Interstate, overseas migration lifts WA population to over two million

Significant increases in net interstate and overseas migration have been the main contributors to the 1.9 per cent WA population increase in 2005-06.

Net interstate migration increased by 75 per cent from 2004-05, with the state’s economic boom and property market attracting people to the west, and net overseas migration increased by 28 per cent.

Since 1999-00, net overseas migration has overtaken natural increase (ie births and deaths) to become the largest contributor to population growth in WA.

Between 1999 and 2005, WA’s population has increased by 135,654 persons, with over half of that growth attributed to net overseas migration (56.7 per cent).

WA’s population growth has recovered from a lengthy period of deceleration.

Population growth had slowed from 31,469 persons in 1995-96 to 23,394 persons in 2001-02, but has since increased to 32,034 persons in 2004-05 and 38,600 in 2005-06.

Almost three-quarters (73.5%) of the state’s population resided in the Perth Statistical Division (SD).

This proportion has remained virtually unchanged since 1991.

The majority of SDs recorded an increase in their population in the twelve months to June 2005, with the largest increases recorded in the South West (3.9%), Kimberley (2.3%) and Perth (1.6%).

Population declines were recorded for Upper Great Southern (-1.5%), South Eastern (-0.9%) and Midlands (-0.3%).