The population and housing forecast for the Sunshine Coast region

SA4s in region:

  • Sunshine Coast

Published: June 2025
Version: 5.1.0

Read forecast analysis and insights for the Logan-Beaudesert region from Australia's largest independent population forecasting team.

 

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Read the insights and analysis behind our population and dwellings forecasts for the Sunshine Coast

region.

About the Sunshine Coast Region 

The Sunshine Coast region is an expansive region, ranging from the coastal suburbs of Golden Beach up along the coast towards Sunshine Beach, further encompassing the Glass House Mountains and various other in land towns such as Beerwah and smaller ones such as Cooroy, with the hinterlands in between them. It includes the Noosa Shire Council and Sunshine Coast Council.

The area mainly consists of coastal suburbs with a few population centres such as Maroochydore along the coast and inland population centres such as Nambour and Beerwah. In between these population centres lies pockets of greenfield developments and expansive suburbs.

Key findings

Sunshine Coast 

Over the forecast period, the Sunshine Coast SA4 population will grow from around 403,508 in 2021 to around 605,442 in 2046. This is about a 201,934 increase from the 2021 population which is also a 50% increase over a 25-year period.

Most of the greenfield development is occuring within the Caloundra West - Baringa SA2 stemming from the Caloundra South PDA. To the west is the Landsborough SA2 which has other greenfield developments and half of the future growth front - Beerwah East. Once the the ongoing developments in Caloundra South PDA and Landsborough finish up in the middle of the forecast period, it is expected that Beerwah East starts to develop. This is supported by the rail link from Maroochydore to Beerwah being planned & commencing within the 2026.

Outside of these large greenfield developments, there are pockets of greenfield development occurring in in-land centres such as Nambour, where identified land to its southwest is prime for development at a lower price than other parts within this region. 

Alongside the coast, you have potential development in zoned key corridors, with the main point of densification being the Maroochydore City Centre PDA located in the Maroochydore - Kuluin SA2. This is currently under the Walker Corporation who will develop the CBD to include a mixed use of land uses as seen with the emergence of residential buildings. It will provide the bulk of it's development in the middle portion after the Brisbane Olympics as the athletes' village is converted to housing. 

 

What share of Australia's growth will occur in Queensland?

We set the context for our local area forecasts with a presentation of our state- and regional-level forecasts for Queensland.

Access the presentation slides (including our forecast data for each region), and a short recap or the full webinar presentation on-demand. Learn what's driving change and how much growth will go to each region of the state over the 25 years to 2046.

The population forecast for Queensland→

Forecast results

The following forecast information presents the combined numbers for the  Gippsland Region

Learn more about the different options to access these forecasts for Local Government Areas (LGAs), suburbs, custom catchments or the entire state or nation here.

  2021 2026 2031 2036 2041 2046
Forecast Population 403,508 454,056.4 496,987.2 537,137.2 573,505.6 605,483.6
Change (five year)   505,48.37 429,30.87 401,49.94 36,368.39 31,978
Average Annual Change (%)   0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01
Forecast Dwellings 177,203.9 193,464.9 212,868.9 231,919.9 249,239.9 264,838.9
Change (five year)   16,261 19,404 19,051 17,320 15,599
Average Annual Change (%)   0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01

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Commentary and analysis from our specialist forecasters.

Johnny Barnard

Johnny Barnard

Principal forecaster
Liza Ivanova

Liza Ivanova

Population forecaster
Richard Thornton

Richard Thornton

Population forecaster
Chris_Jones

Chris Jones

Population forecaster
Oliver Bowering

Oliver Bowering

Population forecaster
john-o

John O'Leary

Forecast modelling