Malabar - La Perouse

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

As of November 2025, Malabar - La Perouse's population is approximately 11,057, indicating a 4.2% increase since the 2021 Census which reported 10,610 people. This growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 10,915 in June 2024 and an additional 21 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 1,314 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade (2011-2021), Malabar - La Perouse exhibited a compound annual growth rate of 0.2%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period. For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For uncovered areas, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using a 2021 base year are employed. Age group growth rates from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Malabar - La Perouse is projected to increase by approximately 1,312 persons, reflecting a total gain of around 10.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Malabar - La Perouse recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Malabar - La Perouse has recorded approximately 59 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 297 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY26. Despite a decline in population during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, which could be beneficial for buyers as developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties, averaging $481,000 in construction cost value.

This financial year has seen $1.1 million in commercial development approvals, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Malabar - La Perouse exhibits 106.0% higher construction activity per capita, offering buyers greater choice. New developments consist of 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 47.0% houses. This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 185 people per dwelling approval, Malabar - La Perouse is characterized as a low-density area. Future projections estimate an increase of 1,170 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Malabar - La Perouse has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Malabar Ocean Pool Accessible Amenities Building, Jennifer St, Little Bay, 27 Jennifer Street, Little Bay, and Meriton Little Bay Development. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment drivers in Malabar - La Perouse are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Malabar - La Perouse has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 8.2% in September 2025, with estimated employment growth of 3.5% over the past year. There were 5,074 residents employed as of September 2025, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, above Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was 58.8%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicated that 46.0% of residents worked from home. Key industries for employment were health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area had a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Retail trade had limited presence at 7.0%, compared to 9.3% regionally. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census data comparison of working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.5% and labour force increased by 2.8%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In Greater Sydney, employment growth was 2.1% with a labour force increase of 2.4%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Malabar - La Perouse's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The Malabar - La Perouse SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $66,164 and an average income of $90,029 in financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is higher than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,023 during the same period. By September 2025, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $72,026 (median) and $98,006 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Malabar - La Perouse rank highly nationally, between the 77th and 79th percentiles. The $4000+ income bracket dominates with 25.5% of residents. Unlike regional trends, only 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. A substantial proportion (37.1%) earn above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity. High housing costs consume 18.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 74th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Malabar - La Perouse displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Malabar - La Perouse had 46.6% houses and 53.4% other dwellings as of the latest Census, compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Malabar - La Perouse stood at 33.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented dwellings at 38.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,200, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $535, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Malabar - La Perouse's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Malabar - La Perouse has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.2% of all households, including 33.7% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 27.6% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Malabar - La Perouse shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's university qualification rate is 39.5%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 54.6%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 32.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.1%) and certificates (20.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 36.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 6.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis indicates 104 active transport stops operating within Malabar - La Perouse. These stops service a mix of buses along 20 individual routes, collectively providing 3,599 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 163 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode at 86%, with only 5% using buses. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 46.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 514 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 34 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Malabar - La Perouse is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Malabar-La Perouse faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (7,286 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.6 and 6.4% of residents respectively, while 71.1% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 22.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,473 people), higher than the 15.3% in Greater Sydney. National rankings are broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Malabar - La Perouse was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Malabar-La Perouse, surveyed in June 2016, had a higher linguistic diversity than most local markets, with 23.9% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home, and 32.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 60.4% of the population. Notably, Judaism was more prevalent in Malabar-La Perouse at 2.2%, compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (22.0%), Australian (18.4%), and Irish (10.6%). There were also notable differences in the representation of French (1.8% vs regional 0.5%), Russian (0.9% vs 0.4%), and Hungarian (0.5% vs 0.3%) ancestry groups.

Malabar - La Perouse hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Malabar - La Perouse has a median age of 44, which exceeds Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 11.2% of its population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort makes up 10.8%, lower than Greater Sydney's figure. According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.5% to 11.8%. However, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 11.6% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling predicts significant changes in Malabar - La Perouse's age profile. The 65-74 group is projected to grow by 33%, reaching 1,644 people from the current 1,240. This growth will be led by those aged 65 and above, who are expected to comprise 74% of the population increase. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.