Statistics for families & children

This page contains demographic information about Gold Coast families and children. The information is sourced from:

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) Census of Population and Housing

Household composition

Family households formed 66.9% of all households in the city, which equates to 162,957 families. Families in this case are defined as couples with children, couples without children, one parent families and other families. In Queensland, families made up 66.5% of all households.
68,226 were couple families with children (41.9% of families). In Queensland, a similar proportion (42%) were also couple families with children.
64,259 were couple families without children (39.4% of families). In Queensland, a similar proportion with 39.7% of families.
27,956 households were one parent families with children (17.2% of families). In Queensland, a slightly lower proportion (16.7%) were one parent families with children.
11,019 were 'other families' (1.5% of families). In Queensland, 1.6%. 'Other families' includes any household of related individuals where a parent–child or couple relationship does not exist (for example, siblings, uncle/nephew, grandparent–grandchild).

Age structure and distribution

The number of children in Gold Coast city is increasing, with approximately 9,075 more children aged 0 to 14 years old compared to five years ago. Children aged 0-14 make up 17.6% of Gold Coast’s, compared to 18.7% of Queensland’s population.
There were 33,491 children aged 0 to 4 years (5.4% of the population). In Queensland, 0-4-year-olds made up 5.7% of the population.
There were 37,539 children aged 5 to 9 years (6.0% of the population). In Queensland, they made up 6.4% of the population.
There were 38,900 children aged 10 to 14 (6.2% of the population). In Queensland, they made up 6.6% of the population.
Within Gold Coast, areas with the largest proportion of couples with children were:
- Upper Coomera (South) – Wongawallan (50.4% of households)
- Ormeau (West) – Yatala (45.9%)
- Pacific Pines – Gaven (45.1%).
Areas with the highest proportion of families with young children (aged under 15 years) were:
- Upper Coomera (South) – Wongawallan (37.1%),
- Ormeau (East) – Stapylton (32.9%)
- Pimpama – South (32.6%)
Areas with the highest proportion of one parent families with children were:
- Pimpama – South (18.6%)
- Coomera (17.1%)
- Upper Coomera – North (16.3%)

View an interactive map showing key statistics about families and children on the Gold Coast.

Income

19.1% of Gold Coast’s couple families with children were low-income households (income of less than $800 per week). In Queensland, the same proportion of couple families with children with low-income was observed (19.1%).
30.4% of couple families with no children were low-income households which is lower than Queensland’s couple families with no children (31.6%).
45.1% of one-parent families were low-income households which is lower than Queensland’s one-parent families (47.5%).
34.4% of other family households were low-income households which is lower than Queensland’s other family households (35.6%).
3.1% of Gold Coast’s couple families with children were high-income households (income of more than $3,000 per week). In Queensland, 3.6% of couple families with children were high-income households.
6.6% of couple families with no children were high-income households. In Queensland, the same proportion of couple families with no children were high-income households (6.6%)
1.1% of one-parent families were high-income households. In Queensland, the same proportion of one-parent families were high-income families (1.1%).
1.9% of other family households were high-income households which is lower than Queensland’s other family households (2.1%).

Education

In 2021, 11,491 children were attending pre-school (representing 1.8% of Gold Coast’s population), 48,589 were attending primary school (7.8% of Gold Coast’s population) and 40,732 attended secondary school (6.5% of Gold Coast’s population).
By comparison, 1.6% of Queensland’s residents attended pre-school, 8.3% attended primary school and 6.8% attended secondary school.

Disability and long-term health conditions

2,217 Gold Coast children aged 0 to 9 years had a need for assistance due to a disability. In percentage terms, 3.1% of all 0 to 9 year olds on the Gold Coast had a need for assistance due to a disability. In Queensland, this percentage was higher (3.4%).
There were 4,119 children aged 0 to14 years who needed assistance due to a disability. In percentage terms, 3.7% of all 0 to 14 year olds on the Gold Coast had a need for assistance due to a disability. In Queensland, this percentage was higher (4.0%).
4,921 Gold Coast children aged 0 to 9 years had at least one long-term health condition, representing 6.9% of all 0 to 9 year olds on the Gold Coast. In Queensland, this percentage was slightly lower (6.8%).
9,953 Gold Coast children aged 0 to 14 years had at least one long-term health condition, representing 9.1% of all 0 to 14 year olds on the Gold Coast. In Queensland, this percentage was similar (9.0%).
The most common long-term health conditions for children aged 0 to14 years on the Gold Coast were: asthma (6.2%), mental health condition (2.7%) and lung condition (0.2%). 4.3% of Gold Coast’s children also stated having “other long-term health conditions”.

By comparison 6.2% of Queensland’s children also had asthma and 2.7% also had a mental health condition. 0.2% of Queensland’s children had a heart condition. 4.6% of Queensland’s children stated having “other long-term health conditions”.

Employment status

96.4% of Gold Coast residents aged 15 years or older who live in a couple family with no children and participate in the labour force, are employed. In Queensland, 96.8% of residents in couple families with no children households were employed.
95.5% of Gold Coast residents aged 15 years or older who live in a couple family with children and participate in the labour force, are employed. In Queensland, 95.6% of residents in couple family with children households were employed.
89.9% of Gold Coast residents aged 15 years or older who are a parent in a one parent family and participate in the labour force, are employed. In Queensland, 88.6% of parents in a one parent family were employed.
91.7% of Gold Coast residents aged 15 years or older who live in other type of family and participate in the labour force, are employed. In Queensland, 90.2% of residents in other family households were employed.

'Other families' includes any household of related individuals where a parent-child or couple relationship does not exist (e.g., siblings, uncle/nephew, grandparent-grandchild).

Contact us

Please call 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326) or email communities@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.