New figures have revealed that for the first time in eight years, NSW has knocked Queensland behind to take the number position in terms of annual population growth.

According to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today, Queensland’s population in the 2008-09 financial year increased by 116,500, while, in comparison, NSW's population increased by 119,500. Third on the list was Victoria, at 116,300.

The statistics also revealed that Australia's population on June 30, 2009 stood at 21.96 million, which is a 2.1% rise from the previous year.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics was quoted in its report as saying, “This was the first year since 2000-01 that any state overtook Queensland as the largest growing state”.

The report reveals that Western Australia, for the third year consecutively, recorded the highest population growth rate, this year at 3.1%, Queensland came in second at 2.7%, the Northern Territory was next at 2.5% and Victoria stood fourth with a 2.2% increase.

The other states and territories managed to keep their population growth rates under the Australian average of 1.8%. Slowest population growth was recorded in Tasmania at 1.1%.