By population, Brisbane is ranked third among Australian cities.
Brisbane is Australia’s third-most populous city, after Sydney and Melbourne. It is the capital and largest city of Queensland and the main urban centre of South East Queensland, a rapidly growing region on Australia’s east coast.
The ranking normally refers to Greater Brisbane, the metropolitan statistical area used for population comparisons. That area extends beyond the City of Brisbane local-government boundary and includes surrounding urban councils such as Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redland. Using different boundaries can produce different totals, but not usually a different position in the national ranking.
Brisbane’s population ranking is often confused with the size of the City of Brisbane council area, which is Australia’s most populous local-government area. That administrative boundary is not the same thing as the full metropolitan city. The city’s population has also continued to rise as South East Queensland attracts residents and development.
Brisbane’s third-place position helps explain its importance in national sport and infrastructure. It hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games and is scheduled to host the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.