Sunshine Coast: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Sunshine Coast: The median total income of residents of the Sunshine Coast Region who had income was $52,638 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 3rd lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the Sunshine Coast Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
- Health in Sunshine Coast: 3,486 births were registered to mothers living in the Sunshine Coast Region in 2024, and the total fertility rate was 1.57 births per woman, above the national figure (1.54). Boundary: the Sunshine Coast Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
- Education in Sunshine Coast: 56.4% of residents of the Sunshine Coast Region aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 13th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: the Sunshine Coast Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
- Poverty and living standards in Sunshine Coast: The median weekly rent paid by households in the Sunshine Coast Region was $440 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), 7th highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the Sunshine Coast Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the population of Sunshine Coast?
The Sunshine Coast Region had an estimated 381,957 residents on 30 June 2025 (ABS preliminary estimate), 12th highest of 31 areas covered on this site. Boundary: the Sunshine Coast Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyIs the population of Sunshine Coast growing?
The population of the Sunshine Coast Region grew by 7,659 people (2.0%) in the year to 30 June 2025, from 374,298 to 381,957; Australia as a whole grew 1.5%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow fast has the population of Sunshine Coast grown in the last five years?
Between 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2025 the estimated population of the Sunshine Coast Region rose 12.9%, from 338,389 to 381,957, compared with 7.7% for Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people moved to Sunshine Coast in 2024-25?
In the year to 30 June 2025 the Sunshine Coast Region had net overseas migration of +2,920 people and net internal (within Australia) migration of +4,159 people.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the population density of Sunshine Coast?
The Sunshine Coast Region covers 2,254 square kilometres, so its 2025 population works out at about 169 people per square kilometre.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median age in Sunshine Coast?
The median age of residents of the Sunshine Coast Region was 42.9 years in 2024, above the national figure (38.3 years).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households are there in Sunshine Coast?
The 2021 Census counted 127,927 households in the Sunshine Coast Region, with an average of 2.5 people per household.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sunshine Coast were born overseas?
At the 2021 Census 20.6% of residents of the Sunshine Coast Region were born overseas, below the national figure (27.6%), and 6.1% spoke a language other than English at home, below the national figure (22.3%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWho runs Sunshine 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
- Gold Coast 691,230
- Newcastle-Maitland 541,634
- Canberra-Queanbeyan 521,049
- Canberra 484,630
- 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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