Understanding Australia’s Housing Challenge & Opportunities for the Future
Australia is experiencing a dwelling shortage, often described as a ‘housing crisis’ or a ‘housing affordability crisis’, influenced by unmet demand over the past two decades.
FWPA’s More Houses Sooner report provides an in-depth analysis of these trends, outlining the scale of required housing development and the role of the forests and wood products industry in meeting this demand.
Key Findings
- Australia’s population is projected to reach nearly 31 million by 2034, with household sizes declining to fewer than 2.4 people per household.
- To keep pace with demand, Australia will need approximately 2.48 million new dwellings by 2034—an average of 225,400 new homes per year.
- Achieving this level of construction will require greater efficiency in timber use, particularly in free-standing homes and mid-rise multi-residential developments (4-8 stories).
- The demand for sawn structural timber is expected to exceed 2.5 million cubic meters per year by 2027, highlighting both supply challenges and opportunities for the forestry and wood products sector.
- The report explores strategies to enhance housing affordability and supply, including prefabrication, factory-based manufacturing, and innovative timber solutions.
Download the Full Report
For a comprehensive analysis of housing demand projections, construction trends, and the role of sustainable timber solutions in the housing sector, download the full More Houses Sooner report.
This report is a valuable resource for policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders across the construction, forestry, and urban planning sectors. Gain insights into the future of Australian housing and the strategies needed to build more homes, sooner.
