The population of Australia's Northern Territory (NT) increased by an average of 2.3 per cent each year from 2005 to the end of 2009, new figures have revealed.
Published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the figures show that natural increase, which is the number of births minus the number of deaths recorded, accounted for 58 per cent of the state's total population growth in 2009.
Net overseas migration was the second biggest population booster, accounting for 38 per cent of the total growth in the state.
The remaining four per cent of the NT's total growth in 2009 was made up by migrants moving to the state from other areas in Australia.
"Although net interstate migration was the smallest component of overall population growth, the NT had the highest population turnover of any state or territory," the ABS report revealed.
Earlier this year, the NT government announced that some 174 new Australian properties were built and 1,023 rebuilds and refurbishments were completed under the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program by December 31st 2010.
Posted by Steve Douglas
