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National Forecasting Program
Population and housing forecast for Melbourne – Inner
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Melbourne – Inner, which covers the Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra council areas and parts of Stonnington, Darebin, Merri-bek and Moonee Valley, including the Melbourne CBD, Southbank, Docklands, St Kilda, Fitzroy, Brunswick and Moonee Ponds.
- Region
- Melbourne – Inner · SA4 206
- Councils
- Darebin (part), Melbourne, Merri-bek (part), Moonee Valley (part), Port Phillip, Stonnington (part), Yarra
- Built on
- Earlier national forecast (2021.2022.1)
- Released
- 19/05/2024
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Melbourne
- Southbank
- Docklands
- Carlton
- Parkville
- Fitzroy
- Collingwood
- Richmond
- South Yarra
- St Kilda
- Brunswick
- Moonee Ponds
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateVictoria+2.88m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462021.2022.x
- You are here: RegionMelbourne – Inner+417,23114.5% of Victoria's growth2021.2022.1.1.1 · May 2024
- Below the region53 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
Victoria's share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of Victoria is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
627,671
Population, 2021
1,044,902
Population, 2046
+417,231
Total growth to 2046
+212,950
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 627,671 | — | 358,846 | — | 10.9 | 77.4 | 11.6 |
| 2026 | 706,522 | +78,851 | 380,961 | +22,115 | 10.3 | 77.8 | 11.8 |
| 2031 | 786,098 | +79,576 | 417,070 | +36,109 | 10.1 | 77.7 | 12.2 |
| 2036 | 867,521 | +81,423 | 463,620 | +46,550 | 10.1 | 77.2 | 12.7 |
| 2041 | 953,617 | +86,096 | 515,972 | +52,352 | 10.2 | 76.9 | 12.9 |
| 2046 | 1,044,902 | +91,285 | 571,796 | +55,824 | 10.3 | 76.6 | 13.2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brunswick – Coburg | 76.1% | |
| Darebin – South | 53.2% | |
| Essendon | 84.7% | |
| Melbourne City | 75.4% | |
| Port Phillip | 55.5% | |
| Stonnington – West | 74.7% | |
| Yarra | 80.2% | |
| Melbourne – Inner total | 70.5% |
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 1,619 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-5 Montague Street Southbank | 11-5 Montague Street SOUTHBANK | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Coburg Activity Centre | 435-449 Sydney Road COBURG | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Dynon Urban Renewal Precinct | 29-35 Lloyd Street WEST MELBOURNE | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Arden North Sub-Precinct | 257-13 Macaulay Road NORTH MELBOURNE | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Melbourne potential development | Melbourne | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 51 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.
- Melbourne
- Richmond
- Southbank
- Brunswick
- Coburg
- South Yarra
- Northcote
- Essendon
- St Kilda
- Thornbury
- Carlton
- Port Melbourne
- Docklands
- Moonee Ponds
- North Melbourne
- Ascot Vale
- Brunswick West
- Elwood
- Brunswick East
- South Melbourne
- + 31 more
Plus 31 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Melbourne – Inner
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. 1,619 development sites assessed in this region alone.
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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.