Council (LGA) · Area profile
Mount Isa
43,715 km²
A shrinking population of 18,727 defines the recent trajectory of Mount Isa, which has lost 12% of its residents since 2011. This is a notably young community where the typical resident is just 31, far younger than the national figure. It is a place of contrasts, combining high typical incomes and a strong mining workforce with a significant First Nations population and a high proportion of renters. The town's character is shaped by its remote setting and a workforce that is heavily skewed toward full-time employment.
Despite high local incomes, the area's schools serve a less advantaged intake.
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Mount Isa is much younger than most areas, with 23.4% of people under 15 and a typical age of 31. The First Nations population is far above the national average at 21.5%, a figure that has risen steadily since 2011.
While 73.9% of residents were born in Australia, 16.3% were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Irish, and Scottish.
English is the main language for 80.2% of people, though 9.7% use another language at home. This is higher than most similar areas, but still far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A little more than 40% of residents report no religion, a figure that has jumped 21 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.7%.
The area has a higher rate of Year 12 completion than most similar areas, though it is still well below the national figure. Qualifications are strongly linked to the local economy, with 24.6% of degrees in engineering and related fields.
Typical incomes are among the highest at this level, with the usual family earning $2,647 a week. This wealth is evident in the 29.8% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, which is well above the national figure.
Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions and mental health issues than most areas. Only 3.3% of people need help with daily activities, which is a little below the national average.
Unpaid care for children is much more common here than elsewhere, while volunteering is much lower than most areas. About 13.9% of people volunteer, which is about the same as the state figure.
There are 4,020 First Nations people in the area, and while their typical income is about the same as the national figure, the unemployment rate is much higher at 16.0%.
Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 19.0% of households.
Renting is very common at 45.4%, far above the national figure, while outright home ownership is much lower than most areas. Typical weekly rent is $270, which is well below the state and national figures.
The community is almost entirely dependent on cars, with zero public transport stops and only 0.2% of people commuting by transit. Very few people work from home, at just 2.3%.
The population is quite mobile, with 43.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 18.3% of the community, which is well above the national figure.
Employment is very strong, with 73.5% of people in full-time work, far above the national figure. This is driven by the mining industry, which employs 30.2% of the workforce.
The area's overall advantage score is higher than about 52% of similar areas, though its population has shrunk by 3.3% since 2021.
Mount Isa experiences high temperatures, with an average maximum of 34.2 degrees. Its annual rainfall is lower than most areas, though it remains well above the Queensland average.
Crime rates are among the highest at this level across almost every category, including assault, drug offences, and burglary. Recorded offences per 100,000 people are very high at 43,552.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.7. While most homes are near parks and schools, very few are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.