In May the Australian population passed the 23 million people mark as a recent surge in migration and births continues to lift the population with no signs of slowing up.
The expected growth rate of 1.7% (Source ABS September 2012 Australian Demographic Statistics) shall continue to lift in the near future as migration continues to improve in tandem with net births with together are seeing over 400,000 new Australians each year. At this rate we have one new Australian almost every minute of the day!
Australia is still at the low end of the scale, with a population target of 40 million by 2050. But don’t worry, it won’t be too crowded when you consider that the USA has a population of over 310 million people in a land mass very similar to Australia’s.
The nations focus on city living will no doubt create on-going pressure on prime property zones in each State Capital so it will be interesting to watch the evolution of Australia in years to come.
Whether we can embrace wide spread high-density living, cope with the pressures of traffic & resource management and adequately maintain a low environmental impact remain as some of the great challenges of the next decade for Australia.
Fortunately for us, we are placed at the right time in history, where technology has answers available and the rate of progress is ever increasing.
This may prove our great advantage over many other countries and continue to ensure the Australian lifestyle is one of the best available in the modern world.
