FED: Australia s population hit 19 million = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-1999
FED: Australia s population hit 19 million = 2

Mr Hockey said it had taken four years and five months for the population to increase from
18 million to 19 million.

He said during that time natural increase accounted for 53 per cent of the growth
while migration had contributed 47 per cent.

He said the population increased by 558 each day - 681 babies were born, 369 people died
and 246 immigrants were added.

It was estimated Australia's population would reach 20 million by 2005 and increase to 26
million in 2050, Mr Hockey said.

But while there were other countries in the world with lower growth rates than Australia,
the increase in our population was put in perspective by the experience of highly populated
nations such as China and India.

"Australia's population is small. I think it was only in the last three weeks that India
passed one billion people," Australian Statistician Bill McLennan told AAP.

"Their population grows by more than Australia's population every year. In terms of the
world, the total population is more than six billion."

MORE as/sb

KEYWORD: POPULATION

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.