Gympie

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

As of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Gympie is estimated at around 11,946. This figure reflects an increase of 591 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,355. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 11,920 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 287 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 754 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 60.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch's projections for each SA2 area are adopted from ABS/Geoscience Australia projections 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of national non-metropolitan areas is expected for the suburb of Gympie, with an estimated growth of 1,069 persons to 2041 reflecting an increase of 8.7% in total over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Gympie when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Gympie has seen approximately 71 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 358 homes. As of FY-26102 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.7 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were reported between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting supply is meeting or exceeding demand while supporting potential population growth. The average value of new homes being built is $331,000, aligning with broader regional development trends.

In the current financial year, $19.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Gympie shows around 68% of the construction activity per person and places among the 83rd percentile nationally, with building activity accelerating in recent years. New developments consist of 67.0% standalone homes and 33.0% attached dwellings, including a growing mix of townhouses and apartments, providing options across different price points from family homes to more affordable compact living. This marks a significant shift from existing housing patterns, which are currently 85.0% houses.

Gympie has around 122 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Gympie is expected to grow by 1,043 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Gympie has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones include Gympie Civic Centre Revitalisation (Civic Centre Remediation), Gympie Regional Housing Action Plan Implementation, Gympie Region Planning Scheme Review, and Cooroy To Curra - Section D - Southern Contract. The following list details those most relevant.

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Gympie shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Gympie's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented with an unemployment rate of 7.3% as of December 2025. Employment growth in the past year was estimated at 8.5%.

There are 5,153 residents in work, but the unemployment rate is 3.3% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lags significantly at 56.3% compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Only 6.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average, while mining shows lower representation at 1.6%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 8.5%, labour force by 8.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.7%, labour force expand by 1.0%, with a similar unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gympie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Gympie's median income among taxpayers is $40,971 and the average is $49,605. This is lower than national averages. Regional Qld has a median of $53,146 and an average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Gympie's median income are approximately $45,625 and the average is $55,240 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals household, family and personal incomes in Gympie fall between the 4th and 7th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows 31.6% of Gympie's population (3,774 individuals) earn within the $400 - 799 range, unlike broader trends where 31.7% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Gympie, with only 81.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

Gympie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Gympie, as evaluated at the latest Census held in 2016, comprised 85.0% houses and 14.9% other dwellings such as semi-detached units, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Regional Queensland's dwelling structure of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gympie was recorded at 33.6%, similar to the level in Regional Queensland. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (27.8%) or rented (38.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Gympie was $1,200, lower than the Regional Queensland average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure for Gympie was recorded at $295, compared to Regional Queensland's $345. Nationally, Gympie's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 61.5% of all households, including 19.5% couples with children, 23.7% couples without children, and 17.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.5%, with lone person households at 34.7% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.1%) and certificates (32.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Gympie has 78 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by nine different routes that together facilitate 191 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is deemed good, with residents typically residing 278 meters from their nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the primarily residential nature of the area. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation, used by 92% of residents. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 6.0% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 27 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Gympie is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Gympie faces significant health challenges as per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (around 5,597 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 12.3% and 10.8% of residents respectively. However, 57.0% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 23.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,807 people), higher than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly inline with the general population.

Gympie is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Gympie had a cultural diversity index of 16.2 as of the 2016 Census, indicating below average diversity. 90.4% of its population were Australian citizens, with 88.5% born in Australia and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 47.4% of Gympie's population.

The 'Other' religious category comprised 0.8%, compared to Regional Queensland's average of 1.3%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.9%), Australian (31.6%), and Irish (8.4%). Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 4.8% compared to Regional Qld's 4.7%, while New Zealand ancestry was underrepresented at 0.8% versus 0.9%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry was also slightly underrepresented at 3.8% compared to the regional average of 3.9%.

Gympie's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Gympie is 42 years, close to Regional Queensland's average of 41 years, and well above Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional Queensland's average, the percentage of people aged 85 years and over is notably higher in Gympie at 3.9%, while the percentage of people aged 45 to 54 years is lower at 10.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the percentage of the population aged 35 to 44 years has increased from 10.8% to 12.1%, while the percentage of people aged 45 to 54 years has decreased from 11.5% to 10.5%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Gympie. The number of people aged 25 to 34 years is projected to increase by 324 (22%) from 1,457 to 1,782. Meanwhile, the populations of those aged 5 to 14 years and 55 to 64 years are expected to decline.