Brisbane Economic Snapshot

CENSUS 2016 – OUR BRISBANE

Brisbane’s LGA population has grown by 1.7 per cent per annum on average over the past five years, in line with the national average.

This increase in population is mostly attributed to continued growth in outer suburbs such as Taigum, Fitzgibbon, Rochedale and Burbank, but also reflects the increasing growth in inner city suburbs such as Bowen Hills, Newstead and Fortitude Valley.

Brisbane’s population growth has also been supported by migration. The number of overseas born residents, particularly from China and India, as well as a host of other Asian nations, has increased.

The proportion of Brisbane LGA residents born overseas increased from 28.3 per cent in 2011 to 30.6 per cent in 2016.

Although the United Kingdom and New Zealand remain the most common overseas nations of birth, this proportion has decreased.

Language diversity in the city has increased with the shift in migration. The most commonly spoken languages other than English are Mandarin, Vietnamese and Cantonese.

AGE
Brisbane’s median age has increased slightly from 34 to 35, due to a 16.6 per cent increase in the number of residents older than 65.
 

EDUCATION
The proportion of residents who have completed high school has increased from 69.5 per cent to 72 per cent.

There has also been an increase in the number of residents attending universities from 81,000 to 97,800.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Brisbane’s median personal and household income continued to increase between 2011 and 2016, by 10.6 per cent and 13.4 per cent respectively.

Median personal income in the Brisbane LGA is $770 per week, which is higher than the median income for Australia, Queensland and Greater Brisbane.

HOUSING COSTS
The median mortgage repayment decreased in the Brisbane LGA, as interest rates reached record lows.

As a result, housing affordability has improved, with the proportion of household income spent on rent and mortgage repayments decreasing.

Improved rental affordability has occurred at the same time as the proportion of renters in the Brisbane LGA has increased, which in part reflects an increase in the proportion of people living in apartments.

The average household size in the Brisbane LGA remained unchanged between 2011 and 2016 with the growth in occupied dwellings in line with population growth.

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
Greater Brisbane has retained its position as the most internet connected of the state capitals.

The proportion of dwellings with an internet connection increased further between 2011 and 2016, from 78.6 per cent to 82.4 per cent in Greater Brisbane (84 per cent of dwellings are connected in the Brisbane LGA).

EMPLOYMENT