QLD Childcare Supply & Demand — 2024

Market Snapshot | 2023–2024

Queensland’s childcare market continued to expand during 2023–2024, with growth in both the underlying child population and childcare capacity. However, new supply increased considerably faster than population demand.

As at 2024, Queensland had approximately 1,758 Centre-Based Day Care (CBDC) centres, providing around 151,000 places for an estimated 309,000 children aged 0–4.

QLD at a Glance

Capacity is expanding much faster than demand

Queensland’s population aged 0–4 increased modestly by 0.4% during 2023–2024. Over the same period, the number of CBDC centres increased by 6.4%, while approved places grew by a stronger 9.7%.

As a result, the statewide supply ratio increased from approximately 44.8 places per 100 children in 2023 to 48.9 in 2024, representing a 9.3% year-on-year increase.

Queensland therefore continues to experience growth in the underlying child population, but childcare capacity is being added at a significantly faster rate. At the state level, this points to improving availability alongside a gradual increase in overall supply intensity.

Local supply-demand conditions remain highly varied

The statewide average masks substantial differences across Queensland’s individual childcare markets. Population trends, centre development and additions to approved capacity are moving at very different rates between local areas.

Some catchments are experiencing growth in both the child population and childcare capacity, while in others supply continues to increase despite a declining local population. Existing levels of childcare provision also vary considerably between markets.

For developers, operators and investors, understanding local demographic momentum, new capacity growth and existing provision levels is therefore critical. Queensland’s statewide average of 48.9 places per 100 children does not necessarily reflect the competitive conditions within individual catchments.