Migration accounts for 60 percent of Australia's population growth with the United Kingdom remaining the biggest source of new arrivals from overseas, Australian Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

The latest immigration snapshot from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed 5.5 million Australians, or about a quarter of the population, were born overseas.

About 213,000 people migrated to Australia in 2007/08, accounting for 60 percent of the nation's population growth, with the bulk of new arrivals (60 percent) aged between 15 and 34.

The United Kingdom remains the greatest source of migrants with1.2 million people born in Britain now living in Australia.

The figures showed people from more than 200 countries resettled in Australia in 2007/08 with New Zealand, China, India and Italy also high on the list as sources of migrants.

The most popular destination for people arriving from overseas is New South Wales while Queensland is the most common choice in terms of domestic migration.

- Source: Xinhua