GOVERNMENT TOOLS
CONSULTING
National Forecasting Program
Population and housing forecast for Launceston and North East
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Launceston and North East, which covers north-east Tasmania around Launceston and the Kanamaluka/Tamar River, taking in towns including George Town, Deloraine, Longford, Scottsdale and St Helens, as well as Flinders Island.
- Region
- Launceston and North East · SA4 602
- Councils
- Break O'Day, Dorset, Flinders (Tas.), George Town, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, West Tamar
- Built on
- 2025 national forecast (2021.2024.3)
- Released
- 11/03/2026
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Launceston
- Legana
- Prospect Vale
- Hadspen
- Longford
- Deloraine
- George Town
- Beaconsfield
- Scottsdale
- Bridport
- St Helens
- Whitemark
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateTasmania+0.04m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- You are here: RegionLaunceston and North East+7,34920.5% of Tasmania's growth2021.2024.3.1.1 · Mar 2026
- Below the region30 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
Tasmania's share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of Tasmania is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
154,726
Population, 2021
162,075
Population, 2046
+7,349
Total growth to 2046
+9,881
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 154,726 | — | 71,380 | — | 16.8 | 61.7 | 21.4 |
| 2026 | 157,266 | +2,540 | 73,729 | +2,349 | 15.6 | 60.5 | 23.9 |
| 2031 | 159,348 | +2,082 | 76,080 | +2,351 | 14.8 | 59.7 | 25.5 |
| 2036 | 160,939 | +1,591 | 78,055 | +1,975 | 14.6 | 59.0 | 26.5 |
| 2041 | 161,802 | +863 | 79,742 | +1,687 | 14.9 | 58.7 | 26.4 |
| 2046 | 162,075 | +273 | 81,261 | +1,519 | 15.3 | 59.1 | 25.5 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Launceston | 29.5% | |
| Meander Valley – West Tamar | 48.0% | |
| North East | 33.6% | |
| Launceston and North East total | 31.9% |
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 235 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hadspen Hills Estate | Bushfield Rise/ Sandscape Court, Hadspen Tas 7290 | Greenfield | Site clearing |
| Montague Park Township | Montague Park, Legana, Tas 7277 | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Cedar Grove Estate | St Leonards | Greenfield | Marketing |
| Launceston Urban Growth Land - St Leonards & Waverley Development Plan | 33 - Hogarth Street Waverley | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Oakden Park Estate | Oakden Park , Youngtown, Tas 7249 | Greenfield | Under construction |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 237 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.
- Riverside
- Newnham
- Newstead
- Prospect Vale
- Legana
- South Launceston
- Trevallyn
- George Town
- Youngtown
- Kings Meadows
- Longford
- West Launceston
- Mowbray
- Ravenswood
- Perth
- Norwood
- Invermay
- Launceston
- Summerhill
- Deloraine
- + 217 more
Plus 217 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Launceston and North East
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. 235 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.