A proven model
Updated population figures from the 2016 Census showed forecast.id to be more accurate than state government population forecasts.
forecast.id gives your council the confidence to plan for the future with a single-scenario forecast of population and housing, that uses local insights and a proven and transparent forecasting model.
More than 130 councils around Australia inform their decisions using forecast.id.
Learn more about subscribing to forecast.id →
Engage Australia’s biggest and most trusted forecasting team to build a population and household forecast for your local government area.
Based on a detailed understanding of land and housing supply, the forecasts give you detailed knowledge of how housing and population will change each year for each suburb so you can make informed decisions about the future.
We deliver the results of the forecasts online, in a web application called forecast.id. Most councils make their population forecasts available to the public so community groups, investors, business people, students and the general public can access detailed population forecasts for their needs as well.
Used by more than 130 councils around Australia
Deliver services to the right people at the right time and place
Updated population figures from the 2016 Census showed forecast.id to be more accurate than state government population forecasts.
A choice of forecast scenarios (aggressive, moderate or conservative) inevitably leads to selective use by different interest groups. forecast.id simply presents the most likely population and housing scenario.
forecast.id is an apolitical forecast of population, dwellings and households, not designed to align with state government targets.
A forecast is only as good as its assumptions. The data and modelling we use to develop each forecast is shared openly, so you use the results with confidence.
forecast.id is published in an easy-to-use online tool. This can either be made freely available to local businesses, investors and community groups, or password-protected for internal council use only.
Our dedicated forecasting team regularly
monitor and update your forecasts
so you can plan with confidence.
For years we've used forecast.id to plan services and facilities more accurately than was possible in the past. With forecast.id, our staff can show how many four year old's are likely to want kindergarten in years to come, allowing the groundwork to occur now
A resource for all.
Empower your community. With individual forecasts for over 2,500 communities, forecast.id allows council, local businesses and community groups to work from the same evidence base.
Designed for decision makers.
The website explicitly presents the underlying assumptions and forecast methodology.
Our forecasts are developed in close collaboration with council. By ensuring your polices, strategies and development plans are considered as inputs, we can deliver more accurate, locally-relevant forecasts.
Understand local differences by dividing your LGA into custom geographies that reflect your communities.
We apply a detailed understanding of the drivers of change at a small area level geography that reflects different population outcomes across the municipality.
Visualise change with responsive maps, tables and charts enabled for easy integration into other documentation.
Use the year range slider to see population and household data for specific points in the future.
The area selector helps you see the impact of population and household change on your small areas within your LGA.
Make the data work for you.
Download detailed data, export charts and tables, create instant reports allowing for in depth analysis.
An essential tool for all of council.
Plan to deliver services that reflect the changing demographic profile of your area.
Understand the population implications of proposed development and planning policies.
Understand popluation trends and emerging
age charactistics to invest in recreation assets
in the most approriate areas.
Create funding submissions based on hard data
that clearly identifies disadvantage, opportunity and community need.
Ensure your infrastructure plan accurately identifies the timing and location of future demand.
Clearly understand the impact of policy on the future of your community.
Paint a clear picture of your changing community; promote your area to prospective residents, businesses and investors.
Meaningful inductions for new elected members and briefings for management.
Identify trends in population and dwellings to refine growth assumptions in your Long Term Financial Plan.
Avoid the expense, inaccuracy and inconsistency of repeated analysis by giving consultants access to the same forecasts used by council.
Support local business decision-making and build business cases to attract investment in your community.
See the changing household types in different parts of your community to better plan the logistics of waste collection.
We'll work closely with you to understand the problems you're trying to solve, demonstrate the tool and make sure forecast.id is the right solution for you.
We will break down your LGA into small areas that make sense for you.
We will work closely with your strategic planners to land on agreed set of forecast assumptions.
This process takes an average of 4 weeks to complete.
We do all the work to put your site live. We'll let you know the moment its ready to use.
We deliver training to staff to ensure you get the most out of your new resource. We also deliver briefings, population insights workshops for different audiences, including staff, councillors and communities of practice.
forecast.id is an ongoing service. We monitor your forecast annually, and we're only ever a phone call or email away to help you get the most out of it.
forecast.id has been designed to give the council and community a reliable and consistent evidence base for significantly less than cost of than one-off consulting reports and internal data wrangling. Cost varies depending on the number of geographic areas. Contact our team.
Like all .id information tools, forecast.id forecasts are publicly accessible, ensuring council, local businesses and community groups are able to work from the same evidence base.
A subscription gives you direct access to the experts behind the tool. In addition to staff training sessions and demographic briefings, we can always be contacted for ad hoc advice via phone or email.
Forecasts are monitored annually to ensure your forecasts are fit for purpose and can used with confidence.
Yes. Our expert methodology allows us to offer bespoke internal geographies that best fit council's needs.
Yes. Along with the LGA and customisable small area geographies, you can add overlay areas to capture anything from wards to activity centres.
Read blogs, explore current local government forecasts or get in touch to learn how forecast.id can help your organisation and community
Contact us on 03 9417 2205, at forecasters@id.com.au or follow the links below