Gold Coast's 2026 population is now estimated at 741,661.In 1996, the population of Gold Coast was 311,932.Gold Coast has grown by 14,055 in the last year, which represents a 1.93% annual change.These population values and projections come from Australia urban centers over 10k series 1996-2021 via CityPopulation official attribution and World Population Review Internal Projections.
The City of Gold Coast is Australia’s sixth largest city, with an estimated population of over 560,000 people. As of 2017, the population estimate increased to 591,356, making it the largest non-capital cities in Australia. The city has seen significant population growth since the 1920s and is one of the top tourist destinations, luring in residents and tourists alike with its beautiful coasts, thriving nightlife, and natural beauty. Gold Coast is located 66km south-southeast of Brisbane and is positioned in the Queensland state.
The city is famous for its 57 kilometers of beaches and is one of the country’s premier tourist destinations. The Gold Coast is a magnet for Chinese visitors in particular, with 295,000 visiting in 2016, a 38% increase on the preceding 12 months. China is the most significant source of international visitors to the Gold Coast, and on average accounted for as much as 23% of foreign visitor spending in the region. In 2014 there were 3.5 million overnight domestic visitors and 7,819,000 international visitors.
The city of Gold Coast takes up an area of approximately 414 square kilometers (160 square miles). The population density comes to some 1,428 persons living per square kilometer (3,695 per square mile).
According to the most recent Australian census, the Gold Coast is a very diverse city, with many different ethical and cultural groups residing there. Nearly two-thirds of foreign-born residents of the city come from English-speaking countries (including New Zealand, UK, and South Africa). However, there are increasing numbers of people moving to the city from Asia, including China, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and India. Nationally, there has been a shift from European to Asian migration, mainly from southern Asia and China. The top five birth countries of foreign-born residents are New Zealand (9.2%), UK (7.1%), South Africa (1.3%), Japan (0.8%), and China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) (0.7%).
The top five languages spoken (at home) in Gold Coast other than English are Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese and Italian.
As of 2016, the most practiced religion on the Gold Coast is Western Catholicism (20.8%), followed by Anglican (16.1%). 32.1% of the population indicated that they are not affiliated with any religion.
The population of the Gold Coast is 51.4% female, according to the 2016 Census. The median age in the city is 39 years old. English is the most common ancestry in the city, with 29.3% of inhabitants being of English descent. 64% of the population was born in Australia, with 7.9% of residents originating from New Zealand and 5.2% being born in England. Over 17% of the population hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. 45.8% of residents were born to parents that were born in Australia.
31.8% of residents reported that they do not have a religion. The top religion in the city is Catholicism, of which over 20% reported following per the 2016 Census. Over 80% of households speak English only, while the second top language spoken within the city is Mandarin, which is spoken by 1.6% of the population.
Though the Gold Coast area had its first recorded sighting in the 1700s, it was uninhabited until 1823. It was originally known as the South Coast because of its location in relation to Brisbane. The city received its name because of over inflation of goods and housing. Though this name was thought by some to be derogatory, over the years, the area became known for its beautiful beaches and nightlife, and by the 1950s, tourism was booming, leading many to integrate “Gold Coast” into the names of their businesses. The city was renamed as the Town of Gold Coast, followed up one year later as the City of Gold Coast.
The city continues to be a thriving tourism spot because of its beaches that are known for surfing, pristine rainforests, stunning skyline, and activities including shopping and theme parks. Its movie, TV, and music industries have earned it the nickname “Australia’s Hollywood,” and it is now the most populous non-capital city in Australia.
Gold Coast is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, with its population expected to reach as many as 820,000 by 2035. Between 2011 and 2016, the annual growth rate was between 1.28% and 2.25%, which added approximately 2,098 to 11,614 to the overall population every year. The region’s booming tourism industry means that there are lots of job opportunities, and so many people move here for work, which contributes to population growth. Even before the city was known as the Gold Coast (1958), it had experienced strong population growth. This growth continued throughout the 20th century, welcoming people from all over the world.
City | 2026 Pop.↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 4,976,762 | 1.13% |
| Melbourne | 4,928,443 | 1.41% |
| Brisbane | 2,484,138 | 1.61% |
| Perth | 2,218,366 | 1.6% |
| Adelaide | 1,299,185 | 0.84% |
| Gold Coast | 741,661 | 1.93% |
| Canberra | 523,285 | 1.28% |
| Newcastle | 361,877 | 0.74% |
| Central Coast | 343,965 | 1.1% |
| Sunshine Coast | 313,811 | 1.93% |
| Wollongong | 292,054 | 0.82% |
| Hobart | 205,884 | 0.83% |
| Geelong | 190,619 | 1.1% |
| Townsville | 186,562 | 1.4% |
| Cairns | 163,376 | 1.26% |
| Darwin | 130,746 | 1.32% |
| Ballarat | 113,156 | 1.4% |
| Toowoomba | 112,978 | 0.82% |
| Bendigo | 108,707 | 1.51% |
| Maitland | 97,446 | 1.64% |
