Moranbah

An assessment of population growth drivers in Moranbah reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Moranbah's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 10,017 people. This figure reflects a growth of 592 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 9,425. The increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 9,973 in June 2024 and an additional 59 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3.3 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Moranbah has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%, outperforming its SA3 area. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.3% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. 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, applying proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future demographic trends suggest a population increase just below Australia's non-metropolitan median by 2041, with Moranbah expected to gain an additional 612 persons, reflecting a total growth of 5.7% over the 17-year period based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Moranbah according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Moranbah has averaged approximately eight residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 44 homes were approved, with none yet recorded in FY26. This results in an average of 12.8 new residents arriving per year per dwelling constructed during this period.

Supply has substantially lagged demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New properties are constructed at an average value of $221,000, under regional levels, offering more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY26, $15.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity compared to the rest of Queensland. Moranbah has approximately half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks at the 12th percentile nationally, suggesting limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established dwellings. Recent construction comprises 25% detached dwellings and 75% attached dwellings, a significant shift from existing housing patterns which are currently 82% houses. This change may indicate diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 5286 people, reflecting Moranbah's quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate Moranbah will gain 568 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects expected to impact the region. Notable ones include Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct, Moranbah Mixed Use Development, Moranbah North Waste Coal Mine Gas Power Project Expansion, and Moranbah Affordable Housing Project. The following list details those most relevant.

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Employment conditions in Moranbah rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Moranbah has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.1% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.1% over the past year.

There were 6,543 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate of 3.0%, below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation was higher at 68.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Leading employment industries included mining, accommodation & food, and education & training. Moranbah had a notable concentration in mining, with employment levels at 11.8 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance was under-represented, with only 4.2% of Moranbah's workforce compared to 16.1% in Rest of Qld. The ratio of workers per resident was 0.9 as at the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 4.1%, while labour force grew by 4.3%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced lower employment and labour force growth rates, with a higher increase in unemployment rate. State-level data from 25-Nov showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Moranbah. These projections estimate national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Moranbah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.2% over five years and 10.5% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Moranbah SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $88,563 and an average level of $103,819. These figures are exceptionally high nationally compared to Rest of Qld's levels of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $100,953 (median) and $118,343 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data indicates household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in Moranbah, between the 97th and 98th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows 33.1% of the population (3,315 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the broader area where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident through 51.8% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 95.5% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Moranbah is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Moranbah's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.9% houses and 18.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 86.1% houses and 13.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moranbah was at 8.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.8% and rented ones at 71.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, aligning with Non-Metro Qld's average. The median weekly rent figure was $111, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $200. Nationally, Moranbah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Moranbah has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.5% of all households, including 42.4% couples with children, 22.2% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.5%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households at 3.1%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Moranbah fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.0%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This difference presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 51.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.7%) and certificates (42.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 42.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 19.6% in primary education, 11.1% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Moranbah's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Moranbah shows excellent health outcomes across all ages. Common health conditions have a very low prevalence, with asthma and mental health issues affecting 8.6 and 6.8 percent of residents respectively. Seventy-eight point eight percent of Moranbah residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.7 percent in the rest of Queensland.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73 percent (7,272 people), higher than the Rest of Qld's 60.4 percent and the national average of 55.3 percent. Moranbah has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 3.4 percent (343 people) compared to Queensland's 12.6 percent. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with the general population's health profile.

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

Moranbah's cultural diversity was below average, with 74.8% of its population being citizens, born in Australia (85.4%), speaking English only at home (92.1%). Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 45.5%. The 'Other' category was overrepresented at 0.7%, compared to 0.4% regionally.

Top ancestry groups were Australian (30.2%), English (28.7%), and Irish (7.3%). Notably, Maori (1.7%) and Filipino (2.3%) were overrepresented in Moranbah compared to regional averages of 1.0% and 1.6%, respectively.

Moranbah hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Moranbah's median age is 31 years, which is younger than Rest of Qld's 41 years and the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 22.1% of Moranbah's population, compared to Rest of Qld's percentage, while the 65-74 cohort constitutes 2.7%. This 25-34 concentration is higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 20.0% to 22.1%, while the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 16.5% to 14.7%. By 2041, Moranbah's population is forecasted to see significant demographic changes. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 391 people (an 18% increase) from 2,209 to 2,601, while the 15-24 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to decline in population.