Economy dashboard · Population
As at 13 October 2026 · official data unless labelled
Natural increase (births less deaths), twelve months
100,600Below its 10-year average▲ 0.3%March quarter 2026vs 10-year average 128,023
What the numbers are telling us
Natural increase over twelve months was 100,600 in the March quarter 2026, up 0.3% on the previous reading (100,300).
It is below its 10-year average of 128,023.
Why it matters
Births minus deaths: shrinking as the population ages and fertility falls.
What it should be
There is no official target for this measure, so it is judged against its own 10-year average of 128,023: a higher or lower reading is not in itself better or worse.
Natural increase: the last 40 readings
Natural increase (births less deaths), twelve months, 2016-Q2 to 2026-Q1
Every figure on this page is calculated from the stored official series (ABS, National, state and territory population: components of change (ERP_COMP_Q)); the summary is written from the numbers, not edited by hand.