Key insights – 2021-22 financial year
Between 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2022, we observed in NSW:
- The population grew by 59,800 (0.74%) to reach 8.15 million.
- Almost 1 in 3 people in Australia lived in NSW.
- Births outnumbered deaths by 40,378 (100,314 births and 59,936 deaths).
- International borders reopened and 62,213 more people arrived in NSW from overseas than those who left.
- Record net interstate migration saw 43,451 more people leave NSW for other states or territories than arrived.
Future projections
The 2022 NSW Population Projections reflect changes we have seen in population dynamics up until the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The projections show what we expect to happen, with slower growth than previously projected before the pandemic. Some of these changes include:
- the impact of border closures is now evident as Australia’s international borders have re-opened, and overseas migration is approaching pre-pandemic levels
- ongoing economic uncertainty may affect how many babies are born and how many people move in and out of the state.
Effect of COVID-19
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics for July 2020 to June 2022 tells us how 2 years of living with COVID-19 has affected the NSW population. The full effect of COVID-19 on population change in NSW will emerge in official statistics over time.
Comparison of recent trends with projection assumptions
The assumptions for the 2022 NSW Population Projections were set in late 2021, based on the most up-to-date data available at the time on births, deaths and migration.
Compared with these projection assumptions, population data released over the past 12 months has revealed:
- Net overseas migration gain in 2021-22 was larger than assumed.
- Net interstate migration loss in 2021-22 was larger than assumed.
- Natural change in 2021-22 was similar to that assumed in the projections.
The department will take this information and other forthcoming data releases into account as the projection assumptions are reviewed over the coming year.
