Council area

Sunshine Coast, QLD

Sunshine Coast had a population of 342,541 at the 2021 Census (+16.4% since 2016). Median age 43.0. Median weekly household income $1,595. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

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Sunshine Coast at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with Queensland.

In Sunshine Coast

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Sunshine Coast's population grew by 16.4% to 342,541, faster than Queensland as a whole (+9.6%). With a median age of 43.0, it is older than the QLD average (38.0). Children under 10 make up 10.9% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 15.6%.

27.7% of households rent, a smaller share than the QLD average of 33.6%. 34.4% own their home outright. Flats and apartments are 12.8% of homes (12.5% across Queensland). The 2021 Census counted 127,927 households.

The median household earns $1,595 a week, in line with the QLD average of $1,675. Renters pay a median $440 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $1,915 a month.

21.8% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the QLD average of 24.1%. 6.5% use a language other than English at home. 50.3% report no religion, higher than the QLD average (44.8%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Sunshine Coast beside QLD and Australia.

Sunshine CoastQLDAustralia
Population342,5415,156,13825,422,788
Growth since 2016+16.4%+9.6%+8.6%
Median age43.038.038.0
Households127,9271,869,4629,275,217
Flats and apartments12.8%12.5%14.3%
Renting27.7%33.6%31.1%
Owned outright34.4%29.5%31.4%
Median household income a week$1,595$1,675$1,746
Median rent a week$440$365$375
Median mortgage repayment a month$1,915$1,733$1,863
Born overseas21.8%24.1%29.3%
Other language at home6.5%14.1%23.6%
No religion50.3%44.8%41.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Population and age

Each census since 2011, and the age profile in 2021.

Population

+16.4% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 257,9512011
  2. 294,3672016
  3. 342,5412021

Age

Median age 43.0, against 38.0 for Queensland.

Sunshine Coast Queensland
0–910.9%
10–1912.4%
20–2910.3%
30–3912.0%
40–4912.9%
50–5913.3%
60–6912.7%
70–7910.2%
80+5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Cultural background

The largest groups in Sunshine Coast at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. English48.4%
  2. Australian37.7%
  3. Irish13.3%
  4. Scottish13.1%
  5. German7.0%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. German0.5%
  2. Spanish0.4%
  3. Mandarin0.3%
  4. Afrikaans0.3%
  5. Portuguese0.3%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England6.2%
  2. New Zealand4.5%
  3. South Africa1.3%
  4. India0.7%
  5. Scotland0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Around Sunshine Coast

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Part of

Nearby

Suburbs in Sunshine Coast

Largest first.

Explore Sunshine Coast in Censible

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