Surfers Paradise - South

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

As of May 2026, Surfers Paradise - South's population is approximately 17,486, indicating a 23.1% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 14,210. This growth can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,410 in June 2025 and an additional 472 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 5,235 persons per square kilometer, placing Surfers Paradise - South in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth exceeds the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.2% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 used. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied. Considering projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, with the area expected to grow by 8,327 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 47.2% over the 16 years.

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

Surfers Paradise - South averaged approximately 130 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 651 homes. As of FY26524 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.5 new residents per year have been associated with every home built between FY21 and FY25, indicating a significant gap between demand and supply that typically drives up prices and intensifies competition among buyers. The average value of new homes being constructed is $689,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment.

In FY26, commercial approvals valued at $2.0 million have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to the regional average in Rest of Qld, where Surfers Paradise - South has 57.0% less development activity per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. New building activity shows a significant skew toward attached dwellings (89.0%), offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 424 people per dwelling approval, Surfers Paradise - South exhibits characteristics of a developed market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 8,251 residents through to 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Surfers Paradise - South has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 34 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are 26 Vista, Florence Residences, COAST by Sammut, and Exhale. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment positions Surfers Paradise - South ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Surfers Paradise - South has a well-educated workforce with tourism and hospitality sectors prominently featured. The unemployment rate was 3.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6%. As of December 2025, there are 10,326 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9%, which is below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is broadly similar to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, 14.8% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area shows strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share of 2.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.3%.

The predominantly residential area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6% and labour force increased by 2.6%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 3.1%. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.7%, labour force grow by 1.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Surfers Paradise - South's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Surfers Paradise - South SA2's median income among taxpayers was $46,076 and average income stood at $73,046 in financial year 2023. This compares to Regional Qld's figures of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated median income is approximately $51,310 and average income is around $81,344 as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 44th percentile ($777 weekly) and household income sits at the 24th percentile. Income analysis shows that 29.6% of residents earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (5,175 residents), consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 19th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Surfers Paradise - South, as per the latest Census, houses comprised 12.4% while other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other') accounted for 87.6%. This contrasts with Regional Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Surfers Paradise - South stood at 26.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.0% and rented ones at 53.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in the area was $400, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Surfers Paradise - South's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Surfers Paradise - South features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 50.4% of all households, including 12.5% couples with children, 29.4% couples without children, and 7.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 49.6%, with lone person households at 39.0% and group households making up 10.5%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Surfers Paradise - South exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Surfers Paradise - South shows a significant advantage with 33.1% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 23.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 37.2% of residents holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 15.0% and certificates at 22.2%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.0% in tertiary education, 5.5% in primary education, and 4.7% pursuing secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in tertiary education, 5.5% in primary education, and 4.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 33 active stops in Surfers Paradise - South, offering train, lightrail, and bus services. These stops are served by 12 routes, facilitating 2,070 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is high, with residents typically living 199 meters from the nearest stop. In this residential area, most commute outward; cars dominate at 70%, followed by walking (9%) and bus use (6%). Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.8, below regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, 14.8% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 295 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 62 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

AreaSearch's assessment shows excellent health outcomes in Surfers Paradise - South. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 9,687 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.2 and 7.1% of residents respectively. 73.6% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 67.6% across Regional Qld. Under-65s have better-than-average health outcomes. The area has 19.6% of residents aged 65 and over (3,430 people). Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Surfers Paradise - South has a high level of cultural diversity, with 29.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 45.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Surfers Paradise - South, making up 46.3% of people there. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Regional Qld, comprising 0.7% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 24.9%, Australian at 17.1% (lower than the regional average of 26.5%), and Other at 16.0% (substantially higher than the regional average of 6.9%). Notably, Spanish is overrepresented at 1.8%, French at 1.0%, and Russian at 0.6%.

Surfers Paradise - South's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Surfers Paradise - South is 38 years, which is slightly below Regional Queensland's average of 41 but aligns with Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up a strong 26.5% of the population compared to Regional Queensland, while the 5-14 cohort represents only 4.5%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is notably higher than the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census data indicates a decrease in median age from 39 years to 38 years, demonstrating a trend towards a younger population. Specifically, the percentage of the population within the 25 to 34 age bracket has increased from 22.5% to 26.5%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 5.9% to 7.0%. Conversely, the percentages for the 45 to 54 and 65 to 74 age groups have decreased to 9.8% and 10.6%, respectively, down from 12.1% and 11.9%. By the year 2041, Surfers Paradise - South is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to grow notably, with an increase of 2,552 people (55%), from 4,626 to 7,179 individuals.