3.2 Drivers of infrastructure demand - population and economy
Based on medium level projections from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Queensland population is projected to reach 6.45 million in 2031 - an increase of almost two million people, or 44 per cent, from 2011.
Medium level Queensland Government projections point to a very similar level of growth, forecasting a population of 6.55 million in 2031. Both population and economic growth in Queensland are projected to be higher than the national average over the 20 years, and the state's share of each is set to increase, as shown in Table 52.
Table 52: Projected population and economic growth for Queensland
| 2011 | % of National | 2031 | % of National | Increase % | |
| Population (persons) | 4,476,778 | 20.0% | 6,445,737 | 21.1% | 44% |
| Gross State Product ($m) | 267,942 | 19.0% | 522,464 | 20.2% | 95% |
Source: ACIL Allen Consulting (2014a)354
Figure 70 shows population growth in Queensland is projected to be shared almost equally between Brisbane and the rest of the state, with Brisbane projected to grow at a slightly faster rate.
The key areas of population and employment growth in South East Queensland (SEQ) are Brisbane Inner City, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Springfield-Redbank, Jimboomba, Beaudesert and Ormeau Oxenford.
Figure 70: Population projections for Queensland - 2011 to 2031
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Greater Brisbane
Balance of 
Total Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013c)355
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354. Gross State Product is in 2010-11 prices.
355. Series B (medium level) projections.