Capital City · Area profile
Rest of Qld
1,714,329 km²
Spanning a massive 1.7 million square kilometres of regional terrain, Rest of Qld is a vast and diverse area that encompasses most of the state. It is a place of contrast, where a significant population of seniors lives alongside a high number of children. With over 2.6 million people, the community is growing and increasingly detached from traditional religion. The area's character is defined by its sprawling geography, a strong presence of First Nations people, and a lifestyle heavily reliant on cars.
Explore Rest of Qld by topic
The population is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with a typical resident aged 41. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 19.1% of the community, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 18.4% of the population, a figure well below both the state and national levels. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with only 8.9% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A little over 40% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the state figure. This number has risen sharply by 12 percentage points since 2016.
The area has seen an increase in qualifications, with 50.7% of residents completing Year 12. However, the 17.1% of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is well below the national average.
Typical weekly household incomes are a little below the national figure at $1,507. While incomes have risen since 2016, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week remains lower than in most similar areas.
A higher number of people here need help with daily activities compared to most areas, at 6.3%. Long-term health conditions are also slightly more common than the national figure, with arthritis being the most reported.
Volunteerism is more common here than in most similar areas, though it has fallen by 4.7 percentage points since 2016. There is also a strong presence of former Defence Force members.
This area has one of the highest populations of First Nations people, with 14.6% speaking a First Nations language, which is well above the state average.
Families with children are common, and one-parent families are much more frequent here than in most similar areas. Typical homes hold 2.5 people, which is about the same as across Australia.
Separate houses are very common, making up 76.1% of all homes. This is well above the national figure, and 32% of these homes are owned outright.
Car use is essential, as only 1.2% of people commute by public transport. Very few homes have no motor vehicle, and working from home has risen to 10.6% since 2016.
The community is quite mobile, with 43.5% of people moving in the last five years. This is slightly more than the national average.
About 59.1% of adults are working or looking for work, and the unemployment rate is 5.2%. Health care and social assistance is the most common industry for workers.
The population has continued to grow since the last census, with an estimated increase of 7.1%.
The region experiences high temperatures, with average maximums and minimums that are much higher than most similar areas.
Walking is difficult in this area, as it is far below the state average for homes within walking distance of schools or groceries. The overall walkability score is only 4.2, making it somewhat walkable.