Tassie targets expats in population drive

The Tasmanian government hopes former residents will consider returning to the island as the state tries to meet an ambitious population target.

With a current population of about 515,000, Tasmania's Liberal administration wants that number boosted to 650,000 by 2050.

Expatriates could form part of a strategy to build numbers, and the government is calling for other ideas from the public as part of a discussion paper launched this week, State Growth Minister Matthew Groom said.

"We would like to connect with Tasmanian expats in a more effective way and show them now that there is a real opportunity to come back," he told The Mercury newspaper.

Mr Groom outlined the main groups from which Tasmania hopes to recruit: expats, mainlanders, families, international students, and professionals.

"We recognise that population growth is critical to sustaining economic growth for Tasmania," he said.