Australia's population hits 27.6 million with 1.5% growth

Australia's population rose by 1.5% in the 12 months to June, reaching 27.6 million people, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The increase of 420,100 people was driven by both natural increase and net overseas migration, ABS head of demography Beidar Cho said.

Natural increase added 114,600 people over the year, with births rising by 3.4% and deaths by 0.%, while net overseas migration contributed 305,600 people, reflecting 568,400 arrivals and 262,800 departures.

Western Australia recorded the fastest population growth at 2.2%, followed by Victoria and Queensland, which both grew by 1.8%, while Tasmania experienced the slowest growth, with its population rising by 0.2%.