Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has reached 798,400, or 3.3 per cent of the total Australian population, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
ABS Demography Director Beidar Cho said that over the five years to June 2016, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population increased by 19 per cent, or 128,500 people.
"This is higher than the 8 per cent increase for the non-Indigenous population over the same period," said Ms Cho. "New South Wales was the fastest growing state or territory for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait population with an increase of 27 per cent."
New South Wales had the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (265,600 people), followed by Queensland (221,400 people) and Western Australia (100,500 people). These three states comprised almost three quarters of the total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia. The Australian Capital Territory had the smallest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (7,500 people).
Overall, Australia's population grew by 389,100 people to reach 24.5 million by the end of March 2017. Victoria was the fastest growing state or territory, with a population increase of 2.4 per cent, followed by the Australian Capital Territory, 1.8 per cent.
Net overseas migration added 231,900 people to the population, and accounted for 60 per cent of Australia's total population growth.
Natural increase contributed 142,400 additional people to Australia's population, made up of 302,600 births and 160,100 deaths.
Over the year, net overseas migration was the major contributor to population change in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, whilst natural increase was the major contributor in all other states and territories.
For population estimates at the regional level, see Regional Population Growth, Australia (cat. no. 3218.0), available for free download from http://www.abs.gov.au/
