GOVERNMENT TOOLS
CONSULTING
National Forecasting Program
Population and housing forecast for Riverina
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Riverina, which covers the Riverina farming region of south-western NSW, including the Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera, Junee, Temora, Coolamon and Cootamundra-Gundagai council areas and parts of Carrathool, Lockhart, Murrumbidgee and Snowy Valleys.
- Region
- Riverina · SA4 113
- Councils
- Bland (part), Carrathool (part), Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Federation (part), Greater Hume (part), Griffith, Junee, Leeton, Lockhart (part), Murrumbidgee (part), Narrandera, Snowy Monaro (part), Snowy Valleys (part), Temora, Wagga Wagga, Yass Valley (part)
- Built on
- 2025 national forecast (2021.2024.3)
- Released
- 04/09/2026
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Wagga Wagga
- Junee
- Coolamon
- Temora
- Cootamundra
- Gundagai
- Tumut
- Tumbarumba
- Narrandera
- Leeton
- Griffith
- Hillston
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateNew South Wales+2.17m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- You are here: RegionRiverina+13,6540.6% of New South Wales' growth2021.2024.3.1.1 · Sep 2026
- Below the region16 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
New South Wales' share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of New South Wales is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
164,287
Population, 2021
177,941
Population, 2046
+13,654
Total growth to 2046
+11,376
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 164,287 | — | 70,123 | — | 19.9 | 61.5 | 18.6 |
| 2026 | 167,788 | +3,501 | 72,300 | +2,177 | 19.0 | 60.5 | 20.5 |
| 2031 | 171,088 | +3,300 | 74,691 | +2,391 | 18.9 | 58.5 | 22.7 |
| 2036 | 174,235 | +3,147 | 77,194 | +2,503 | 19.0 | 57.0 | 24.0 |
| 2041 | 176,447 | +2,212 | 79,464 | +2,270 | 19.2 | 56.0 | 24.8 |
| 2046 | 177,941 | +1,494 | 81,499 | +2,035 | 19.2 | 55.9 | 24.9 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Griffith – Murrumbidgee (West) | 25.8% | |
| Tumut – Tumbarumba | 36.6% | |
| Wagga Wagga | 27.1% | |
| Riverina total | 27.0% |
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 256 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estella Rise Estate | 117 - Coppabella Drive Gobbagombalin | Greenfield | Under construction |
| Collina North Estate - Collina | Griffith | Greenfield | Marketing |
| Southern Growth Area - Sunnyside | 456 - Plumpton Road Rowan | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| 9 River Road Rezoning | 115 - Old Narrandera Road Gobbagombalin | Greenfield | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Maxus Estate - Collina | 88 - Madden Drive Griffith | Greenfield | Under construction |
Our forecasting team
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 273 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.
- Griffith
- Leeton
- Kooringal
- Wagga Wagga
- Cootamundra
- Tumut
- Lake Albert
- Glenfield Park
- Junee
- Temora
- Narrandera
- Mount Austin
- Turvey Park
- Ashmont
- Tolland
- Forest Hill
- Bourkelands
- Gobbagombalin
- Estella
- Tatton
- + 253 more
Plus 253 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Riverina
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. 256 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.