Australia’s population grew by 412,000 people in 2025, the latest figures show, nearly three-quarters of which was due to overseas net migration.The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the latest quarterly figures on Thursday, showing an annual population growth rate of 1.5 per cent, the equivalent of 412,500 people.The figures officially state the national population reached 27,801,023 as at December 31.Quarterly population growth equalled 0.3 per cent (78,638 people) in the final three months of 2025.Breaking down the annual increase of 412,500 people; births and deaths accounted for a 111,500 person increase, while net overseas migration added 301,000 people.“Migration was surging when we came to office and it has now moderated substantially,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.“It was already down 45 per cent since its peak and is lower again today. Today’s number came in at 301,000 through the year to December, down on the previous quarter.“The facts clearly show that net overseas migration is coming down under Labor and Treasury is forecasting it to go even lower in the coming years.”The statistics bureau maintains a separate “population clock”, which is running based on the July 1, 2025 count, plus an assumed population increase of one person every 1 minute and 15 seconds.That clock ticked over to 28 million in the early hours of June 2.At 11.30am AEST, when the quarterly figures were released, the clock showed 28,018,655.Thursday’s data shows Australia’s rolling population growth rate continues to decrease from its September 2023 peak, as the post-pandemic spike continues to subside.Net overseas migration also fell 35 per cent in the final three months of 2025 compared with the July-September period. On annual terms, net overseas migration was 8.9 per cent lower than 2024 – a 29,500 net decrease.Western Australia continues to attract new residents at the highest rate. WA’s population grew by 2.2 per cent to 3,076,500 people last year. Victoria’s population increased by 1.7 per cent, Queensland and the NT grew 1.6 per cent and NSW grew by 1.2 per cent. These figures include interstate migration.Within Australia, people continue to leave NSW at rates far and above the other states and territories. Broken down into net terms, NSW lost 21,465 people, while Victoria lost about 680 people, while South Australia, the NT and the ACT lost between 1200 and 1500.Queensland attracted 16,528 of those domestic migrants, while WA attracted 10,419.A little more than 181,000 international migrants settled in NSW last year, set against 90,261 who left the country.Victoria welcomed 156,000 international migrants as 71,500 people departed.Including international and domestic movements, Tasmania had the lowest population growth rate at 0.5 per cent – an increase of just 2900 people last year.