Perth has highest population growth, driven by overseas migrants, other Australians moving to WA

Perth’s beautiful beaches and amazing weather are drawing in new residents from across Australia and the globe, with new figures showing WA’s capital seeing the largest jump in population last year.

An additional 81,300 people called Perth home last financial year — a jump of 3.6 per cent — to bring the city’s population to more than 2.3 million locals, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed.

That compares to Melbourne, which grew 3.3 per cent, Brisbane (3.1 per cent) and Sydney (2.8 per cent).

Perth’s growth was largely driven by overseas migration, with almost 60,000 new international arrivals moving to the west coast, while a further 10,000 people moved from other States.

Along with Brisbane, Perth was just one of two cities to see an increase in internal migration, meaning fewer Australians were moving out of the city than those relocating to it.

The remaining 11,000 came from natural increase.

Alkimos and Eglinton in the city’s north added the most new residents, growing by 1800, or 11 per cent, driven largely by Australians relocating to Perth.

Byford had the largest natural increase of 330, and grew by 1600 people overall.

The suburbs of Bentley, Wilson and St James, in Perth’s southeast saw the largest increase of overseas migration gain (1700 people).