South Brisbane
Statistical Area - sa2

South Brisbane lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

South Brisbane's population was around 16,906 as of August 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 2,663 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,243. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,130 in June 2024 and an additional 484 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 8,369 persons per square kilometer, placing South Brisbane in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's population growth of 18.7% since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (8.6%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Exceptional growth is predicted for South Brisbane over the period to 2041, with an expected expansion of 14,231 persons reflecting an increase of 85.5% in total population over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions South Brisbane among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

South Brisbane averaged approximately 208 new dwelling approvals annually. Between Financial Year 21 (FY-21) and FY-25, 1,040 homes were approved, with another 592 approved in FY-26 as of current data. This results in an average of about 4.7 people moving to the area each year for every dwelling built over those five years.

The demand significantly exceeds supply, which typically influences prices and buyer competition positively. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $732,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $302.5 million, reflecting robust local business investment. Comparatively, South Brisbane's new home approvals per capita are comparable to Greater Brisbane, maintaining market balance consistent with surrounding areas. However, building activity has slowed in recent years nationally, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area despite this trend.

New development predominantly consists of townhouses or apartments (99%), with a minimal percentage of detached houses (1%). This denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. South Brisbane's population density is around 573 people per dwelling approval, indicating a highly mature market. Projections suggest South Brisbane will grow by approximately 14,455 residents by 2041. If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth in the area.

South Brisbane has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 115 projects likely to affect this region. Notable initiatives include South Bank Cultural Precinct Expansion - Glasshouse Theatre, West Village, Melbourne Street Masterplan, and Arc Residences. The following list details those expected to have the most relevance.

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

The labour market in South Brisbane demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

South Brisbane hosts an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.8% in the past year, lower than Greater Brisbane's 4.1%.

Employment grew by 3.4% over the same period. As of June 2025, 11,134 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.8%, slightly below Greater Brisbane's rate. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Brisbane's at 64.5%. Dominant sectors included professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food, with the latter showing particular specialization at 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction showed lower representation at 4.6% versus the regional average of 9.0%. There were 2.3 workers for every resident in the area as per the Census, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and May 2025, employment increased by 3.4%, labour force grew by 2.9%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 4.4% and labour force growth of 4.0%. As of Sep-25, Queensland's employment had contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Job forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest national employment will grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to South Brisbane's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

South Brisbane has a median taxpayer income of $56,465 and an average income of $81,466 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. These figures are among the highest in Australia, contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $63,077 (median) and $91,006 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, incomes in South Brisbane cluster around the 60th percentile nationally for household, family, and personal incomes. The largest income segment comprises 35.4% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (5,984 residents), aligning with regional trends where this cohort represents 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 48th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

South Brisbane features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

South Brisbane's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 4.4% houses and 95.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Brisbane metro's 12.9% houses and 87.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Brisbane was at 13.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 14.9% and rented ones at 71.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, below Brisbane metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in South Brisbane was $470, compared to Brisbane metro's $440. Nationally, South Brisbane's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

South Brisbane features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 49.2% of all households, including 12.2% composed of couples with children, 28.5% consisting of couples without children, and 6.9% being single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 50.8%, with lone person households making up 39.0% and group households comprising 11.7%. The median household size is 1.9 people, matching the average in Greater Brisbane.

South Brisbane demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

In South Brisbane, a significant proportion of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, with 55.0% surpassing the broader benchmarks of 25.7% in Queensland and 30.4% in Australia. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways account for 21.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 10.4%. Educational participation is high, with 45.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 27.6% in tertiary education, 5.5% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing primary education. South Brisbane's five schools have a combined enrollment reaching 6,886 students as of the latest available data. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1149. The educational mix includes one primary school, one secondary school, and three K-12 schools. As of the current statistics, South Brisbane functions as an education hub with 40.7 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 18.1. This attracts students from surrounding communities. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus for accurate numbers.

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

South Brisbane has 47 active public transport stops. These include a mix of ferry, train, and bus services. There are 163 individual routes operating, serving 28,455 weekly passenger trips in total.

Residents have excellent accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 113 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 4,065 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 605 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows exceptional results across South Brisbane, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is notably high at approximately 61% of the total population (10,278 people), compared to 64.3% across Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 8.3% and 6.1% of residents respectively.

A total of 79.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 75.5% across Greater Brisbane. The area has 6.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,124 people), which is lower than the 10.5% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

South Brisbane is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

South Brisbane has a culturally diverse population, with 44.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 55.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in South Brisbane, comprising 29.9% of its population. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, making up 4.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (18.6%), Chinese (17.3%), and Other (14.2%). Korean (2.4%) and Spanish (0.9%) are notably more represented in South Brisbane than regionally.

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

South Brisbane's median age is 29, which is lower than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and significantly younger than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 29.6% of the population, while the 5-14 age group is comparatively smaller at 5.3%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15 to 24 cohort has decreased from 25.9% to 25.0%. By 2041, South Brisbane's age composition is projected to see significant shifts, with the 25 to 34 age cohort set to rise substantially by 3,622 people (72%), increasing from 5,009 to 8,632.