Statewide population growth was dominated by the South in the 2017-18 financial year.

Eight of the 10 smaller Tasmanian areas which gained the most people were in the Hobart, Sorell or Brighton council areas.

The exceptions were the Newnham-Mayfield area, which added a state-topping 227 people, and seaside North-West area Port Sorell, which ran 10th among smaller areas with a gain of 173 residents.

The state's most populous council area, Launceston, gained 594 residents, with its population up to 67,449.

West Tamar (23,769) added 234 residents and Northern Midlands (13,300) added 216.

Meander Valley (19,713) gained 137 residents.

In other developments, the West Coast looked to have returned to population growth after losing thousands of residents in recent decades.

It was not yet clear if the West Coast's stabilisation which occurred in the 2017-18 financial year would continue.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated West Coast population increased by five to 4167 during the year.

West Coast population trends have historically been strongly related to the strength of the mining sector, although the area has broadened its economy in recent years through fish farming and tourism growth.

The Latrobe municipality had the strongest population growth in the Cradle Coast region.

It added a net 218 people, taking its total population to 11,329.

Devonport gained 198 people, taking its population to an estimated 25,415 on June 30.