Weipa

Weipa has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Weipa's population is 4,299 as of May 2026. This reflects a growth of 202 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,097. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 4,297 in June 2025 and an additional 6 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 272 persons per square kilometer. Weipa's growth rate of 4.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's 3.5%, making it a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 79.1% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses 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 are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections are applied where utilised. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of regional areas nationally is expected by 2041, with an increase of 172 persons and a total increase of 4.0% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Weipa recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Weipa has experienced approximately 7 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 37 homes were approved, with a further 6 approved so far in FY26. This results in an average of about 4.6 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed each year during this period.

The demand for dwellings significantly exceeds the supply, leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average value of new dwellings developed is $623,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, there have been $9.8 million in commercial development approvals recorded, suggesting balanced commercial development activity compared to previous years. When comparing Weipa's new dwelling approval rates per person to the rest of Queensland, it has around two-thirds the rate while placing among the 53rd percentile nationally.

However, recent periods have seen an increase in development activity. New developments consist of approximately 86% standalone homes and 14% medium and high-density housing, maintaining Weipa's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This is despite current patterns suggesting a higher preference for detached housing (64% at Census), indicating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. The location has approximately 325 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Weipa is expected to grow by around 170 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Weipa has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified zero projects likely impacting this area. Key projects include Queensland National Land Transport Network Maintenance, Queensland Energy Roadmap - SuperGrid Infrastructure Program, and Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Weipa has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented. The unemployment rate was 1.0% in December 2025. There were 2,756 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Weipa was high at 85.6%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, only 3.3% of residents worked from home. The key industries of employment among residents were mining, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Mining had a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 11.3 times the regional average.

However, construction had limited presence in Weipa with 3.6% employment compared to 10.1% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. In the 12-month period ending May-25, labour force decreased by 2.1% and employment declined by 2.0%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. This contrasts with Regional Qld where employment grew by 0.7% and labour force expanded by 1.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Weipa's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.5% over five years and 11.2% over ten years, though this is a 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 latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Weipa SA2's median income among taxpayers is $84,187 with an average of $90,018. This is one of the highest in Australia, compared to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $93,751 (median) and $100,244 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data ranks Weipa's household, family, and personal incomes highly nationally, between the 96th and 98th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 39.3% of Weipa's community earns $1,500 to $2,999 per week (1,689 individuals), which is consistent with broader regional trends at 31.7%. Weipa demonstrates significant affluence with 49.3% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.9% of income, while strong earnings rank residents within the 96th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Weipa displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Weipa, as per the latest Census evaluation, 63.8% of dwellings were houses while 36.2% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Regional Queensland's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Weipa stood at 10.3%, with mortgaged properties making up 25.4% and rented ones comprising 64.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,063, surpassing Regional Queensland's average of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Weipa was recorded at $500, significantly higher than Regional Queensland's figure of $345 and notably above the national average of $375.

Weipa features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.3% of all households, including 42.1% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for 23.7%, comprising 19.4% lone person households and 4.0% group households. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This indicates a need for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 52.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 43.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 37.4% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.7% in primary, 10.6% in secondary, and 3.6% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Weipa's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data shows Weipa residents have relatively positive health outcomes, with AreaSearch's analysis finding mortality rates and health conditions broadly align with national benchmarks. Prevalence of common health conditions among the general population is quite low but higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages. Private health cover is exceptionally high in Weipa, at approximately 66% of the total population (2,833 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 5.4% and 4.5% of residents respectively, with 83.5% reporting no medical ailments, higher than the 67.6% across Regional Qld. Weipa has 4.3% of residents aged 65 and over (183 people), lower than Regional Qld's 20.4%, but ranks lower nationally compared to broader population figures.

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

Weipa's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.4% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home: 88.7% and 89.2%, respectively. Christianity is the predominant religion in Weipa, comprising 43.3% of the population. Hinduism, however, is overrepresented compared to regional Queensland, with 0.8% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups based on parental country of birth are Australian (27.2%), English (23.1%), and Other (13.7%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal (11.0%) and Filipino (1.5%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 3.9% and 0.9%, respectively, while Maori representation is slightly lower at 0.6%.

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

Weipa's median age is 30 years, which is lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Queensland, Weipa has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (19.7%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (3.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 has grown from 15.5% to 17.4%, while the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 13.9% to 12.1%. The proportion of children aged 0 to 4 has also dropped, from 9.3% to 7.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Weipa. The 35 to 44 age group is projected to grow by 14%, adding 103 residents and reaching a total of 851. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups.