Population growth of Australian cities 2001-2011

Of Australia's larger cities, the south-east Queensland cities of Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have been the fastest growing in the country from 2001 to 2011. The Gold Coast grew by 2.5% per year during the decade and the Sunshine Coast grew by 2.4% over the period.

Perth was the fastest growing capital during the decade to the 2011 census, with an annual rate of 2.14%. Queensland capital Brisbane was close behind with a growth rate of 2.11% over the period. The closeness of the figures between these two cities masks the accelerating growth in Perth since 2006. In the first half of the decade, Brisbane significantly outpaced Perth; however since 2006 the roles have reversed and Perth achieved a rate of 2.69% per year between 2006-2011.

The following chart uses the ABS's Greater Capital City Statistical Areas for the capitals, and Statistical Area Level 4 boundaries for the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong. This ensures consistent boundaries and no crossover. The data source is the 2011 Australian census.

Annual population growth rates of major Australian cities 2001-2011

Australia's largest city, Sydney, only managed a growth rate of around 1% during the decade to 2011. This is around half the growth rate seen in Perth and south-east Queensland. The Brisbane-Gold Coast-Sunshine Coast conurbation grew from a population of 2,357,417 to 2,933,714; equivalent to a growth rate of 2.2% per year during 2001-2011.