Australia: First results of the 1991 Census

The Australian population reached 17 million in 1991, and is growing at a rate of 1,5 per cent per year. Rapid growth is caused by a liberal immigration policy, which has also brought an increasing diversity of population in terms of national origin, language and religion. Despite this rapid growth, the Australian population is ageing. The population of Australia presents a pattern of urban and regional concentration, with a very rapid growth in some parts of the Queensland coast. Australia is an affluent and advanced nation in the Asia-Pacific region, but has a minority of Aboriginal population which exhibits severe social and economic disadvantages.