Population rising fast

Submitted 2/12/2008

Migration for Business Growth

 

Australia's population is growing at its fastest rate in nearly 20 years, with immigration the main driver. The number of people living in Australia, as of June 30 this year, was 21.374 million, up 359,000 on the previous year. The 1.7 per cent growth rate is the highest since 1989, the nation's statistician says. Net overseas migration of 213,500 people accounted for 59 per cent of the growth. The natural increase, that is births outnumbering deaths, was 145,500 people. Australia's fertility rate has increased to 1.93 births per woman, the highest rate since 1981. The death rate was 6.03 deaths per 1000 people, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.-- AAP