The Gold Coast has cemented its position as Australia’s largest non-capital city economy, with new figures revealing economic growth of 25 per cent over the past five years.
The 2026 State of the City Report, released by Invest Gold Coast, shows the city’s economy has grown to more than $55 billion since 2020-21, outpacing both Greater Brisbane and the average growth rate of Australian capital cities.
The report highlights the Gold Coast’s transformation into a diverse and sophisticated economy, ranking second nationally for Economic Complexity behind Sydney. Growth has been driven by sectors including health, advanced manufacturing, education, technology, screen production, marine industries and professional services.
Mayor Tom Tate said the figures reflected years of investment and ambition.
“The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace,” he said.
“We’ve built a reputation as a city that welcomes investment, opportunity and innovation, and we’re seeing the results across a range of high-growth industries.”
The city is now home to more than 690,000 residents, supports over 350,000 jobs and has more than 83,000 businesses. It also generates $19 billion in annual exports, with advanced manufacturing accounting for the majority of export growth.
Major projects continue to reshape the city, with more than $23 billion in developments underway and a record 75 construction cranes currently operating across the Gold Coast.
The report predicts the city’s population will exceed one million people by 2046, further strengthening its role as one of Australia’s fastest-growing economic centres.
Image source: goldcoast.qld.gov.au