Lakemba
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Lakemba reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Lakemba's population is approximately 17,721 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 629 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,092. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,613 in June 2024 and the addition of 60 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 8,091 persons per square kilometer, placing Lakemba within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lakemba's growth rate of 3.7% since the census is close to the SA3 area's rate of 4.6%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 78.2% of Lakemba's population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project above median growth, with Lakemba expected to expand by 2,433 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.1% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Lakemba is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Lakemba averaged approximately 29 new dwelling approvals annually from FY-21 to FY-25, with a total of 146 homes approved during this period. In FY-26, up to the present time, 8 dwellings have been approved. The population has been declining in recent years, suggesting that the new supply has been meeting demand and providing good options for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $242,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices for buyers. This financial year, $13.4 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting balanced commercial development activity in the area. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lakemba shows approximately 59% of the construction activity per person. Nationally, it places among the 11th percentile of areas assessed, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes.

This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 75.0% detached houses and 25.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Lakemba's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (26.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. With around 1353 people per dwelling approval, Lakemba reflects a highly mature market. Looking ahead, projections suggest that Lakemba is expected to grow by 2,325 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

Lakemba has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects potentially influencing this region. Notable initiatives include: Lakemba Station Sydney Metro Upgrade; 677 & 687 Canterbury Road Belmore - Mixed Use Development; Lakemba Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Masterplan; and 684-700 Canterbury Road Belmore. Below is a list of projects likely to be most relevant.

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The labour market performance in Lakemba lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Lakemba has a highly educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 7.9% in June 2025, which is 3.7% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.8%. As of June 2025, 7,122 residents were employed, with workforce participation at 42.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Dominant employment sectors include retail trade, health care & social assistance, and transport, postal & warehousing. Lakemba specializes in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level, while professional & technical services have lower representation at 7.3% compared to the regional average of 11.5%.

AreaSearch analysis shows employment increased by 0.8% over a 12-month period ending in June 2025, with labour force increasing by 2.2%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate of 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May 2025, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lakemba's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Lakemba's median taxpayer income in financial year 2022 was $34,243. The average income for Lakemba in the same period was $43,895. This is lower than the national averages of $56,994 (median) and $80,856 (average) for Greater Sydney. By September 2025, estimates suggest Lakemba's median income will be approximately $38,561 and average income around $49,430, based on a 12.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Lakemba fall between the 5th and 15th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The largest income segment in Lakemba consists of 32.5% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly (5,759 residents), compared to 30.9% falling within the $1,500 - $2,999 range in the region. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Lakemba, with only 76.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 10th percentile nationally.

Lakemba features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Lakemba, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 25.6% houses and 74.4% other dwellings including semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Sydney metropolitan area's figures of 48.7% houses and 51.3% other dwellings as at the same Census date. Home ownership in Lakemba stood at 20.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.2% and rented dwellings at 59.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,712, below Sydney metro's average of $2,167 recorded as of June 2021. Lakemba's median weekly rent figure was $350, compared to Sydney metro's $390 at the same date. Nationally, Lakemba's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 as of June 2021, while rents were less than the national figure of $375 recorded in the same period.

Lakemba features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.5% of all households, including 44.5% couples with children, 14.6% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households comprising 8.9%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.9.

Educational attainment in Lakemba aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 39.5% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA3 area average of 31.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 24.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational pathways account for 20.3% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 10.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 39.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.9% in primary, 7.9% in tertiary, and 7.7% pursuing secondary education. Lakemba operates a robust network of 7 schools educating approximately 3221 students, demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1001) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 4 primary, 2 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. The area functions as an education hub with 18.2 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 9.6, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Lakemba has 65 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 26 different routes that together facilitate 4,946 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 110 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 706 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 76 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lakemba's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Lakemba's health outcomes show excellent results, notably for younger age groups with low prevalence of common conditions. Private health cover stands at approximately 48%, covering around 8,470 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Diabetes and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 5.5% and 4.6% respectively. A total of 81.3% report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 77.7%. Lakemba has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 10.9%, or approximately 1,940 people, compared to Greater Sydney's 15.8%. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Lakemba is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lakemba has a population where 65.2% were born overseas, with 81.5% speaking languages other than English at home. Islam is the predominant religion in Lakemba, comprising 68.3%, compared to 24.7% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are Other (49.8%), Indian (10.5%), and Australian (8.2%).

Notably, Lebanese representation is higher at 6.3% in Lakemba than the regional average of 10.6%. Similarly, Vietnamese is at 3.5%, compared to 3.7% regionally, and Greek is at 2.8%, lower than the regional 8.7%.

Lakemba hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Lakemba's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and significantly lower than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lakemba has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (15.6%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (7.6%). According to data from the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 has increased from 5.4% to 6.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 20.0% to 19.0%. By 2041, Lakemba's age profile is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is expected to grow by 87%, adding 516 residents to reach a total of 1,114. Residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 51% of the population growth, while declines are projected for the 35-44 and 25-34 age cohorts.