GOVERNMENT TOOLS
CONSULTING
National Forecasting Program
Population and housing forecast for Central Queensland
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Central Queensland, which covers the Rockhampton, Livingstone, Gladstone, Banana, Central Highlands and Woorabinda council areas, taking in Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Gladstone, Biloela and, further west, Emerald.
- Region
- Central Queensland · SA4 308
- Councils
- Banana, Central Highlands (Qld), Gladstone, Livingstone, Rockhampton, Western Downs (part), Woorabinda
- Built on
- 2025 national forecast (2021.2024.3)
- Released
- 14/08/2025
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Rockhampton City
- Gracemere
- Yeppoon
- Emu Park
- Gladstone Central
- Boyne Island
- Tannum Sands
- Agnes Water
- Biloela
- Moura
- Blackwater
- Emerald
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateQueensland+2.17m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- You are here: RegionCentral Queensland+44,1032.0% of Queensland's growth2021.2024.3.1.1 · Aug 2025
- Below the region34 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
Queensland's share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of Queensland is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
231,029
Population, 2021
275,132
Population, 2046
+44,103
Total growth to 2046
+19,436
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 231,029 | — | 104,896 | — | 21.1 | 63.9 | 15.1 |
| 2026 | 246,071 | +15,042 | 107,811 | +2,915 | 19.7 | 62.9 | 17.4 |
| 2031 | 254,391 | +8,320 | 111,862 | +4,051 | 18.8 | 61.3 | 19.9 |
| 2036 | 262,187 | +7,796 | 116,045 | +4,183 | 19.0 | 59.7 | 21.4 |
| 2041 | 268,796 | +6,609 | 120,181 | +4,136 | 19.6 | 58.4 | 22.0 |
| 2046 | 275,132 | +6,336 | 124,332 | +4,151 | 19.8 | 58.3 | 21.9 |
What we assess, and where
Different things drive population change at different scales. We form a view at each level, and each level constrains the one below it.
- Nation
- Overseas migration
- Fertility and life expectancy
- Housing completions
- State
- Share of overseas migration
- Interstate migration
- State housing policy
- Region (this page)
- Intrastate migration
- Development pipeline
- Capacity and limiting factors
- Ageing in place
- Suburb and site
- Site-by-site development assessment
- Dwelling type and density
Housing capacity, by area
| Sub-area (SA3) | Area character | Capacity used by 2046 |
|---|---|---|
| Biloela | 11.7% | |
| Central Highlands (Qld) | 4.3% | |
| Gladstone | 22.7% | |
| Rockhampton | 36.9% | |
| Central Queensland total | 27.2% |
How to read this
Capacity used is the share of an area's assessed dwelling capacity that the forecast draws down by 2046. Assessed capacity is post-census capacity across 436 tracked residential development sites, so it counts what those sites can hold, not every theoretical dwelling a planning control would permit.
The major sites that shape this forecast
| Site | Location | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edenbrook Estate - Late Stages | Parkhurst | Greenfield | Site clearing |
| Central Queensland University Pda | Norman Gardens | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| The Pines Estate - Later Stages | 22 Atkinson Street Hidden Valley | Greenfield | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
| Living Gems, Parkhurst | 960 Norman Road Parkhurst | Greenfield | Approved |
| Ellida Estate - Future Releases | Parkhurst | Greenfield | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 314 suburbs and localities in this region. Every one of them is forecast at small-area level, and any combination can be built into a custom catchment through Placemaker.
- Emerald
- Gracemere
- Norman Gardens
- Frenchville
- Yeppoon
- Berserker
- Clinton
- Biloela
- Tannum Sands
- Calliope
- New Auckland
- Park Avenue
- The Range
- West Gladstone
- Boyne Island
- Blackwater
- Kawana
- Koongal
- Wandal
- Parkhurst
- + 294 more
Plus 294 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Central Queensland
A credible, independent forecast
Independent of government
Our forecasts are not commissioned by any government, so they give an independent view.
Granular forecasts for custom catchments
Forecast at small-area level, so they can be built up into any catchment you need, such as a school catchment, a retail trade area or a utility service area.
Every region, on one basis
A single national model, not a collection of unconnected local studies.
Assessed site by site
Built on a national development sites layer maintained by our own forecasters. 436 development sites assessed in this region alone.
500+
organisations across Australia trust Informed Decisions for data and insights
15,000+
suburbs forecast, covering every part of Australia
A named forecaster behind every region
Questions about a forecast go to the team who prepared it.
See the forecast for your exact area
Placemaker gives you the population, housing and development forecast for any catchment you draw inside this region, by single year, with the development pipeline behind it.