Canberra’s population has more than trebled in the past 50 years with almost half a million people now calling the national capital home, 2021 Census data shows.

But most of the city’s population explosion in the past five years has been concentrated on the burgeoning northern suburbs, rather than the south.

Latest Census statistics show more than 454,000 people were counted as ‘usual residents’ of the ACT in 2021. The number was up from 397,000 in 2016 and 137,000 in 1971.

The Census, compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics every five years, counts every person and household in Australia and analyses the information to provide a snapshot of key social, cultural and economic information across the country.

The Gungahlin region, in the north, is the fastest growing area in Canberra, with the Census showing the precinct is home to 16,540 more people and 5800 more homes than five years ago. Across Gungahlin, the number of residents jumped from 71,142 in 2016 to 87,682 in 2021.

Similarly, there was a population boom in the Belconnen region from 96,049 residents to 106,061, in the past five years, as well as almost 4000 more private dwellings.

Around 8000 new residents joined communities in North Canberra and 7500 more in Queanbeyan, but population growth was less pronounced in Canberra’s south, with the Woden Valley, Tuggeranong and Molonglo Valley.

In addition, there was an increase of 24,000 additional occupied private dwellings across the ACT in the past five years, with the 2021 Census showing 175,000 private dwellings. This compares to 151,000 in 2016 and almost 38,000 50 years ago.

Almost two-thirds of Canberrans lived in separate houses last year, yet the number of people living in flats and apartments trended upwards from 15% to 19.4% in the last five years.

MARQ Partner and Licensed Agent Suzi Wells said some of Canberra’s significant population growth and the increased number of private dwellings could be attributed to the COVID pandemic.

“At the start of the COVID pandemic we found that numerous families were coming back to Canberra from overseas or interstate because transmission of the virus and restrictions in Canberra at the time were quite minimal compared to other cities in Australia,” Suzi said.

“We also found people wanted to be closer to their extended families should border restrictions and international borders remain closed.”

Suzi said there had also been a noticeable shift in demand towards larger properties during the pandemic.

“Pre-COVID we found some families were opting for larger apartments or townhouses where maintenance, particularly garden maintenance, was minimal as people didn’t have time to tend to these,” she said.

“However, with so many people working from home during and post-COVID, and until international travel resumes with confidence, we now see greater demand for separate house living as people want more space at home including larger outdoor areas.”

Suzi said some households were so overcrowded with everyone working from home that many first homebuyers brought forward their plans to move out and buy their own place, particularly young adults still living with their parents.

“Low interest rates also contributed to the increase in number of homeowners, with the COVID restrictions meaning less spending and people investing surplus funds in property.”

The Census revealed ACT households were getting smaller. In 2021, an average of 2.5 people lived at each household in the ACT, compared to 3.6 people in 1971.

In addition, the Census showed Canberra’s population was also getting older. The median age for ACT residents is now 38, compared to 35 in 2016 and 23 in 1971.

And the median weekly income for Canberrans was $1203 for individuals and $2872 for families in 2021 – an increase from 2016 when incomes were $998 for individuals and $2445 for families.

The Census data also showed 67% of people who live in Canberra were born in Australia.

In the 2021 Census, 9000 people identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin in the ACT, making up 2.0% of the ACT population. This was an increase from 6500 counted in 2016, and lower than the Australian percentage of 3.2% in 2021.

Indian-born residents comprised the next largest nationality group with 3.8% of the total population, while English nationals made up 2.9% and Chinese 2.7% of the population.