Council (LGA) · Area profile
Brisbane
1,343 km²
A total population of over 1.24 million people makes Brisbane one of the largest areas in the country. It is a young and highly educated city where the typical resident is 36, slightly younger than the national figure. This growth is driven by a strong pull for migrants, with many residents born overseas and a high number of people moving into the area recently. Together, these factors create a diverse, high-earning urban community with a professional workforce.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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The population is notably young, with a typical age of 36 and a proportion of seniors that is well below the national figure. It has grown by 19% since 2011, adding about 200,986 people.
Overseas birth rates are much higher than most areas, with 31.8% of people born abroad. This figure is well above the national average and has risen since 2011.
Cultural diversity is high, with 24.0% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the Queensland figure and has risen by 5.5 percentage points since 2011.
About 41.4% of residents report having no religion, which is a little above the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 18 percentage points since 2011.
The city is far more qualified than the rest of the state, with 38.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Additionally, 74.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is far above the national figure.
Typical incomes are much higher than in most areas, with the usual family earning $2,474 a week. Higher qualifications help explain why 29.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, well above the national figure.
Residents are generally healthier than in most areas, with fewer people reporting long-term health conditions or needing help with daily activities compared to the state and national figures.
Volunteer rates are a little above the state and national averages, though they have fallen since 2011. Unpaid care for children is also higher than in most areas.
The First Nations community here is among the largest in the country and reports higher typical personal incomes than the national figure. Year 12 completion is also far above the national average.
Typical homes have 2.5 people, which is about the same as the national figure. The most common family type is a couple with children, making up 59.3% of households.
Renting is much more common here than elsewhere, at 38.3%. Because there are fewer detached houses and smaller homes, typical weekly rents of $408 are a little above the national figure.
Working from home is very common, with 21.4% of people doing so. Public transport use is also well above the national figure, supported by a high number of stops and routes.
The area is highly mobile, with 48.2% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 17.4% of the population, which is well above the national average.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most areas, at 67.9%. The workforce is dominated by professionals and managers, with health and technical services as the main industries.
The city is in the top 10% of areas for overall advantage and job skills. It continues to grow quickly, with a population increase of 8.9% since 2021.
Rainfall is far above the Queensland average, with 1,251mm annually. Maximum temperatures are a little lower than the state average.
Theft and drug offences are much higher than in most areas. While the rate of sexual offences is lower, the overall recorded offence rate is higher than average.
The city is very walkable, with a score of 7.4. Most residents live within a 15-minute walk of parks, schools, and groceries, far exceeding the state average.