Rising number of migrant workers drives Australia's 2.5 per cent population surge

Australia's population surged by 2.5 per cent largely due to an increase in migrant workers and students.

The population grew by 659,800 people to 26.8 million people in the year to September, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Western Australia had the fastest growing population up by 3.3 per cent, followed by Victoria by 2.9 per cent and Queensland by 2.7 per cent.

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New South Wales' population increased by 2.3 per cent and the Australian Capital Territory by 2.1 per cent.

Tasmania had the slowest growth of 0.3 per cent, followed by the Northern Territory by 0.7 per cent and South Australia by 1.7 per cent.

Head of demography Beidar Cho said the 83 per cent of the growth was driven by a rising overseas migration after the country saw 548,800 new arrivals.

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"Net overseas migration grew by 60 per cent compared with the previous year, driven by an increase in overseas migration arrivals (up 34 per cent), predominantly on a temporary visa for work or study," she said.

Cho said the remaining 17 per cent of the growth was driven by 111,000 births, which was 3.9 per cent less than the previous year.

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