Based in geographic area, Queensland is Australia’s second largest state. It is also Australia’s third most populous state. Brisbane, the state capital, is home to over 2.7 million residents. The Brisbane River, winding through the city, is lined with al fresco dining spots, bustling bars, and live music venues. Additionally, Brisbane serves as an ideal gateway to the scenic coastal areas of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, both just an hour’s drive away.
Other must-see destinations in Queensland are the Daintree Rainforest (world’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest), Lone Pine (world’s first and largest koala sanctuary), Whitsunday Islands (a popular yachting destination), and Cairns (a popular beach resort town).
Brisbane’s median age is 36.6 years, which is notably younger than the rest of Queensland, where the median age stands at 40.8 years. Some of the youngest median ages are in The Northern Peninsula in Queensland Outback (24.0 years) where there is a high proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and St. Lucia in Brisbane (25.0 years) where the University of Queensland is located.
In 2023, the biggest contributor of population growth in Greater Brisbane was international migration. As of June 2021, the top 10 countries of birth were New Zealand, England, India, China, the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam, Scotland, the USA, and Germany.
In both Brisbane and the rest of Queensland, females outnumbered males, with a sex ratio of 98.2 males per 100 females.
Queensland hosts several prestigious universities in Australia including:
These institutions provide diverse study and research opportunities across various fields.
In 2021, based on the responses of employed people aged 15 years and over:
The top 5 occupations in QLD are professionals, technicians and trades workers, clerical and administrative workers, managers, and community and personal service workers.
The top 5 industries of employment are hospitals (except psychiatric hospitals), supermarket and grocery stores, primary education, other social assistance services, and takeaway food services.
The median weekly income is $787 for personal, $2,024 for family, and $1,675 for household.
Five of the World Heritage sites are in Queensland:
Great Barrier Reef
Stretching 2,300 kilometers along Queensland coastline, this is one of the few living structures visible from space. It is the world’s most extensive subtropical rainforest, teeming with thousands of fish species, six out of the world's seven turtle species, and over 30 species of whales and dolphins. It is also the world’s biggest coral reef system, which is great for snorkeling and diving.
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K’gari (Formerly Fraser Island)
K’gari is the world’s largest sand island at 122 kilometers in length. Located along the Fraser Coast, it is a four-hour drive north from Brisbane. This island stands out globally for its extraordinary ecosystems, where lush rainforests flourish on sandy terrain and half of the world’s perched freshwater dune lakes are found. Visitors can indulge in a variety of activities such as hiking, swimming, exploring a shipwreck, whale watching, camping, fishing, and much more.
Gondwana Rainforest
Dating back to 180 million years, Gondwana was the ancient southern supercontinent blanketed by rainforests that encompassed Australasia, Africa and South America. Most of the rainforests warmed and dried up when Australia broke away from the Gondwanan continent. Today, the remnants form the world’s most extensive subtropical rainforest, and one of the best examples of Earth's evolutionary history. It is the perfect spot to find peace or seek adventure through guided tours and treks, hiking, and camping.
Riversleigh Fossil Mammal Sites
Renowned naturalist David Attenborough has hailed this location as one of the most significant fossil sites in the world. The World Heritage-listed Australian Fossil Mammal Sites comprise two distinct areas: Riversleigh in Queensland’s remote northwest and Naracoorte in South Australia. Riversleigh is celebrated for its older fossils, some dating back 15 to 25 million years. Exploring this site will feel like stepping into a living natural history museum.
