April 11, 2025
The population of the South Burnett Regional Council area rose by 456 people to 34,745 during 2023-24, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The 1.3 per cent rise was mostly made up of newcomers to the area, either from elsewhere in Australia or overseas, as deaths in the region actually exceeded births by 12.
The rise is slightly less than the growth spurt which has been building steadily since the pandemic.
In 2022-23, 506 people joined the South Burnett population.
However, growth during the past four years sharply contrasts what was happening a decade ago.
Between 2014-2019, the area’s population either shrank or only had small increases.
Cherbourg’s population also rose during the latest statistical period, by 1.4 per cent to 1281 in 2023-24.
The only other South Burnett town separately recorded by the ABS was Kingaroy, which had a rise of 1.0 per cent to 11,009 residents.
In the ABS’s South Burnett northern statistical division – which includes Murgon, Wondai and Proston – the population rose by 138 or 1.4 per cent in 2023-24.
In the southern division – which includes Wooroolin, Kumbia and Memerambi – the number of residents rose by 51 or 1.2 per cent.
In the south-eastern division – which includes Nanango, Blackbutt and the Bunya Mountains – the population rose by 174 or 1.7 per cent.
Adjoining local government areas also all experienced population rises in 2023-24:
- Gympie (2.3 per cent),
- North Burnett (1.3 per cent),
- Toowoomba (1.4 per cent),
- Western Downs (0.9 per cent).
The ABS statistics were released on March 27.
Overall, Australia’s population at June 30, 2024, was 27,204,809.
The population of Queensland rose by 2.3 per cent to 5,583,833 during the same period.
The ABS will conduct its next population census in 2026.
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