The figures were released on Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This increase was due to 'positive net internal migration', according to ABS director demography Tony Grubb.

"The population of Port Macquarie-Hastings grew by 1300 people in 2016-17, mainly due to positive net internal migration," he said.

"Around 1250 more people moved into Port Macquarie-Hastings than moved out to other parts of the country."

The local government area's estimated resident population in 2016 was 79,905 with the 2017 figure 81,202.

The net internaal migration was 1247 and his net overseas migration was 284. 

That represents an increase of 1.6 percent or 1297.

With a area of some 3683 square kilometres, the population density in 2017 per persons/km2 is 22.

Tuesday's figures further highlight the growth of Sydney.

For the first time on record, Sydney’s population grew by more than 100,000 people in one year, he said.

Sydney's population hit 5.1 million at June 2017, an increase of 101,600 people (2 per cent) since June 2016.

Mr Grubb said that the latest population estimates were the first to include data on the components driving population change in Australia's capital cities and regions – natural increase (births minus deaths), internal and overseas migration.

“It is now possible to not only see how much population is changing in an area, but to understand why this change is occurring,” he said.

Net overseas migration was the major contributor to Sydney's population growth, adding 84,700 people in 2016-17.

Sydney's population boom would have been even greater if not for a net internal migration loss of 18,100 people, meaning more people left the city for other parts of Australia than arrived. 

Sydney lost most people to other parts of New South Wales (40,000 people) and Melbourne (14,400).

Most of Sydney's growth in 2016-17 occurred in the outer suburbs and around the city centre.

Cobbitty - Leppington, in the outer south-west, had the largest and fastest growth in the state, increasing by 4100 people (22 per cent), ahead of Riverstone - Marsden Park in north-west Sydney, which grew by 3800 people (21 per cent). 

Net internal migration was the main driver of growth for both of these areas in 2016-17, contributing to 90 per cent and 87 per cent of population change respectively.

The inner-city area of Waterloo - Beaconsfield had the next largest growth in 2016-17, increasing by 2600 people (7.4 per cent). Around 68 per cent of this growth was due to net overseas migration.