AUSTRALIA’S POPULATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19530, 13 July 1925, Page 10

AUSTRALIA’S POPULATION.

LATEST CENSUS RETURNS. The population of Australia at the end of 1924 was 5,875,503, an increase of 123,695 during the year. The increase included a net immigration of 43,749, which was the largest for a number of years past. A less favourable feature is that the proportion of the total population in the six metropolitan cities has again slightly increased. Following is a comparison of the figures at the 1921 census and at the end of each year since that date, the proportion in the six State capitals being shown:—

Of the total increase of 123,696 during last year, the increase in the six capital cities was 76.880, or nearly two-thirds of the total. One reason contributing to the incease is the tendency of farmers who have prospered to take up their residence in the capital cities, savs the Australasian Banking Record. Two questions which now present themselves are. first, whether the present nroportion of 45.16 per cent, to the total population represents the limit, and, secondly, what is the total amount of city’ population that can bo carried by the country.

u Per Census ... Australia. Sis Capitals. cent. 1921 ... 6,509,073 2,400.151 43.77 1922 ... 6,633,281 2,489,568 44.24 1023 ... 5.749,807 2,575.805 44.85 1021 ... 5,873,603 2,652,775 43.16