Queensland expected to hit nearly 10 million residents by 2071

Your favourite beach is set to be twice as crowded as new data reveals when the Sunshine State is set to hit 10 million residents.

Queensland’s population will hit nearly 10 million by 2071 with a quarter of residents set to be older than 65 new government projections have revealed.

And half of the increase to the projected 9.2m people will come from international migration, with natural increase through birth the smallest contributor.

The state government’s updated population projections, to be released on Monday, is aligned to Census data — the latest from 2021 — with calculations done for the two windows of 2046 and 2071.

Queensland’s current population is about 5.1m, with the 9.2m expected in 2071 a near doubling of existing numbers.

Expect even bigger crowds at your favourite beach in 2071. Picture Lachie Millard

But the potential rate of growth pales in comparison to Queensland’s fivefold population increase over the 48 years between 1975 — when there were 1m people in the state — to now.

It’s anticipated by 2071 a quarter of Queenslanders, about 2.3m, will be over the age of 65.

About 500,000 people will be older than 85 at that time.

The population increase will be felt sooner on the Gold Coast, where the current population of more than 600,000 is set to grow by nearly 350,000.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the projected changes needed to inform planning moving forward, particularly around health and housing.

“This is a useful tool for long-term planning, well outside the daily media cycle and even the four years of election cycles or budget forward estimates,” he said.

“If you look at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, or our Energy and Jobs Plan, it’s easy to see the benefit of long-term planning.”