Quick answerBrisbane is a city in Australia, with 2,745,086 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 2.8 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Brisbane River, the South Bank Parklands and the Story Bridge. Its official language is English, and its currency is the Australian dollar.
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and the third-most populous city in Australia, with 2,833,524 people in the Greater Brisbane area in June 2025. It stands on the Brisbane River near Moreton Bay and will host the Olympic Games in 2032.
Key facts
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 2,745,086 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 2,833,524 (2025) · ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), June 2025 |
| Elevation | 32 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Australia/Brisbane |
| Language | English |
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD, $) |
| Coordinates | 27.4678° S, 153.0281° E |
Overview
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia. Its urban area had 2,745,086 people in June 2025, and the wider Greater Brisbane area had 2,833,524. The city lies at the centre of South East Queensland, a region of about 4.1 million people, with its central business district on a bend of the Brisbane River, about 15 kilometres from Moreton Bay.
Brisbane began as a penal settlement: in 1824 the Moreton Bay settlement was founded at Redcliffe for secondary offenders from Sydney, and in May 1825 it moved to North Quay on the river, named for Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane. The city grew into the capital of Queensland and a subtropical river city of parks, ferries and outdoor living.
Today Brisbane is known for the South Bank Parklands, the Story Bridge and its warm climate. The city will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, the third time the Games have come to Australia.
What Brisbane is known for
- Brisbane River
- South Bank Parklands
- Story Bridge
- Subtropical outdoor lifestyle
Landmarks
- Story Bridge
- South Bank Parklands
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- Mount Coot-tha Lookout
- Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA
- City Botanic Gardens
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Brisbane?
Brisbane's urban area had 2,745,086 people in June 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The wider Greater Brisbane area had 2,833,524 people, making Brisbane Australia's third-most populous city. Brisbane lies at the centre of South East Queensland, a region of about 4.1 million people.
Where is Brisbane and what is it known for?
Brisbane is in eastern Australia, in Queensland, on the Brisbane River about 15 kilometres from Moreton Bay. It is the capital of Queensland and is known for the South Bank Parklands, the Story Bridge and its subtropical outdoor lifestyle. It will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. Its coordinates are 27.47° S, 153.03° E.
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Keep exploring
- Australia — the country Brisbane is in
- Melbourne — another city in Australia
- Sydney — another city in Australia
- Canberra — another city in Australia
- All cities in Australia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, via Wikipedia — Brisbane
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, via Wikipedia — List of cities in Australia by population
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.