Australia's FASTEST growing states are revealed but one is on the nose with residents fleeing in droves - so can you guess which one it is? Australia's population grew by just 0.1 per according to latest ABS data There were 293,500 births and 162,500 deaths in the year to March Net overseas migration was down by 334,000 compared with the previous year The states hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic suffered the biggest drops By Colin Brinsden For Australian Associated Press Published: 05:24 BST, 16 September 2021 | Updated: 05:24 BST, 16 September 2021 Viewcomments Australia's population barely grew in the year to March due to the impact of international border closures on overseas migration. The Australian Bureau of Statistics said Australia's population grew by just 0.1 per cent, or 35,700 people, to 25.7 million, in contrast to the 1.5 per cent growth recorded in the 2019 calendar year. The states hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic suffered the biggest drops in population growth. Victoria, where Melbourne is on track to be the most locked down city in the world, had 6,648,564 people - down 0.6 per cent. NSW, which is slowly coming out of another state-wide lockdown, only recorded 0.1 per cent growth to take its population to 8,176,368. 'This is the first full year of data reflecting the impacts of COVID-19 on Australia's population,' ABS demography director Beidar Cho said. Queensland's population was 5,206,400, up 0.9 per cent, as many flocked to areas including the Gold Coast (pictured) as it escaped the brunt of the coronavirus Net overseas migration was down by 334,000 people compared with the previous year. There were 293,500 births and 162,500 deaths in Australia during this period. Queensland, on the other hand, recorded a 0.9 per cent surge in its population as it remained relatively unscathed from the virus. While it has cut itself off from large swathes of the country, many have fled to the Sunshine State when borders have opened. The resulting natural increase was down four per cent from the previous year and continues the trend of a gradual decline over the past five years, driven mainly by decreasing births. AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION GROWTH IN YEAR TO MARCH NSW - 8,176,368, up 0.1 per cent Victoria - 6,648,564, down 0.6 per cent Queensland - 5,206,400, up 0.9 per cent South Australia - 1,771,703, up 0.2 per cent Western Australia - 2,675,797, up 0.6 per cent Tasmania - 541,965, up 0.4 per cent Northern Territory - 247,023, up 0.5 per cent ACT - 431,826, up 0.4 per cent Australia* - 25,704,340, up 0.1 per cent * Includes other territories comprising Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island. Advertisement Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility