City growth

Our four largest cities - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth - are projected to grow by 5.8 million (or around 45%) from 12.8 million in 2011 to 18.6 million in 2031. Areas around these cities - the Hunter, Illawarra, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Geelong regions - are expected to grow from 2 million in 2011

Projected population of Australian capital cities, 2011-2061

Top 20 Audit regions by projected population growth, 2011-2031

to over 2.5 million in 2031. These four extended metropolitan areas will account for over two thirds of Australia's population in 2031.

In percentage terms, Hobart and Adelaide are projected to grow the slowest of the capital cities. Darwin and Canberra are expected to grow more quickly, although off a somewhat smaller base population in 2011 compared to the larger capitals.

On the whole, the challenge of meeting the infrastructure needs of those cities is likely to be less significant than for the four larger cities. Indeed, it is worth considering what steps could be taken to foster growth in those cities and in regional centres so as to ease the pressure on our larger cities.

Outside the capitals and surrounding regions, population is projected to grow by 22 per cent, from 5.6 million in 2011 to 6.8 million in 2031.

Our nation will continue to grow beyond 2031. Decisions we make in the next 15 years need to set up our cities and regions to manage further growth over the next 40-50 years