This intrigues me greatly so I have spent some time analysing the ABS data which is freely available from their website. The ABS has figures for Brisbane City and the Statistical Division of Greater Brisbane (SD05, which includes Brisbane City, Logan, Redlands, Ipswich, Pine Rivers, Caboolture, Redcliffe).
Reference Source:
3218.0 - Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2006-07
Current Population:
Population of Brisbane City at June 2007: 1,007,901
Population of Greater Brisbane at June 2007: 1,814,235
The average growth rate of Brisbane City between 2002-2007 was 1.9%. The growth of Brisbane City during 2006-2007 was lower at 1.6% which is 15,725 new residents per year.
The growth of Greater Brisbane during 2006-2007 was 2.4%. This equates to 36,021 new residents last year.
Population Projections:
If the Greater Brisbane Area continues to grow at 2.4% then it will hit 1,995,886 people in June 2011. If this logic is correct then the magic 2M mark would be hit in August 2011.
With Brisbane City’s growth rate somewhere between 1.6% to 1.9%, it will hit the 2M mark between 2044 & 2050.