The United Kingdom remained one of the biggest sources of settlers to Australia last year, providing nearly a third of all permanent arrivals.
People born overseas make up almost a quarter of Australia's population. The United Kingdom (1.2 million people), New Zealand (476,700), Italy (220,500), China (203,100) and Viet Nam (180,400) are the most common countries of birth of overseas-born Australians.
Australia's population reached a milestone 21 million during the June quarter in 2007, fuelled by the highest population growth rate since 1989, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.
The increase of 315,700 people resulted in an estimated 1.5 per cent growth rate. Net overseas migration contributed to over half of Australia's growth.
Western Australia recorded the highest growth rate of all states and territories (2.3 per cent), followed by Queensland, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.
The population of several mining regions grew rapidly between 2001 and 2006, while some drought-affected regions declined.
In the past two years South Australia has more than doubled its level of net overseas migration, from 4300 people in 2003-04 to 9500 people in 2005-06.
Queensland continued its 30-year run as the most popular place for Australians to move to from other states and territories.
In the five years to 2006 the population of the north Queensland mining town of Weipa increased by 39 per cent. East Pilbara in the north of Western Australia grew by 27 per cent and Roxby Downs, near the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia, grew by 18 per cent.
The district of Mackay, which services the inland Queensland Bowen Basin mining region, increased by almost 13,000 people.
Capital cities and coastal areas continue to grow
Between 2001 and 2006 the Melbourne Statistical Division (SD) experienced the largest population growth of all Australian capital cities, increasing by 273,000 people (or 150 people per day). The SDs of Brisbane increased by 191,000 and Sydney increased by 156,000.
The populations of many inner-city areas continue to grow substantially. The inner-city Local Government Area (LGA) of Melbourne grew by just over 50 per cent, with large increases also for the inner-city LGAs of Adelaide (per cent) and Sydney (per cent).
Many regional coastal areas also continued to show strong population growth, with increases of around 20 per cent for the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast-Tweed districts, while Mandurah (19 per cent) also grew significantly.