Sydney's population growth up 2%: Pete Wargent

EXPERT OBSERVATION

The ABS reported that Sydney's population increased by more than +100,000 in FY2017 for the first time ever, in doing so rising to an estimated 5.1 million.

More than 70% of Australia's population growth was accounted for by Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Sydney's population growth climbed dramatically to +101,600 (+2%), while Melbourne remained extremely strong at +125,400 (+2.7%).

Melbourne's population has increased by well over ¼ million in only two financial years to hit 4.9 million. 

Population growth in Brisbane also picked up strongly to +48,000 or +2%, driven partly by interstate migration. 

Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Geelong recorded some fair population growth in absolute terms, and the ACT also increased by an estimated +6,833 persons. 

But generally speaking population growth was considerably weaker around regional Australia.

Darwin (+696), Adelaide (+9,648), and Perth (+21,094) also recorded population growth rates of 1% or less.