The second release of data from the 2016 census paints a picture of an incredibly mobile population, in which one third of young Australians aged 20 to 29 change address every 12 months and two thirds move every five years.

For the population as a whole, 43.4 per cent changed address in the five years before the 2016 census, up from 41.7 per cent in the five years before the 2011 census.

Although Queensland was the most popular destination for interstate arrivals, gaining 77,050 Australians from other states in the year before the census, it lost 66,480 locals to other states, giving it a net gain of only 10,570. Victoria was the most successful state at attracting and retaining residents, gaining 67,190 new arrivals from interstate and losing only 52,810 to other states - a net gain of 14,380.

NSW lost 84,930 locals to other states and gained only 74,100 people - a net loss of 10,830. In the wake of the mining boom Western Australia lost 32,930 of its residents to other states and gained only 22,690 people.

NSW and Victoria remain the biggest magnets for overseas arrivals. Almost half a million NSW residents (451,630) lived overseas five years earlier, and almost 400,000 Victorians lived overseas.

The Australian Capital Territory gained the most migrants as a proportion of its population: 29,320 out of 397,340, while Tasmania gained the least: only 14,100 out of 509,960 residents.