 200
|
800
|
124 700
|
11 309
|
|
1989–90
|
66 600
|
52 700
|
900
|
120 200
|
12 415
|
|
1990–91
|
61 300
|
49 800
|
1 200
|
112 200
|
11 284
|
|
1991–92
|
55 900
|
41 400
|
1 700
|
98 900
|
12 009
|
|
1992–93
|
43 500
|
21 300
|
1 400
|
67 900
|
11 845
|
|
1993–94
|
43 200
|
18 300
|
1 300
|
62 800
|
14 070
|
|
1994–95
|
44 500
|
30 400
|
1 600
|
76 500
|
14 858
|
|
1995–96
|
56 700
|
24 100
|
1 700
|
82 500
|
16 252
|
|
1996–97
|
44 580
|
27 550
|
1 730
|
73 900
|
11 902
|
|
1997–98
|
31 310
|
34 670
|
1 110
|
67 100
|
12 055
|
|
1998–99
|
32 040
|
35 000
|
890
|
67 900
|
11 356
|
|
1999–00
|
32 000
|
35 330
|
2 850
|
70 200
|
15 860
|
|
2000–01
|
33 470
|
44 730
|
2 420
|
80 610
|
13 733
|
|
2001–02
|
38 090
|
53 520
|
1 480
|
93 080
|
12 349
|
|
2002–03
|
40 790
|
66 050
|
1 230
|
108 070
|
12 525
|
|
2003–04
|
42 230
|
71 240
|
890
|
114 360
|
13 823
|
|
2004–05
|
41 740
|
77 880
|
450
|
120 060
|
13 178
|
|
2005–06
|
45 290
|
97 340
|
310
|
142 930
|
14 144
|
|
2006–07
|
50 080
|
97 920
|
200
|
148 200
|
13 017
|
|
2007–08
|
49 870
|
108 540
|
220
|
158 630
|
13 014
|
|
2008–09
|
56 366
|
114 777
|
175
|
171 318
|
13 507
|
|
2009–10
|
60 254
|
107 868
|
501
|
168 623
|
13 770
|
|
2010–11 (planned)
|
54 550
|
113 850
|
300
|
168 700
|
13 750
|
Sources: Migration Program: DIAC advice supplied to the Parliamentary Library in July 2010 taken from Population flows: immigration aspects, various editions since 1992; Migration Program Statistics web page and C Evans (Minister for Immigration and Citizenship), Budget: Migration Program, media release, 11 May 2010 for the planning figures.
Humanitarian Program: DIAC, Population flows: immigration aspects 2008–09, source data, chapter 4, 2010.
Table 2: Temporary migrants: overseas student and business long stay (subclass 457) visa grants since 1996
|
Year
|
Overseas students
|
Temporary business (long stay) 457 visas
|
|
1996–97
|
113 000
|
25 786
|
|
1997–98
|
108 827
|
30 880
|
|
1998–99
|
110 894
|
29 320
|
|
1999–00
|
119 806
|
31 070
|
|
2000–01
|
146 577
|
36 900
|
|
2001–02
|
151 894
|
33 510
|
|
2002–03
|
162 575
|
36 800
|
|
2003–04
|
171 616
|
39 500
|
|
2004–05
|
174 786
|
49 590
|
|
2005–06
|
190 674
|
71 150
|
|
2006–07
|
228 592
|
87 310
|
|
2007–08
|
278 180
|
110 570
|
|
2008–09
|
320 368
|
101 280
|
Sources: DIAC, various years of annual reports, population flows publications and migration statistics web pages; and Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee, Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Bill 2008 report, 2008, pp. 17–18 (for 457 visa grants).
|
Year
|
NOM (a) (b)
|
Year
|
NOM (a) (b)
|
Year
|
NOM (a) (b)
|
Series Break Information
|
|
1901
|
2 959
|
1938
|
8 145
|
1975
|
13 515
|
Prior to July 1922 crew members were included
Prior to July 1925 figures are total overseas arrivals and departures from Australia
|
|
1902
|
-4 293
|
1939
|
12 527
|
1976
|
33 997
|
|
1903
|
-9 876
|
1940
|
10 676
|
1977
|
68 030
|
|
1904
|
-2 983
|
1941
|
5 136
|
1978
|
47 394
|
|
1905
|
-2 600
|
1942
|
8 536
|
1979
|
68 611
|
|
1906
|
-5 049
|
1943
|
1 587
|
1980
|
100 940
|
|
1907
|
5 195
|
1944
|
-1 761
|
1981
|
123 066
|
|
1908
|
5 437
|
1945
|
-3 273
|
1982
|
102 709
|
From July 1925 figures are Net Permanent and Long Term migration
|
|
1909
|
21 783
|
1946
|
-11 589
|
1983
|
54 995
|
|
1910
|
29 912
|
1947
|
12 186
|
1984
|
59 823
|
|
1911
|
74 379
|
1948
|
48 468
|
1985
|
89 319
|
Break in series from September quarter 1971 to June quarter 2006 inclusive, Net Overseas Migration (NOM) was the difference between permanent and long-term arrivals and permanent and long-term departures.
|
|
1912
|
91 892
|
1949
|
149 270
|
1986
|
110 661
|
|
1913
|
63 227
|
1950
|
153 685
|
1987
|
136 093
|
|
1914
|
-8 226
|
1951
|
110 362
|
1988
|
172 794
|
|
1915
|
-84 410
|
1952
|
97 454
|
1989
|
129 478
|
|
1916
|
-128 737
|
1953
|
42 883
|
1990
|
97 131
|
|
1917
|
-17 822
|
1954
|
68 565
|
1991
|
81 669
|
|
1918
|
23 359
|
1955
|
95 317
|
1992
|
51 358
|
|
1919
|
166 303
|
1956
|
102 105
|
1993
|
34 822
|
|
1920
|
27 606
|
1957
|
77 622
|
1994
|
55 506
|
|
1921
|
17 525
|
1958
|
64 879
|
1995
|
106 864
|
|
1922
|
40 157
|
1959
|
83 578
|
1996
|
97 444
|
For September quarter 2006 onwards estimates for NOM are the difference between the number of incoming travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more and are added to the population (NOM arrivals) and the number of outgoing travellers who leave Australia for 12 months or more and are subtracted from the population (NOM departures)
|
|
1923
|
39 714
|
1960
|
92 776
|
1997
|
72 402
|
|
1924
|
46 069
|
1961
|
65 439
|
1998
|
88 781
|
|
1925
|
39 762
|
1962
|
64 638
|
1999
|
104 210
|
|
1926
|
42 282
|
1963
|
76 844
|
2000
|
111 441
|
|
1927
|
49 401
|
1964
|
103 999
|
2001
|
136 076
|
|
1928
|
28 864
|
1965
|
111 609
|
2002
|
110 475
|
|
1929
|
10 087
|
1966
|
95 931
|
2003
|
110 104
|
|
1930
|
-9 833
|
1967
|
96 558
|
2004
|
106 425
|
|
1931
|
-12 117
|
1968
|
123 452
|
2005
|
137 009
|
|
1932
|
-4 608
|
1969
|
140 331
|
2006
|
182 200
|
|
1933
|
-1 364
|
1970
|
138 382
|
2007
|
244 100
|
|
1934
|
- 388
|
1971
|
103 553
|
2008p
|
301 200
|
|
1935
|
1 251
|
1972
|
56 320
|
2009p
|
277 700
|
|
1936
|
1 283
|
1973
|
67 494
|
p = preliminary estimates
|
|
1937
|
5 075
|
1974
|
87 248
|
|
|
(a) Estimates for September quarter 2006 onwards use an improved methodology and are not comparable with NOM estimates prior to this.
(b) An adjustment for category jumping (later referred to as migration adjustments) was included for estimates for September quarter 1976 to June quarter 2006, except for September quarter 1997 to June quarter 2001 when it was set to zero.
Sources: Data for 1901–1924: DIAC, Immigration: Federation to Century’s End, DIAC, Canberra, 2001.
Data for 1925–2005: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001, 2008.
Data for 2006 onwards: ABS, Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0, 2010.
|
Year
|
Births (b)
|
Deaths (b)
|
Natural Increase (Births - Deaths)
|
Net Overseas Migration (c)
|
Estimated resident population (ERP) (d)
|
|
1971–72 (a)
|
271 960
|
110 191
|
161 769
|
75 672
|
13 303 664
|
|
1972–73 (a)
|
255 848
|
111 336
|
144 512
|
56 562
|
13 504 538
|
|
1973–74 (a)
|
243 658
|
110 179
|
133 479
|
82 926
|
13 722 571
|
|
1974–75 (a)
|
239 794
|
114 501
|
125 293
|
44 675
|
13 892 995
|
|
1975–76 (a)
|
231 135
|
110 610
|
120 525
|
21 239
|
14 033 083
|
|
1976–77
|
226 954
|
111 490
|
115 464
|
57 897
|
14 192 234
|
|
1977–78
|
226 359
|
108 059
|
118 300
|
62 715
|
14 359 255
|
|
1978–79
|
223 370
|
108 315
|
115 055
|
55 137
|
14 515 729
|
|
1979–80
|
223 664
|
106 654
|
117 010
|
75 941
|
14 695 356
|
|
1980–81
|
230 920
|
109 429
|
121 491
|
119 175
|
14 923 260
|
|
1981–82
|
237 076
|
110 990
|
126 086
|
128 117
|
15 184 247
|
|
1982–83
|
241 764
|
112 918
|
128 846
|
73 295
|
15 393 472
|
|
1983–84
|
240 544
|
110 887
|
129 657
|
49 098
|
15 579 391
|
|
1984–85
|
241 814
|
114 197
|
127 617
|
73 708
|
15 788 312
|
|
1985–86
|
239 115
|
116 069
|
123 046
|
100 359
|
16 018 350
|
|
1986–87
|
242 797
|
116 139
|
126 658
|
125 730
|
16 263 874
|
|
1987–88
|
246 200
|
120 463
|
125 737
|
149 341
|
16 532 164
|
|
1988–89
|
250 155
|
118 767
|
131 388
|
157 436
|
16 814 416
|
|
1989–90
|
257 521
|
125 112
|
132 409
|
124 647
|
17 065 128
|
|
1990–91
|
261 158
|
119 572
|
141 586
|
86 432
|
17 284 036
|
|
1991–92
|
259 186
|
120 836
|
138 350
|
68 580
|
17 494 664
|
|
1992–93
|
259 959
|
121 338
|
138 621
|
30 042
|
17 667 093
|
|
1993–94
|
258 314
|
123 496
|
134 818
|
46 549
|
17 854 738
|
|
1994–95
|
258 210
|
126 232
|
131 978
|
80 125
|
18 071 758
|
|
1995–96
|
250 438
|
126 400
|
124 038
|
104 137
|
18 310 714
|
|
1996–97
|
253 660
|
127 298
|
126 362
|
87 079
|
18 517 564
|
|
1997–98
|
249 105
|
129 255
|
119 850
|
79 162
|
18 711 271
|
|
1998–99
|
249 965
|
128 278
|
121 687
|
96 483
|
18 925 855
|
|
1999–00
|
249 310
|
128 392
|
120 918
|
107 275
|
19 153 380
|
|
2000–01
|
247 500
|
128 913
|
118 587
|
135 673
|
19 413 240
|
|
2001–02
|
247 288
|
130 253
|
117 035
|
110 556
|
19 651 438
|
|
2002–03
|
246 663
|
132 239
|
114 424
|
116 498
|
19 895 435
|
|
2003–04
|
249 082
|
133 231
|
115 851
|
99 966
|
20 127 363
|
|
2004–05
|
255 934
|
131 354
|
124 580
|
123 763
|
20 394 791
|
|
2005–06
|
263 540
|
134 041
|
129 499
|
146 753
|
20 697 880
|
|
2006–07
|
277 724
|
135 976
|
141 748
|
232 824
|
21 072 452
|
|
2007–08
|
289 492
|
140 736
|
148 756
|
277 332
|
21 498 540
|
|
2008–09
|
300 936
|
143 144
|
157 792
|
298 924
|
21 955 256
|
(a) Between 1971 and 1976 inconsistencies exist between the components of growth of the population and estimates of the population. Estimates of category jumping were made only from September quarter 1976.
(b) Births and deaths figures used to compile natural increase for population estimates are based on year of occurrence and may differ from births and deaths based on year of registration.
(c) Estimates for net overseas migration (NOM) contain a break in time series. Estimates for September quarter 2006 onwards use an improved methodology and are not comparable with NOM estimates prior to this.
(d) The official measure of the population of Australia is based on the concept of usual residence. It refers to all people, regardless of nationality, citizenship or legal status, who usually live in Australia, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families. It includes usual residents who are overseas for less than 12 out of 16 months. It excludes overseas visitors who are in Australia for less than 12 out of 16 months. See ABS, ‘Glossary’, Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0, December 2009, viewed 4 August 2010. For 1994, the sum of the components of population change for Australia does not equal the difference between the 1994 and 1993 ERPs due to the inclusion of the September quarter 1993 populations of Christmas Island (1470 persons) and Cocos (Keeling) Islands (625 persons) in the Australian population for the first time.
Sources: Data for 1971–72 to 2005-06: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001, 2008. Data for 2006–07 to 2008-09: ABS, Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0, 2010.
|
Year
|
Natural increase rate
|
Net overseas migration rate
|
Total population growth rate (a)
|
|
1971–72
|
1.24
|
0.58
|
1.81
|
|
1972–73
|
1.09
|
0.43
|
1.51
|
|
1973–74
|
0.99
|
0.61
|
1.61
|
|
1974–75
|
0.91
|
0.33
|
1.24
|
|
1975–76
|
0.87
|
0.15
|
1.01
|
|
1976–77
|
0.82
|
0.41
|
1.13
|
|
1977–78
|
0.83
|
0.44
|
1.18
|
|
1978–79
|
0.80
|
0.38
|
1.09
|
|
1979–80
|
0.81
|
0.52
|
1.24
|
|
1980–81
|
0.83
|
0.81
|
1.55
|
|
1981–82
|
0.84
|
0.86
|
1.75
|
|
1982–83
|
0.85
|
0.48
|
1.38
|
|
1983–84
|
0.84
|
0.32
|
1.21
|
|
1984–85
|
0.82
|
0.47
|
1.34
|
|
1985–86
|
0.78
|
0.64
|
1.46
|
|
1986–87
|
0.79
|
0.78
|
1.53
|
|
1987–88
|
0.77
|
0.92
|
1.65
|
|
1988–89
|
0.79
|
0.95
|
1.71
|
|
1989–90
|
0.79
|
0.74
|
1.49
|
|
1990–91
|
0.83
|
0.51
|
1.28
|
|
1991–92
|
0.80
|
0.40
|
1.22
|
|
1992–93
|
0.79
|
0.17
|
0.99
|
|
1993–94
|
0.76
|
0.26
|
1.06
|
|
1994–95
|
0.74
|
0.45
|
1.22
|
|
1995–96
|
0.69
|
0.58
|
1.32
|
|
1996–97
|
0.69
|
0.48
|
1.13
|
|
1997–98
|
0.65
|
0.43
|
1.05
|
|
1998–99
|
0.65
|
0.52
|
1.15
|
|
1999–00
|
0.64
|
0.57
|
1.20
|
|
2000–01
|
0.62
|
0.71
|
1.36
|
|
2001–02
|
0.60
|
0.57
|
1.23
|
|
2002–03
|
0.58
|
0.59
|
1.24
|
|
2003–04
|
0.58
|
0.50
|
1.17
|
|
2004–05
|
0.62
|
0.61
|
1.33
|
|
2005–06
|
0.63
|
0.72
|
1.49
|
|
2006–07
|
0.68
|
1.12
|
1.81
|
|
2007–08
|
0.71
|
1.32
|
2.02
|
|
2008–09
|
0.73
|
1.39
|
2.12
|
(a) Population change over a period as a proportion (percentage) of the population at the beginning of the period.
Sources: Data for 1971-72 to 2005-06: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001, 2008.
Data for 2006-07 to 2008-09: ABS, Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0, 2010.
|
Arrivals
|
Departures
|
|
Year
|
Permanent Settler Arrivals (a)
|
Long term: more than one year
|
TOTAL: Permanent and Long-term Arrivals
|
Permanent departures (a)
|
Long term: more than one year
|
TOTAL: Permanent and Long-term departures
|
|
Residents returning (a)
|
Visitors arriving (a)
|
Residents departing (a)
|
Visitors departing (a)
|
|
1925
|
56 477
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
56 477
|
16 715
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
16 715
|
|
1926
|
59 464
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
59 464
|
17 182
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
17 182
|
|
1927
|
67 078
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
67 078
|
17 677
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
17 677
|
|
1928
|
48 233
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
48 233
|
19 369
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
19 369
|
|
1929
|
31 698
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
31 698
|
21 611
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
21 611
|
|
1930
|
17 537
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
17 537
|
27 370
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
27 370
|
|
1931
|
9 441
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
9 441
|
21 558
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
21 558
|
|
1932
|
9 868
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
9 868
|
14 476
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
14 476
|
|
1933
|
10 749
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
10 749
|
12 113
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
12 113
|
|
1934
|
11 778
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
11 778
|
12 166
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
12 166
|
|
1935
|
12 608
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
12 608
|
11 357
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
11 357
|
|
1936
|
12 653
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
12 653
|
11 370
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
11 370
|
|
1937
|
16 291
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
16 291
|
11 216
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
11 216
|
|
1938
|
19 548
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
19 548
|
11 403
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
11 403
|
|
1939
|
24 068
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
24 068
|
11 541
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
11 541
|
|
1940
|
16 152
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
16 152
|
5 476
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
5 476
|
|
1941
|
8 940
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
8 940
|
3 804
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
3 804
|
|
1942
|
10 145
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
10 145
|
1 609
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1 609
|
|
1943
|
3 516
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
3 516
|
1 929
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1 929
|
|
1944
|
2 511
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
2 511
|
4 272
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
4 272
|
|
1945
|
7 512
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
7 512
|
10 785
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
10 785
|
|
1946
|
18 217
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
18 217
|
29 806
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
29 806
|
|
1947
|
31 765
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
31 765
|
19 579
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
19 579
|
|
1948
|
65 739
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
65 739
|
17 271
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
17 271
|
|
1949
|
167 727
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
167 727
|
18 457
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
18 457
|
|
1950
|
174 540
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
174 540
|
20 855
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
20 855
|
|
1951
|
132 542
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
132 542
|
22 180
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
22 180
|
|
1952
|
127 824
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
127 824
|
30 370
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
30 370
|
|
1953
|
74 915
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
74 915
|
32 032
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
32 032
|
|
1954
|
104 014
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
104 014
|
35 449
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
35 449
|
|
1955
|
130 795
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
130 795
|
35 478
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
35 478
|
|
1956
|
123 822
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
123 822
|
21 717
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
21 717
|
|
1957
|
118 695
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
118 695
|
41 073
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
41 073
|
|
1958
|
109 857
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
109 857
|
44 978
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
44 978
|
|
1959
|
97 777
|
15 285
|
10 960
|
124 022
|
12 900
|
21 296
|
6 248
|
40 444
|
|
1960
|
110 079
|
16 495
|
12 797
|
139 371
|
10 853
|
25 331
|
10 411
|
46 595
|
|
1961
|
95 407
|
18 602
|
13 577
|
127 586
|
14 777
|
32 157
|
12 213
|
59 147
|
|
1962
|
90 464
|
20 580
|
13 941
|
124 985
|
15 429
|
31 781
|
13 137
|
60 347
|
|
1963
|
108 150
|
22 205
|
13 813
|
144 168
|
16 278
|
38 317
|
12 729
|
67 324
|
|
1964
|
134 464
|
23 641
|
15 020
|
173 125
|
15 083
|
40 958
|
13 085
|
69 126
|
|
1965
|
147 507
|
26 260
|
17 497
|
191 264
|
20 913
|
46 313
|
12 429
|
79 655
|
|
1966
|
141 033
|
28 292
|
19 234
|
188 559
|
26 308
|
54 321
|
11 999
|
92 628
|
|
1967
|
135 019
|
35 655
|
21 637
|
192 311
|
30 804
|
52 148
|
12 801
|
95 753
|
|
1968
|
159 270
|
36 387
|
23 473
|
219 130
|
31 675
|
51 386
|
12 617
|
95 678
|
|
1969
|
183 416
|
38 308
|
26 867
|
248 591
|
33 631
|
59 027
|
15 602
|
108 260
|
|
1970
|
185 325
|
42 099
|
31 194
|
258 618
|
37 294
|
64 215
|
18 727
|
120 236
|
|
1971
|
155 525
|
47 782
|
30 500
|
233 807
|
41 122
|
67 699
|
21 433
|
130 254
|
|
1972
|
112 468
|
54 278
|
26 559
|
193 305
|
45 881
|
66 853
|
24 251
|
136 985
|
|
1973
|
105 003
|
65 021
|
27 370
|
197 394
|
43 430
|
64 964
|
21 506
|
129 900
|
|
1974
|
121 324
|
63 320
|
26 984
|
211 628
|
33 751
|
66 228
|
24 401
|
124 380
|
|
1975
|
54 119
|
58 354
|
19 858
|
132 331
|
29 084
|
66 406
|
23 326
|
118 816
|
|
1976
|
58 287
|
59 881
|
23 312
|
141 480
|
26 732
|
68 527
|
20 631
|
115 890
|
|
1977
|
75 640
|
57 701
|
27 472
|
160 813
|
22 762
|
64 088
|
19 181
|
106 031
|
|
1978
|
68 419
|
57 938
|
28 390
|
154 747
|
24 961
|
58 519
|
19 644
|
103 124
|
|
1979
|
72 236
|
61 441
|
33 450
|
167 127
|
23 420
|
54 266
|
20 422
|
98 108
|
|
1980
|
94 503
|
58 760
|
31 025
|
184 288
|
20 843
|
50 713
|
19 306
|
90 862
|
|
1981
|
118 735
|
59 401
|
34 552
|
212 688
|
19 852
|
46 738
|
19 013
|
85 603
|
|
1982
|
107 171
|
53 766
|
34 265
|
195 202
|
22 493
|
46 892
|
22 956
|
92 341
|
|
1983
|
78 392
|
47 806
|
27 376
|
153 574
|
25 870
|
48 182
|
26 455
|
100 507
|
|
1984
|
73 108
|
51 556
|
28 868
|
153 532
|
22 311
|
50 780
|
23 266
|
96 357
|
|
1985
|
82 000
|
55 669
|
34 883
|
172 552
|
18 620
|
51 027
|
23 793
|
93 440
|
|
1986
|
103 326
|
55 307
|
38 049
|
196 682
|
18 817
|
48 358
|
25 269
|
92 444
|
|
1987
|
128 288
|
53 590
|
39 737
|
221 615
|
20 415
|
49 977
|
27 377
|
97 769
|
|
1988
|
151 549
|
54 986
|
47 327
|
253 862
|
20 320
|
54 118
|
30 326
|
104 764
|
|
1989
|
131 064
|
53 442
|
53 543
|
238 049
|
24 829
|
59 218
|
35 993
|
120 040
|
|
1990
|
121 563
|
56 365
|
56 120
|
234 048
|
30 365
|
66 296
|
40 807
|
137 468
|
|
1991
|
116 647
|
61 259
|
59 326
|
237 232
|
29 898
|
66 127
|
47 684
|
143 709
|
|
1992
|
94 246
|
66 155
|
60 052
|
220 453
|
28 135
|
66 984
|
48 540
|
143 659
|
|
1993
|
65 675
|
73 428
|
58 829
|
197 932
|
28 074
|
64 301
|
48 051
|
140 426
|
|
1994
|
77 937
|
78 064
|
65 912
|
221 913
|
27 020
|
66 365
|
48 291
|
141 676
|
|
1995
|
96 969
|
78 794
|
78 172
|
253 935
|
27 873
|
69 083
|
52 406
|
149 362
|
|
1996
|
92 503
|
80 004
|
88 826
|
261 333
|
28 479
|
70 964
|
58 820
|
158 263
|
|
1997
|
78 229
|
81 797
|
100 191
|
260 217
|
30 343
|
77 181
|
69 039
|
176 563
|
|
1998
|
81 065
|
75 318
|
112 000
|
268 383
|
33 433
|
81 057
|
65 112
|
179 602
|
|
1999
|
88 010
|
76 133
|
125 731
|
289 874
|
38 225
|
83 428
|
64 011
|
185 664
|
|
2000
|
97 178
|
80 306
|
140 076
|
317 560
|
43 824
|
88 087
|
74 208
|
206 119
|
|
2001
|
100 888
|
85 127
|
170 393
|
356 408
|
47 600
|
93 457
|
75 074
|
216 131
|
|
2002
|
89 348
|
92 396
|
180 244
|
361 988
|
49 081
|
89 992
|
83 867
|
222 940
|
|
2003
|
103 887
|
98 835
|
185 727
|
388 449
|
54 119
|
83 986
|
86 780
|
224 885
|
|
2004
|
117 473
|
98 240
|
196 851
|
412 564
|
61 853
|
87 626
|
94 189
|
243 668
|
|
2005
|
128 753
|
103 909
|
209 618
|
442 280
|
64 398
|
94 084
|
93 302
|
251 784
|
|
2006
|
133 879
|
107 035
|
238 565
|
479 479
|
69 399
|
101 211
|
94 933
|
265 543
|
|
2007
|
141 645
|
108 513
|
285 569
|
535 727
|
74 963
|
102 250
|
113 698
|
290 911
|
|
2008
|
161 520
|
113 750
|
358 820
|
634 090
|
79 410
|
100 120
|
142 070
|
321 600
|
|
2009
|
148 410
|
117 120
|
377 250
|
642 780
|
82 710
|
76 010
|
180 430
|
339 150
|
(a) Prior to 1959, overseas arrivals and departures were classified as either permanent or temporary. Revised questions for travellers were introduced in 1958 which enabled arrivals and departures, previously classified as permanent, to be sub-divided (as from 1 January 1959) into two categories: permanent movement; and long-term movement.
‘Statistics on overseas arrivals and departures (OAD) relate to the number of movements of travellers rather than the number of travellers. Care should be taken when using permanent and long-term movements data as it is known that some individuals who travel multiple times in a year are counted each time they cross Australia's borders. Permanent and long-term movements in this release are not an appropriate source of migration statistics’. For further information see ABS, Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia, cat. no. 3401.0, 2010.
Source: ABS, Overseas Arrivals and Departures, cat no. 3401.0, June 2010.
| |
1901 Census
|
|
|
1911 Census
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
495 074
|
57.7
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
451 288
|
59.6
|
|
2. Ireland (b)
|
184 085
|
21.5
|
|
2. Ireland (b)
|
139 434
|
18.4
|
|
3. Germany
|
38 352
|
4.5
|
|
3. Germany
|
32 990
|
4.4
|
|
4. China
|
29 907
|
3.5
|
|
4. New Zealand
|
31 868
|
4.2
|
|
5. New Zealand
|
25 788
|
3.0
|
|
5. China
|
20 775
|
2.7
|
|
6. Sweden & Norway
|
9 863
|
1.2
|
|
6. Italy
|
6 719
|
0.9
|
|
7. India
|
7 637
|
0.9
|
|
7. India
|
6 644
|
0.9
|
|
8. USA
|
7 448
|
0.9
|
|
8. USA
|
6 642
|
0.9
|
|
9. Denmark
|
6 281
|
0.7
|
|
9. Denmark
|
5 663
|
0.7
|
|
10.Italy
|
5 678
|
0.7
|
|
10. Sweden & Norway
|
5 586
|
0.7
|
|
Top ten total
|
810 113
|
94.5
|
|
Top ten total
|
707 609
|
93.5
|
|
Other
|
47 463
|
5.5
|
|
Other
|
49 256
|
6.5
|
|
Total overseas born
|
857 576
|
100
|
|
Total overseas born
|
756 865
|
100.0
|
|
Total population (a)
|
3 788 123
|
|
|
Total population (a)
|
4 455 005
|
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
22.6 |
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
17.0
|
| |
1921 Census
|
|
|
1933 Census
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
568 370
|
67.7
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
633 806
|
70.2
|
|
2. Ireland (b)
|
105 033
|
12.5
|
|
2. Ireland (b)
|
78 652
|
8.7
|
|
3. New Zealand
|
38 611
|
4.6
|
|
3. New Zealand
|
45 963
|
5.1
|
|
4. Germany
|
22 396
|
2.7
|
|
4. Italy
|
26 756
|
3.0
|
|
5. China
|
15 224
|
1.8
|
|
5. Germany
|
16 842
|
1.9
|
|
6. Italy
|
8 135
|
1.0
|
|
6. China
|
8 579
|
0.9
|
|
7. India
|
6 918
|
0.8
|
|
7. Greece
|
8 337
|
0.9
|
|
8. USA
|
6 604
|
0.8
|
|
8. India
|
6 774
|
0.7
|
|
9. Denmark
|
6 002
|
0.7
|
|
9. South Africa
|
6 179
|
0.7
|
|
10. South Africa
|
5 408
|
0.6
|
|
10. USA
|
6 066
|
0.7
|
|
Top ten total
|
782 701
|
93.2
|
|
Top ten total
|
837 954
|
92.8
|
|
Other
|
56 878
|
6.8
|
|
Other
|
65 319
|
7.2
|
|
Total overseas born
|
839 579
|
100.0
|
|
Total overseas born
|
903 273
|
100.0
|
|
Total population (a)
|
5 455 136
|
|
|
Total population (a)
|
6 629 836
|
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
15.4 |
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
13.6
|
| |
1947 Census
|
|
|
1954 Census
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
496 454
|
66.7
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
616 532
|
47.9
|
|
2. Ireland (b)
|
44 813
|
6.0
|
|
2 Italy
|
119 897
|
9.3
|
|
3. New Zealand
|
43 610
|
5.9
|
|
3. Poland
|
56594
|
4.4
|
|
4. Italy
|
33 632
|
4.5
|
|
4. Netherlands
|
52 035
|
4.0
|
|
5. Germany
|
14 567
|
1.7
|
|
5. Germany
|
50 855
|
4.0
|
|
6. Greece
|
12 291
|
1.1
|
|
6. Ireland (b)
|
44 673
|
3.5
|
|
7. India & Sri Lanka
|
8 160
|
0.9
|
|
7. New Zealand
|
43 350
|
3.4
|
|
8. Poland
|
6 573
|
0.9
|
|
8. Yugoslavia
|
22 856
|
1.8
|
|
9. China
|
6 404
|
0.8
|
|
9. Greece
|
25 862
|
2.0
|
|
10. USA
|
6 232
|
0.8
|
|
10. Malta
|
19 988
|
1.6
|
|
Top ten total
|
672 736
|
90.4
|
|
Top ten total
|
1 052 642
|
81.8
|
|
Other
|
71 451
|
9.6
|
|
Other
|
233 824
|
18.2
|
|
Total overseas born
|
744 187
|
100.0
|
|
Total overseas born
|
1 286 466
|
100.0
|
|
Total population (a)
|
7 579 358
|
|
|
Total population (a)
|
8 986 530
|
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
9.8 |
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
14.3
|
| |
1961 Census
|
|
|
1971 Census
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
718 345
|
40.4
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
1 046 356
|
40.6
|
|
2. Italy
|
228 296
|
12.8
|
|
2. Italy
|
289 476
|
11.2
|
|
3. Germany
|
109 315
|
6.1
|
|
3. Greece
|
160 200
|
6.2
|
|
4. Netherlands
|
102 083
|
5.7
|
|
4. Yugoslavia
|
129 816
|
5.0
|
|
5. Greece
|
77 333
|
4.3
|
|
5. Germany
|
110 811
|
4.3
|
|
6. Poland
|
60 049
|
3.4
|
|
6. Netherlands
|
99 295
|
3.8
|
|
7. Yugoslavia
|
49 776
|
2.8
|
|
7. New Zealand
|
80 466
|
3.1
|
|
8. New Zealand
|
47 011
|
2.6
|
|
8. Poland
|
59 700
|
2.3
|
|
9. Malta
|
39 337
|
2.2
|
|
9. Malta
|
53 681
|
2.1
|
|
10. Ireland
|
37 057
|
2.1
|
|
10. Ireland
|
41 854
|
1.6
|
|
Top ten total
|
1 468 602
|
82.6
|
|
Top ten total
|
2 071 655
|
80.3
|
|
Other
|
310 178
|
17.4
|
|
Other
|
507 663
|
19.7
|
|
Total overseas born
|
1 778 780
|
100.0
|
|
Total overseas born
|
2 579 318
|
100.0
|
|
Total population (a)
|
10 508 186
|
|
|
Total population
|
12 755 638
|
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
16.9 |
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
20.2
|
| |
1981 Census
|
|
|
1991 Census
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
1 086 625
|
36.5
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
1 107 119
|
30.0
|
|
2. Italy
|
275 883
|
9.3
|
|
2. New Zealand
|
264 094
|
7.2
|
|
3. New Zealand
|
176 713
|
5.9
|
|
3. Italy
|
253 332
|
6.9
|
|
4. Yugoslavia
|
149 335
|
5.0
|
|
4. Yugoslavia
|
160 479
|
4.4
|
|
5. Greece
|
146 625
|
4.9
|
|
5. Greece
|
136 028
|
3.7
|
|
6. Germany
|
110 758
|
3.7
|
|
6. Viet Nam
|
121 813
|
3.3
|
|
7. Netherlands
|
96 044
|
3.2
|
|
7. Germany
|
111 975
|
3.0
|
|
8. Poland
|
59 441
|
2.0
|
|
8. Netherlands
|
94 692
|
2.6
|
|
9. Malta
|
57 001
|
1.9
|
|
9. China
|
77 799
|
2.1
|
|
10. Lebanon
|
49 623
|
1.7
|
|
10. Philippines
|
73 144
|
2.0
|
|
Top ten total
|
2 208 048
|
74.2
|
|
Top ten total
|
2 400 475
|
65.1
|
|
Other
|
765 786
|
25.8
|
|
Other
|
1 288 653
|
34.9
|
|
Total overseas born
|
2 973 834
|
100.0
|
|
Total overseas born
|
3 689 128
|
100.0
|
|
Total population (b) (c)
|
17 752 824
|
|
|
Total population (c) (d)
|
16 770 635
|
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
16.8
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
22.0
|
| |
2001 Census
|
|
|
2006 Census
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
Birthplace
|
No.
|
%
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
1 036 261
|
25.2
|
|
1. United Kingdom (b)
|
1 038 162
|
23.5
|
|
2. New Zealand
|
355 762
|
8.7
|
|
2. New Zealand
|
389 467
|
8.8
|
|
3. Italy
|
218 722
|
5.3
|
|
3. China
|
206 593
|
4.7
|
|
4. Viet Nam
|
154 818
|
3.8
|
|
4. Italy
|
199 124
|
4.5
|
|
5. China
|
142 807
|
3.5
|
|
5. Viet Nam
|
159 848
|
3.6
|
|
6. Greece
|
116 431
|
2.8
|
|
6. India
|
147 111
|
3.3
|
|
7. Germany
|
108 214
|
2.6
|
|
7. Philippines
|
120 534
|
2.7
|
|
8. Philippines
|
103 915
|
2.5
|
|
8. Greece
|
109 989
|
2.5
|
|
9. India
|
95 445
|
2.3
|
|
9. Germany
|
106 528
|
2.4
|
|
10. Netherlands
|
83 290
|
2.0
|
|
10. South Africa
|
104 132
|
2.4
|
|
Top ten total
|
2 415 665
|
58.8
|
|
Top ten total
|
2 581 488
|
58.5
|
|
Other
|
1 689 803
|
41.2
|
|
Other
|
1 834 548
|
41.5
|
|
Total overseas born
|
4 105 468
|
100.0
|
|
Total overseas born
|
4 416 036
|
100.0
|
|
Total population (c) (d)
|
18 769 249
|
|
|
Total population (b) (c)
|
19 855 288
|
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
21.9
|
|
% of Australian born overseas
|
22.2
|
(a) Excludes full-blood Indigenous persons
(b) Prior to the 1954 Census persons born in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are recorded together under Ireland
(c) Excludes overseas visitors
(d) Includes birthplace not stated
Sources: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, cat no. 3105.0.65.001, 2008.
ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1971, 1981, 2001, 2006.
DIAC, Immigration: Federation to Century's End 1901–2000, October 2001
[18]. Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (DILGEA), 'Indochinese Refugees', Statistical Note, no. 37, Statistics Section, Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs, October 1988.
[22]. P Ruddock (Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs), 1996–97 Humanitarian Program, media release, Canberra, 3 July 1996.
[50]. E Koleth, op. cit. See also ABS, Migration, op. cit., p. 29.
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