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National Forecasting Program
Population and housing forecast for Gold Coast
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Gold Coast, which covers the City of Gold Coast and part of Scenic Rim, from Coolangatta on the New South Wales border north to Woongoolba, and west to the hinterland around Canungra and Tamborine.
- Region
- Gold Coast · SA4 309
- Councils
- Gold Coast, Scenic Rim (part)
- Built on
- 2025 national forecast (2021.2024.3)
- Released
- 11/06/2025
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Coolangatta
- Burleigh Heads
- Broadbeach
- Surfers Paradise
- Southport
- Robina
- Nerang
- Helensvale
- Coomera
- Pimpama
- Tamborine Mountain
- Canungra
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: RegionGold Coast+253,45511.7% of Queensland's growth2021.2024.3.1.2 · Jun 2025
- Below the region54 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
649,491
Population, 2021
902,946
Population, 2046
+253,455
Total growth to 2046
+113,206
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 649,491 | — | 276,574 | — | 17.8 | 64.8 | 17.4 |
| 2026 | 721,948 | +72,457 | 295,771 | +19,197 | 16.4 | 65.2 | 18.5 |
| 2031 | 771,462 | +49,514 | 322,529 | +26,758 | 15.8 | 64.5 | 19.7 |
| 2036 | 818,866 | +47,404 | 347,188 | +24,659 | 15.8 | 63.5 | 20.7 |
| 2041 | 862,561 | +43,695 | 369,198 | +22,010 | 15.8 | 62.8 | 21.4 |
| 2046 | 902,946 | +40,385 | 389,780 | +20,582 | 15.7 | 62.5 | 21.8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Broadbeach – Burleigh | 78.7% | |
| Coolangatta | 69.4% | |
| Gold Coast – North | 85.2% | |
| Gold Coast Hinterland | 79.9% | |
| Mudgeeraba – Tallebudgera | 72.4% | |
| Nerang | 66.6% | |
| Ormeau – Oxenford | 85.0% | |
| Robina | 59.5% | |
| Southport | 32.0% | |
| Surfers Paradise | 62.9% | |
| Gold Coast total | 60.8% |
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 952 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Orr Dr Masterplanned Precinct | Varsity Lakes | Redevelopment | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
| Racv Royal Pines Olympic Village | Benowa | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Southport Pda (Cbd Precinct) | Southport | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Cypress Palms By Meriton | 3336-3346 Surfers Paradise Boulevard & 3-7 Cypress Avenue (Lots 5-8, Lot 9 & Lot 1 | Apartments | Under construction |
| Coomera Quarter - Medium Density | 49 George Alexander Way Coomera | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 95 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.
- Southport
- Surfers Paradise
- Pimpama
- Upper Coomera
- Robina
- Coomera
- Helensvale
- Labrador
- Hope Island
- Palm Beach
- Varsity Lakes
- Nerang
- Ormeau
- Pacific Pines
- Mudgeeraba
- Burleigh Waters
- Mermaid Waters
- Carrara
- Oxenford
- Elanora
- + 75 more
Plus 75 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Gold Coast
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. 952 development sites assessed in this region alone.
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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.