Bribie Island

Population growth drivers in Bribie Island are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Bribie Island's population is approximately 22,167 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,555 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,612. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 22,137 in June 2024 and an additional 307 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 152 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Bribie Island has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 1.9%, outperforming its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 79.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data, are applied for each age cohort. By 2041, the population is expected to increase by approximately 2,387 persons, reflecting a total increase of 10.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Bribie Island among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Bribie Island saw approximately 136 new homes approved annually, with a total of 683 homes approved from FY21 to FY25, and an additional 22 approved in FY26. On average, over the past five financial years, 3.4 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. This demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and intensifies competition among buyers.

The average value of new dwellings developed is $238,000, under regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY26, $8.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bribie Island has similar development levels per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area, though recent periods show a moderation in development activity.

New development consists of 97.0% detached dwellings and 3.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (73.0% at Census), suggesting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. The estimated count of 490 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Bribie Island is projected to grow by 2,357 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Bribie Island has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 15 projects expected to influence the region. Notable projects include Bribie Island Retiree Resort (Sundale), Sunderland Drive Residential Estate (Pacific Harbour), Bribie Island Central Coles Precinct Redevelopment, and Bongaree Village Shopping Centre Expansion. The following details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market in Bribie Island demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Bribie Island had an unemployment rate of 3.6% as of September 2025, with estimated employment growth of 8.5% over the past year. It has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with diverse sector representation. As of September 2025, 7,365 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 0.3% below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation lagged significantly at 37.2%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, a moderate 18.0% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents comprised health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area had particularly notable concentration in construction, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Professional & technical services had limited presence, with 5.7% employment compared to 8.9% regionally. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 8.5% and labour force increased by 6.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 2.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.8%, labour force expand by 3.3%, and unemployment fall by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Bribie Island's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, noting this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The Bribie Island SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $41,939 and an average of $57,471 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is below the national average, with Greater Brisbane's median income being $58,236 and average income being $72,799. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $46,095 and an average income of $63,166, based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023. Census data indicates that incomes in Bribie Island fall between the 2nd and 5th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis shows that the predominant cohort spans 33.1% of locals (7,337 people) with incomes in the $400 - $799 category, differing from the regional trend where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is most prevalent at 33.3%. With 41.5% earning under $800 per week, Bribie Island faces significant income constraints impacting local spending patterns. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

Bribie Island is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bribie Island's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 73.2% houses and 26.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership on Bribie Island stood at 56.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.2% and rented ones at 23.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,647, lower than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent on Bribie Island was $335, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Bribie Island's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bribie Island features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.9% of all households, including 12.5% couples with children, 43.4% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for 35.1%, with lone person households at 32.4% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Bribie Island faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.6%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (28.7%).

School and university attendance encompasses 17.3% of the community, including 6.3% in secondary education, 6.1% in primary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Bribie Island has 95 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that collectively facilitate 858 weekly passenger trips. The island's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 245 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 89% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 18.0% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 122 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately nine weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Bribie Island is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Bribie Island faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Only 48% of Bribie Island's total population (~10,551 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Brisbane's 55.8%.

Nationally, the average is 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 15.4% of residents) and mental health issues (8.5%). Conversely, 51.0% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, lower than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age population health challenges are notable due to elevated chronic condition rates. Bribie Island has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 52.6% (11,664 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.2%. Despite this, national rankings for senior health outcomes generally align with the general population.

Bribie Island ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bribie Island's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 76.7% of its population born in Australia, 89.2% being citizens, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion on Bribie Island, comprising 59.2% of people, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups are English (36.0%), Australian (24.6%), and Irish (9.7%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 9.6%, Welsh at 0.8%, and German at 4.9%.

Bribie Island ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Bribie Island is 64 years, significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bribie Island has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (25.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (2.7%). This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the median age has increased by 1.1 years, from 63 to 64, indicating an aging population. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has grown from 16.0% to 21.0%, while those aged 85 and above have increased from 4.6% to 5.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has declined from 4.5% to 2.7%, and those aged 5-14 have decreased from 7.1% to 5.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Bribie Island's age structure. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 41%, reaching 6,557 people from 4,661. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0-4 and 45-54 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.