55,815 ▲ +18.0%
Higher than 50% of state electorate areas.
- 2011: 47,318
- 2016: 49,425
- 2021: 55,815
The number of people who usually live in the area, counted on Census night.
Mackay · State Electorate
Demographics & Identity in Mackay
Who lives here — how many people, how old they are, and how communities identify.
A growing population of 55,815 people defines Mackay, which has seen a 18% increase in residents since 2011. The area is becoming more diverse and older, with a notable rise in the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These shifts highlight a changing community where the typical resident is now 39 years old.
55,815
▲ +18.0%
- 1–2: 3 areas
- 2–2: 0 areas
- 2–4: 0 areas
- 4–5: 0 areas
- 5–8: 0 areas
- 8–13: 2 areas
- 13–19: 1 area
- 19–29: 0 areas
- 29–44: 1 area
- 44–68: 0 areas
- 68–103: 1 area
- 103–158: 0 areas
- 158–240: 1 area
- 240–366: 1 area
- 366–559: 1 area
- 559–852: 1 area
- 852–1,299: 0 areas
- 1,299–1,980: 1 area
- 1,980–3,018: 0 areas
- 3,018–4,602: 2 areas
- 4,602–7,016: 2 areas
- 7,016–10,696: 28 areas
- 10,696–16,307: 5 areas
- 16,307–24,861: 5 areas
- 24,861–37,902: 41 areas
- 37,902–57,783: 150 areas
- 57,783–88,095: 162 areas
- 88,095–134,306: 43 areas
All state electorate areas, 2021. The marker is Mackay — higher than 50% of areas.
| Mackay | 55,815 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 2,615,036 |
| Queensland | 5,156,138 |
| Australia | 25,422,788 |
Population
How many people, and the typical age.
The population grew by about 8,497 people since 2011. Residents are a little older than those in Queensland and Australia, with the typical age rising by one year to 39.
39 yrs ▲ +2.6%
Older than 50% of state electorate areas.
- 2011: 38 yrs
- 2016: 40 yrs
- 2021: 39 yrs
Half the population is older than this age, and half younger.
Age profile
How the population splits across age groups.
Seniors aged 65 and over rose to 17.3%, while children under 15 fell to 18.6%. Both figures are about the same as the state and national totals.
17.3% ▲ +19.1%
Higher than 52% of state electorate areas.
- 2011: 14.5%
- 2016: 16.0%
- 2021: 17.3%
Share of the population aged 65 years and over.
18.6% ▼ -8.1%
Higher than 57% of state electorate areas.
- 2011: 20.2%
- 2016: 19.4%
- 2021: 18.6%
Share of the population aged under 15 years.
Age structure
View on map →Mackay splits fairly evenly between Young adults (25–44) (26%) and Older adults (45–64) (26%), with Children (0–14) at 19%.
Identity & relationships
First Nations identity and marital status.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 7.2% of the population, which is well above the Australian figure and rose 4.9 points since 2011. De facto relationships are also much more common here than in most areas, at 13.7%.
7.2% ▲ +212.0%
Higher than 85% of state electorate areas.
- 2011: 2.3%
- 2016: 2.5%
- 2021: 7.2%
Share of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
13.7% ▲ +22.3%
Higher than 74% of state electorate areas.
- 2011: 11.2%
- 2016: 11.6%
- 2021: 13.7%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in a de facto marriage (registered marriages excluded).
Marital status
View on map →Mackay splits fairly evenly between Married (42%) and Never married (37%), with Divorced at 11%.
Age & sex structure
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Mackay
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Demographics & Identity in Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED30047/mackay/topic/demographics-identity