Surfers Paradise - South

Surfers Paradise - South lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Surfers Paradise - South's population was around 17,067 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 2,857 people (20.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,210 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,873 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 430 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 5,109 persons per square kilometer, placing Surfers Paradise - South in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 20.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (8.8%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 81.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

However, all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors. AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections were adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. These state projections did not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch applied proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering the projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth was predicted over the period with Surfers Paradise - South expected to grow by 8,856 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 50.8% in total over the 17 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 FY26, 64 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.5 new residents per year were associated with each home built between FY21 and FY25, indicating that demand significantly outstrips supply, which typically exerts upward pressure on 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 with higher-end properties.

In FY26, $2.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to the rest of Queensland. Surfers Paradise - South has significantly less development activity, at 57.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. New building activity shows 11.0% detached houses and 89.0% attached dwellings, with around 424 people per dwelling approval, indicating a developed market. Looking ahead, Surfers Paradise - South is expected to grow by 8,662 residents through to 2041, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases if current development rates struggle to match population growth.

Looking ahead, Surfers Paradise - South is expected to grow by 8,662 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match 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 33 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are South Beach, Surfers Paradise, COAST, 26 Vista, and Arc Residences Northcliffe. The following list details those 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 prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.1% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year. In September 2025, 10,234 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.0%, lower than Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation was broadly similar to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 14.8% of residents worked from home in September 2025. Employment is concentrated in accommodation & food (2.3 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.3% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 4.5%.

AreaSearch analysis shows employment levels increased by 2.8% and labour force by 2.8% during the year to September 2025, keeping unemployment stable at 1.0%. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.7%, labour force grow by 2.1%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Surfers Paradise - South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

The Surfers Paradise - South SA2 had an above average income level according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended June 30, 2023. Its median income among taxpayers was $46,076 and the average income stood at $73,046, compared to Rest of Qld's figures of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended June 30, 2023, current estimates would be approximately $50,642 (median) and $80,285 (average) as of September 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from August 2021, personal income ranked at the 44th percentile ($777 weekly), while household income sat at the 24th percentile. Income analysis showed that the largest segment comprised 29.6% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (5,051 residents). This was consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 79.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 19th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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

The dwelling structure in Surfers Paradise - South, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 12.4% houses and 87.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Surfers Paradise - South was at 26.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.0% and rented ones at 53.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,600, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was $400, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Surfers Paradise - South's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than 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 Rest of Qld 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 significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 33.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 20.6% in Rest of Qld and 25.4% in SA4 region as of the latest available data. Bachelor degrees lead at 23.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (15.0%) and certificates (22.2%). Educational participation is notably high, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest data available.

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

The analysis of public transport in Surfers Paradise - South indicates there are 33 operational transport stops. These include a variety of services such as trains, light rail, and buses. A total of 12 individual routes service these stops, collectively facilitating 2,070 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to transport is rated highly, with residents typically residing just 199 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation for 70% of residents, while walking accounts for 9%, and bus use stands at 6%.

On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 14.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The 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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results for Surfers Paradise - South based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

Private health cover was found to be high at approximately 55% of the total population, around 9,455 people, compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland. The most common medical conditions were arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.2% and 7.1% of residents respectively. About 73.6% of residents reported having no medical ailments, higher than the 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Under-65s had better than average health outcomes. The area has 18.9% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling around 3,230 people, which is lower than the 20.0% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, broadly 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 significant 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, comprising 46.3% of people there. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, making up 0.7% of the population compared to just 0.1% across Rest of Qld.

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%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Spanish is overrepresented at 1.8% compared to 0.3% regionally, French at 1.0% versus 0.5%, and Russian at 0.6% versus 0.2%.

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

The median age in Surfers Paradise - South was reported as 38 years in the Census data of 2021, which is slightly lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 but aligns with Australia's national median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constituted a significant portion at 26.3% compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort was less prevalent at 4.5%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data indicates a trend towards a younger population, with median age decreasing by 1.4 years to 38 from the previous figure of 39. Specifically, the 25-34 age group grew from 22.5% to 26.3%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.3% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.1% to 10.1%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 11.9% to 10.6%. By the year 2041, Surfers Paradise - South is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 age cohort expected to increase markedly by 2,846 people (63%), from 4,486 to a projected total of 7,333.