Gold Coast: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Gold Coast: The median total income of residents of the City of Gold Coast who had income was $53,824 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 4th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the City of Gold Coast local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
- Health in Gold Coast: 6,566 births were registered to mothers living in the City of Gold Coast in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.43 births per woman, below the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the City of Gold Coast local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
- Education in Gold Coast: 59.3% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 14th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: the City of Gold Coast local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
- Poverty and living standards in Gold Coast: The median weekly rent paid by households in the City of Gold Coast was $450 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), joint 3rd highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the City of Gold Coast local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the population of Gold Coast?
The City of Gold Coast had an estimated 691,230 residents on 30 June 2025 (ABS preliminary estimate), 8th highest of 31 areas covered on this site. Boundary: the City of Gold Coast local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyIs the population of Gold Coast growing?
The population of the City of Gold Coast grew by 11,944 people (1.8%) in the year to 30 June 2025, from 679,286 to 691,230; Australia as a whole grew 1.5%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast has the population of Gold Coast grown in the last five years?
Between 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2025 the estimated population of the City of Gold Coast rose 10.4%, from 626,342 to 691,230, compared with 7.7% for Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people moved to Gold Coast in 2024-25?
In the year to 30 June 2025 the City of Gold Coast had net overseas migration of +8,986 people and net internal (within Australia) migration of +658 people.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the population density of Gold Coast?
The City of Gold Coast covers 1,333 square kilometres, so its 2025 population works out at about 518 people per square kilometre.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median age in Gold Coast?
The median age of residents of the City of Gold Coast was 39.1 years in 2024, above the national figure (38.3 years).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households are there in Gold Coast?
The 2021 Census counted 228,913 households in the City of Gold Coast, with an average of 2.5 people per household.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Gold Coast were born overseas?
At the 2021 Census 29.0% of residents of the City of Gold Coast were born overseas, above the national figure (27.6%), and 13.7% spoke a language other than English at home, below the national figure (22.3%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWho runs Gold Coast?
In Australia, cities and towns are run by local governments: Councillors elected (methods vary by state; voting compulsory in some states); mayors directly elected in some places and chosen by councillors in others. Local roads, planning approvals, waste, libraries, parks, rates (property tax).
How local power works in Australia
Cities of a similar size in Australia
- Greater Sydney 5,638,830
- Greater Melbourne 5,435,590
- Greater Brisbane 2,833,524
- Greater Perth 2,452,765
- Greater Adelaide 1,491,015
- Brisbane 1,375,301
- Gold Coast-Tweed Heads 761,634
- Newcastle-Maitland 541,634
- Canberra-Queanbeyan 521,049
- Canberra 484,630
- Sunshine Coast 381,957
- Central Coast 357,816
- Greater Wollongong 322,343
- Geelong 295,052
- Greater Hobart 255,250
- Sydney 241,797
Up a level: all cities in Australia · Australia · government and power
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Regional population 2024-25: estimated resident population by Local Government Area and Significant Urban Area, 2001 to 2025 (data cube 32180DS0004), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 625c7c3de3b7…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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