Council area

Townsville, QLD

Townsville had a population of 192,768 at the 2021 Census (+3.2% since 2016). Median age 36.0. Median weekly household income $1,701. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

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Townsville at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with Queensland.

In Townsville

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Townsville's population grew by 3.2% to 192,768, slower than Queensland as a whole (+9.6%). With a median age of 36.0, it is younger than the QLD average (38.0). Children under 10 make up 12.4% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 9.6%.

37.1% of households rent, a larger share than the QLD average of 33.6%. 25.1% own their home outright. Flats and apartments are 7.0% of homes (12.5% across Queensland). The 2021 Census counted 69,892 households.

The median household earns $1,701 a week, in line with the QLD average of $1,675. Renters pay a median $305 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $1,517 a month.

15.1% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the QLD average of 24.1%. 8.6% use a language other than English at home. 44.6% report no religion, close to the QLD average (44.8%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Townsville beside QLD and Australia.

TownsvilleQLDAustralia
Population192,7685,156,13825,422,788
Growth since 2016+3.2%+9.6%+8.6%
Median age36.038.038.0
Households69,8921,869,4629,275,217
Flats and apartments7.0%12.5%14.3%
Renting37.1%33.6%31.1%
Owned outright25.1%29.5%31.4%
Median household income a week$1,701$1,675$1,746
Median rent a week$305$365$375
Median mortgage repayment a month$1,517$1,733$1,863
Born overseas15.1%24.1%29.3%
Other language at home8.6%14.1%23.6%
No religion44.6%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

+3.2% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 174,4622011
  2. 186,7572016
  3. 192,7682021

Age

Median age 36.0, against 38.0 for Queensland.

Townsville Queensland
0–912.4%
10–1913.5%
20–2915.4%
30–3913.8%
40–4912.6%
50–5912.5%
60–6910.3%
70–796.5%
80+3.0%

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

Cultural background

The largest groups in Townsville at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. English41.0%
  2. Australian40.5%
  3. Irish12.3%
  4. Scottish11.4%
  5. Australian Aboriginal7.4%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Tagalog0.5%
  2. Australian Indigenous languages0.4%
  3. Malayalam0.4%
  4. Italian0.4%
  5. Mandarin0.3%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England2.7%
  2. New Zealand2.3%
  3. the Philippines1.1%
  4. India1.0%
  5. South Africa0.6%

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

Around Townsville

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Part of

Nearby

Suburbs in Townsville

Largest first.

Explore Townsville in Censible

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