Housing & Property•Series ID: GISPSDA•1965–2026
Private Dwelling Building Approvals - Historical Data
A leading indicator of residential construction activity and future housing supply across Australia.
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Current Statistics & Historical Records
Latest Reading (Aug 2026)
16.6k
Prev (Jul 2026): 17.7k-1.1
Highest Recorded (Nov 2017)
23.1k
Recorded in Nov 2017
Lowest Recorded (Sep 1974)
7.3k
1974 wage explosion & stagflation peak
Long-Run Mean (1965–2026)
152.7k
62 annual observations · Monthly
Private Dwelling Building Approvals - Historical Series (1965–2026)
'000 dwellings / monthDrag to pan, scroll to zoom, or toggle between full annual history (1965–2026) and recent monthly releases.
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Source: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (GISPSDA) Latest: 16.6 '000 dwellings / month (Aug 2026)
Private Dwelling Building Approvals by Decade (1965–2026)
Decade averages, peaks, and troughs across Australian economic cycles
1960s1965–1969
115.0k
High (1969):138.4
Low (1965):99.0
1970s1970–1979
132.0k
High (1973):183.5
Low (1978):110.7
1980s1980–1989
135.6k
High (1988):168.2
Low (1982):109.8
1990s1990–1999
146.9k
High (1994):184.9
Low (1996):121.1
2000s2000–2009
155.6k
High (2003):176.9
Low (2000):139.6
2010s2010–2019
193.5k
High (2015):235.9
Low (2011):150.6
2020s2020–2026
179.4k
High (2021):223.9
Low (2026):135.8
Private Dwelling Building Approvals - Historical Table (1965–2026)
Unit: '000 dwellings / month · Source: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (GISPSDA)
| Year | Building Approvals ('000 dwellings / month) | Year Range (Low – High) | Historical Context / Year Snapshot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 135.8 | 13.4 – 19.6 | The Australian Economy in 2026 → |
| 2025 | 192.8 | 15.0 – 18.4 | Disinflation & monetary policy recalibration |
| 2024 | 169.5 | 12.8 – 15.7 | The Australian Economy in 2024 → |
| 2023 | 162.5 | 12.2 – 15.6 | The Australian Economy in 2023 → |
| 2022 | 188.5 | 13.3 – 17.7 | Post-pandemic inflation surge & rapid RBA tightening cycle |
| 2021 | 223.9 | 15.8 – 22.4 | The Australian Economy in 2021 → |
| 2020 | 183.0 | 12.4 – 18.4 | COVID-19 pandemic shock & 0.10% cash rate floor |
| 2019 | 175.0 | 13.4 – 16.8 | The Australian Economy in 2019 → |
| 2018 | 209.7 | 14.0 – 19.5 | The Australian Economy in 2018 → |
| 2017 | 222.7 | 16.1 – 23.1 | The Australian Economy in 2017 → |
| 2016 | 231.3 | 16.5 – 21.5 | The Australian Economy in 2016 → |
| 2015 | 235.9 | 18.6 – 21.8 | The Australian Economy in 2015 → |
| 2014 | 207.3 | 15.7 – 20.3 | The Australian Economy in 2014 → |
| 2013 | 179.7 | 11.8 – 18.7 | The Australian Economy in 2013 → |
| 2012 | 155.3 | 10.6 – 15.6 | The Australian Economy in 2012 → |
| 2011 | 150.6 | 11.5 – 13.9 | China mining investment & Terms of Trade supercycle peak |
| 2010 | 167.6 | 12.9 – 15.2 | The Australian Economy in 2010 → |
| 2009 | 141.0 | 9.0 – 13.7 | The Australian Economy in 2009 → |
| 2008 | 145.5 | 9.7 – 13.4 | Global Financial Crisis (GFC) & emergency rate cuts |
| 2007 | 156.9 | 11.6 – 14.5 | The Australian Economy in 2007 → |
| 2006 | 152.0 | 11.9 – 14.0 | The Australian Economy in 2006 → |
| 2005 | 154.6 | 12.0 – 14.5 | The Australian Economy in 2005 → |
| 2004 | 167.2 | 12.7 – 15.1 | The Australian Economy in 2004 → |
| 2003 | 176.9 | 13.5 – 16.6 | The Australian Economy in 2003 → |
| 2002 | 176.0 | 13.3 – 17.9 | The Australian Economy in 2002 → |
| 2001 | 146.3 | 9.0 – 14.8 | The Australian Economy in 2001 → |
| 2000 | 139.6 | 8.9 – 16.1 | Introduction of the 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) |
| 1999 | 165.1 | 11.5 – 15.5 | The Australian Economy in 1999 → |
| 1998 | 152.7 | 11.9 – 13.7 | The Australian Economy in 1998 → |
| 1997 | 142.6 | 10.6 – 13.0 | The Australian Economy in 1997 → |
| 1996 | 121.1 | 8.7 – 10.9 | The Australian Economy in 1996 → |
| 1995 | 131.7 | 9.4 – 12.9 | The Australian Economy in 1995 → |
| 1994 | 184.9 | 13.4 – 17.3 | The Australian Economy in 1994 → |
| 1993 | 170.1 | 13.4 – 15.2 | RBA formalises 2–3% inflation targeting |
| 1992 | 151.5 | 11.0 – 13.6 | The Australian Economy in 1992 → |
| 1991 | 126.9 | 9.3 – 11.4 | Early 1990s recession ("The recession we had to have") |
| 1990 | 122.5 | 9.2 – 11.4 | Monetary tightening peak (17.5% Cash Rate) |
| 1989 | 154.8 | 10.6 – 15.2 | The Australian Economy in 1989 → |
| 1988 | 168.2 | 12.0 – 15.9 | The Australian Economy in 1988 → |
| 1987 | 117.8 | 8.4 – 11.5 | October 1987 sharemarket crash |
| 1986 | 112.7 | 9.0 – 10.1 | The Australian Economy in 1986 → |
| 1985 | 142.5 | 10.0 – 12.6 | The Australian Economy in 1985 → |
| 1984 | 145.7 | 10.1 – 12.9 | The Australian Economy in 1984 → |
| 1983 | 116.5 | 8.0 – 11.8 | Float of the Australian Dollar & Prices and Incomes Accord |
| 1982 | 109.8 | 8.0 – 11.1 | Early 1980s recession & drought |
| 1981 | 145.4 | 10.9 – 12.8 | The Australian Economy in 1981 → |
| 1980 | 142.7 | 11.0 – 12.4 | The Australian Economy in 1980 → |
| 1979 | 125.7 | 9.3 – 11.2 | The Australian Economy in 1979 → |
| 1978 | 110.7 | 8.8 – 10.3 | The Australian Economy in 1978 → |
| 1977 | 116.6 | 8.5 – 11.6 | The Australian Economy in 1977 → |
| 1976 | 137.2 | 10.9 – 12.2 | The Australian Economy in 1976 → |
| 1975 | 117.2 | 7.7 – 12.0 | The Australian Economy in 1975 → |
| 1974 | 122.0 | 7.3 – 13.1 | 1974 wage explosion & stagflation peak |
| 1973 | 183.5 | 13.6 – 16.2 | First OPEC oil shock |
| 1972 | 150.7 | 10.8 – 14.0 | The Australian Economy in 1972 → |
| 1971 | 129.0 | 10.0 – 11.4 | The Australian Economy in 1971 → |
| 1970 | 127.2 | 9.0 – 12.2 | The Australian Economy in 1970 → |
| 1969 | 138.4 | 10.7 – 13.1 | The Australian Economy in 1969 → |
| 1968 | 127.4 | 9.6 – 11.3 | The Australian Economy in 1968 → |
| 1967 | 109.9 | 7.9 – 9.9 | The Australian Economy in 1967 → |
| 1966 | 100.2 | 7.7 – 9.1 | Decimal currency transition (£ to AUD) |
| 1965 | 99.0 | 7.4 – 9.1 | The Australian Economy in 1965 → |
Related Australian Economic Statistics
Dwelling Commencements (Housing Starts)Housing & Property · 1969–2026
52,0062026 Q2
Australian Mean Residential Dwelling PriceHousing & Property · 2011–2026
$1,100.4k2026 Q2
Australian Population (Estimated Resident Population)Population & Demographics · 1901–2026
27.92M2026 Q1
Variable Owner-Occupier Mortgage Interest RateInterest Rates · 2015–2026
6.20%Aug 2026
Compare Building Approvals against another indicator →
Source Information & Methodology
- Primary Institution:
- Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
- Dataset / Publication:
- Monthly Activity Indicators - Private Dwelling Approvals
- Series / Table ID:
- RBA Statistical Table H3 (GISPSDA)
- Release Frequency:
- Monthly
• Primary source: Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) - Monthly Activity Indicators - Private Dwelling Approvals (RBA Statistical Table H3).
• Observation frequency: Monthly. Annual table values represent calendar year sums.
• Series coverage spans 1965 to 2026 (62 annual observations).
APA Citation:Reserve Bank of Australia & Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2026). Monthly Activity Indicators - Private Dwelling Approvals (H3: GISPSDA). Retrieved October 2026 from https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/
Frequently Asked Questions: Private Dwelling Building Approvals
- What is the current Private Dwelling Building Approvals?
- As of Aug 2026, the latest recorded Private Dwelling Building Approvals is 16.6 ('000 dwellings / month), compared with 17.7 in Jul 2026.
- What is the highest and lowest Private Dwelling Building Approvals ever recorded in Australia?
- Across the historical series (1965–2026), the highest observation was 23.1 ('000 dwellings / month) in Nov 2017, while the lowest was 7.3 ('000 dwellings / month) in Sep 1974. The long-run historical average is 152.7.
- Where is the official Private Dwelling Building Approvals data sourced from?
- This series is compiled from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (Monthly Activity Indicators - Private Dwelling Approvals, Series ID: GISPSDA) and is updated on a monthly basis under CC BY 4.0 International / RBA Terms.