Mount Isa
Statistical Area - sa2

Mount Isa has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Mount Isa's population was approximately 18,333 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 16 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,317. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 18,356 in June 2024 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 266 persons per square kilometer. Mount Isa's 0.1% growth since census compares favorably with its SA3 area's 2.6%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Natural growth contributed approximately 64.7% 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 are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population dynamics suggest a decline by 619 persons to 2041. However, specific age cohorts are projected to grow, notably the 25 to 34 age group by 446 people.

The level of residential development activity in Mount Isa is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Mount Isa has received approximately 10 dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 53 homes were approved, with none yet recorded in FY-26. Despite recent population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

The average expected construction cost for new dwellings is $595,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment. In FY-26, $17.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded. Compared to Rest of Qld, Mount Isa shows roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks at the 14th percentile nationally, suggesting limited buyer options but strong demand for established homes. Recent construction activity has intensified, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints. New building activity consists of 11.0% detached houses and 89.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting affordable entry points and suiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift contrasts with the current housing mix of 76.0% houses, reflecting reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands.

The area has an estimated 4898 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Mount Isa may see reduced housing pressure, presenting potential buying opportunities.

Mount Isa has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are anticipated to influence the local area's performance: Mount Isa Mines' Black Star Open Cut Project, Essential Pipeline Works' City Low and High Systems project, the Parks Improvement Program, and the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Plan. These initiatives are expected to have significant impact on the region.

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Mount Isa maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Mount Isa has a skilled workforce with strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

As of June 2025, there are 10,531 residents employed, with an unemployment rate aligned with Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9% and workforce participation at 68.5%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries include mining, healthcare & social assistance, and education & training. Mining is particularly strong, with employment share 8.8 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 4.3% versus the regional average of 10.1%.

Some residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 to June 2025, the labour force increased by 0.3%, while employment declined by 0.5%, raising unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Isa's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.1% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Mount Isa had a median taxpayer income of $71,448 and an average income of $81,957. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to $50,780 and $64,844 respectively for Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $81,444 (median) and $93,423 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks Mount Isa's household, family, and personal incomes highly, between the 80th and 89th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 35.4% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (6,489 individuals), similar to the broader area where this cohort represents 31.7%. Economic strength is evident with 33.2% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 88.7% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Mount Isa is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Mount Isa's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.6% houses and 24.4% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Non-Metro Qld had 77.3% houses and 22.7% others. Home ownership in Mount Isa was 17.6%, with mortgages at 32.8% and rentals at 49.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,546, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,500. Weekly rent in Mount Isa was $275, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $220. Nationally, Mount Isa's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,546 vs Australia's $1,863, and rents were lower at $275 vs the national figure of $375.

Mount Isa features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.9% of all households, including 30.6% couples with children, 22.9% couples without children, and 13.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.1%, with lone person households at 28.1% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Qld.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 18.6%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (7.6%) and certificates (33.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.7% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education. There are 15 schools serving 3,670 students across Mount Isa, with varied educational conditions. The educational mix includes 8 primary, 5 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Mount Isa's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Mount Isa's health outcomes show notable results, with younger cohorts having a low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is high at approximately 61% of Mount Isa's total population (11,146 people), compared to 57.6% in Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (7.2%) and mental health issues (5.6%).

A majority, 76.3%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to Rest of Qld's 76.2%. Mount Isa has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 8.5% (1,556 people), compared to 10.0% in Rest of Qld.

In terms of cultural diversity, Mount Isa records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Isa's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 80.9% being citizens, 81.8% born in Australia, and 89.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, accounting for 51.6%, slightly lower than the regional average of 52.2%. Top ancestry groups are Australian (25.6%), English (21.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (14.6%), which is below the regional average of 20.0%.

Notably, Maori representation is higher at 1.8% compared to 1.3%, Filipino at 3.0% versus 2.0%, and Samoan at 0.5% against 0.4%.

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

Mount Isa's median age of 31 years is notably younger than Rest of Qld's 41 and considerably younger than Australia's average of 38 years. The proportion of residents aged 25-34 stands at 18.9%, higher than Rest of Qld, while those aged 65-74 make up 4.9% of the population. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of Mount Isa's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 17.9% to 18.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 12.1% to 10.7%. By 2041, Mount Isa's population is projected to see significant demographic shifts. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 358 people (an increase of 10%), reaching a total of 3,827 individuals. Conversely, populations aged 45-54 and 5-14 are forecasted to decline.